Unstable equilibrium

Ages

Introduction

Summary

A rigid body is in mechanical equilibrium when the sum of the forces, and torque, experienced by the system is zero.
Equilibria can be stable or unstable

• Stable equilibrium: The response to a small perturbation is forces and torque that tend to restore the equilibrium.
• Unstable equilibrium: The response to a small perturbation is forces and torque that tend to move the system even farther away (actually, the system returns to a new stable equilibrium after disturbance!).

Goals

• To distinguish between two different equilibrium states: Stable and unstable.
• To visualize the condition of stability.

Features

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Tags

center-of-mass center-of-gravity equilibrium stable