Can an object be in mechanical equilibrium if it’s MOVING? Explain why or why not
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Yes, an object can be in mechanical equilibrium even if it is moving.
Explanation:
Mechanical equilibrium refers to the state in which the net force and net torque acting on an object are both zero. There are two types of mechanical equilibrium: static and dynamic. Static equilibrium occurs when an object is at rest, while dynamic equilibrium occurs when an object is moving at a constant velocity in a straight line.
The key idea is that mechanical equilibrium does not require the object to be at rest. It only requires that there is no acceleration, which means the object must not be speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, an object will remain in its state of motion (either at rest or moving at a constant velocity) unless acted upon by a net external force. So, if all the forces acting on a moving object cancel each other out, the object continues moving at a constant speed in the same direction. In this case, the object is in dynamic equilibrium.
For example, consider a puck sliding on ice at a constant velocity. If there is no friction or any other force acting on it, then the net force is zero. The puck is not accelerating, so it is in mechanical equilibrium even though it is in motion.
To sum up, movement does not exclude the possibility of equilibrium. What matters is whether the object’s velocity is changing. If it is not, and the object is either stationary or moving in a straight line at constant speed, the object is in mechanical equilibrium. This distinction between movement and acceleration is crucial in understanding Newtonian mechanics and the concept of equilibrium.
