Forces in Two Dimensions - Mission F2D3 Detailed Help


TRUE or FALSE?
If an object is at equilibrium, then all the individual forces acting upon it are equal to each other.

(Note: The actual true-false statement is selected at random and may vary from the wording shown above.)


 
Definition of Equilibrium:
Equilibrium is the condition in which all the individual forces acting upon an object are balanced.


 
Some students have the improper habit of thinking that an object at equilibrium is an object upon which all forces are equal. After all, the word equilibrium sounds like the word equal. But don't be fooled! Equilibrium has to do with a balance of forces. While it is possible that all the forces might be equal, they don't have to be equal to be balanced. For instance, an object with an up force of 20 N and a down force of 20 N and a right force of 8 N and a left force of 8 N is at equilibrium. Are all the forces balanced? Yes! Are all the forces equal? No! The 20 N is not equal to the 8 N.