The stable and unstable equilibrium along with loll, are a key part of the balance of characteristics in physics. Contrary to what many believe, balance is not just the absence of change in the body.
There are different types of balances and each represents the definition of a specific movement under the effects of gravity and other factors.
All of these types represent the way in which a body is or is not held in a specific space and explain the difference between, for example, the movement of a pendulum, a rod and a wheel.
One of them will return to its initial position, while the other will remain in its final position, and the last one will remain stable without undergoing any changes.
What is balance?
To begin with, it is necessary to know what balance is. The word balance comes from the Latin aequilibrĭum. This word is divided into “aequus”, which represents equality, and “pounds”, which represents balance. So that’s why the word balance represents a sense of stability and balance.
In physics, balance represents the state of a body at rest, where the sum of all its forces is neutralized.
Given that balance gives us a sense of stability, it’s common to think there’s only one way to define it, but we couldn’t be more wrong.
This phenomenon can occur both in a static body, which is not subject to change, or in a moving body. This last example of equilibrium can be generated in 3 types: stable, unstable and indifferent.
stable balance
The balance of a body is stable when, when removed from its initial position, it returns to it due to the effect of gravity on the body.
A clear example of this type of balance would be an object such as a pendulum, which despite being removed from position, returns to its starting point.
We can also give an example of a book on a table; when lifting and releasing, it returns to its starting position.
Unstable balance
Unstable balance of a body occurs when that body, when removed from its initial position, is held away from it by the effect of gravity. This is because the center of gravity is greater than the suspension point.
This kind of balance can be seen when we place a pencil on the end and drop it on the table. This object will not return to its starting position. We can also see him with a cane which, when released, will fall to the ground without returning to the top.
indifferent balance
Indifferent balance exists when, despite the movement of a body, it remains balanced in any position.
This is because your center of gravity is halfway to the center of suspension. A clear example of this type of balance would be a wheel on its axis.
