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Difference between revisions of "Equilibrium Forces"

m (NRJC moved page Force Equilibrium to Equilibrium Forces)
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Revision as of 14:01, 7 February 2019

Key Stage 3

Meaning

When an elastic object is acted on by two opposing forces, the object is in Equilibrium.

About Force Equilibrium

Elastic objects like springs need two opposing forces to change length. Once the forces have been applied the spring will stay at this new length until the forces are removed.
SpringForcesEquilibrium.png
The spring will stretch to a certain length and then stay the same due to two opposing forces.
If one force were bigger than the other the elastic object would accelerate rather than stretch. This is what happens when a rubber band is flicked. It begins in force equilibrium stretched by two fingers pulling in opposite directions. When one finger is removed there are no longer two opposing forces so the rubber band accelerates.