static equilibrium

(noun)

the physical state in which all components of a system are at rest and the net force is equal to zero throughout the system

Related Terms

Examples of static equilibrium in the following topics:

  • Second Condition

    • The second condition of static equilibrium says that the net torque acting on the object must be zero.
    • A child's seesaw, shown in , is an example of static equilibrium.
    • An object in static equilibrium is one that has no acceleration in any direction.
    • If a given object is in static equilibrium, both the net force and the net torque on the object must be zero.
    • The system is in static equilibrium, showing no acceleration in any direction.

  • Static Equilibrium

    • Any region or point, or any static object within a static fluid is in static equilibrium where all forces and torques are equal to zero.
    • Static equilibrium is a particular state of a physical system.
    • As it pertains to fluidics, static equilibrium concerns the forces acting on a static object within a fluid medium.
    • For static equilibrium to be achieved, the sum of these forces must be zero, as shown in .
    • This figure shows the equations for static equilibrium of a region within a fluid.

  • Conductors and Fields in Static Equilibrium

    • In the presence of charge or an electric field, the charges in a conductor will redistribute until they reach static equilibrium.
    • Once the charges are redistributed, the conductor is in a state of electrostatic equilibrium.
    • It should be noted that the distribution of charges depends on the shape of the conductor and that static equilibrium may not necessarily involve an even distribution of charges, which tend to aggregate in higher concentrations around sharp points.
    • Describe behavior of charges in a conductor in the presence of charge or an electric field and under static equilibrium

  • First Condition

    • The first condition of equilibrium is that the net force in all directions must be zero.
    • For an object to be in equilibrium, it must be experiencing no acceleration.
    • The condition $F_\text{net} = 0$ must be true for both static equilibrium, where the object's velocity is zero, and dynamic equilibrium, where the object is moving at a constant velocity.
    • Below, the motionless person is in static equilibrium.
    • This car is in dynamic equilibrium because it is moving at constant velocity.

  • Stability, Balance, and Center of Mass

    • An object in static equilibrium remains in the same state forever, but not all forms of equilibrium are the same.
    • A bridge can be in static equilibrium despite the fact that there are multiple forces and torques being applied to the bridge.
    • Anytime when you observe something that appears to have no linear or angular acceleration, it must be in static equilibrium.
    • For an object to be in static equilibrium, we expect it to stay in the same state indefinitely.
    • Explain the relationship between how center of mass is defined and static equilibrium

  • Translational Equilibrium

    • A large part of engineering creations are static objects.
    • In both cases – static or dynamic – net external forces and torques are zero.
    • The first type, where all particles in the system are at rest and do have not velocity, is known as static equilibrium.
    • Static or dynamic, these kinds of equilibrium can be categorized as translational equilibrium.
    • Since neither the table nor the book are moving, this is an example of static equilibrium.

  • Variation of Pressure With Depth

    • Pressure within static fluids depends on the properties of the fluid, the acceleration due to gravity, and the depth within the fluid.
    • At any such point within a medium, the pressure is the same in all directions, as if the pressure was not the same in all directions, the fluid, whether it is a gas or liquid, would not be static.
    • Note that the following discussion and expressions pertain only to incompressible fluids at static equilibrium.
    • The pressure exerted by a static liquid depends only on the depth, density of the liquid, and the acceleration due to gravity. gives the expression for pressure as a function of depth within an incompressible, static liquid as well as the derivation of this equation from the definition of pressure as a measure of energy per unit volume (ρ is the density of the gas, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the depth within the liquid).
    • Identify factors that determine the pressure exerted by static liquids and gases

  • NMR and MRIs

    • After the electromagnetic field is turned off, the rotations of the hydrogen protons return to thermodynamic equilibrium, and then realign with the static magnetic field.
    • Hydrogen protons in different tissues return to their equilibrium state at different relaxation rates.

  • Problem-Solving Techniques

    • When solving static problems, you need to identify all forces and torques, confirm directions, solve equations, and check the results.
    • Statics is the study of forces in equilibrium.
    • There are forces acting, but they are balanced -- that is to say, they are "in equilibrium. "
    • When solving equilibrium problems, it might help to use the following steps:
    • First, ensure that the problem you're solving is in fact a static problem—i.e., that no acceleration (including angular acceleration) is involvedRemember:$\sum F=ma=0$ for these situations.

  • Two-Component Forces

    • In equilibrium, the net force and torque in any particular direction equal zero.
    • This means that all the forces acting on the object are balanced -- that is to say, they are in equilibrium.
    • In static systems, in which motion does not occur, the sum of the forces in all directions always equals zero.
    • Calculate the net force and the net torque for an object in equilibrium