Why is a book resting on a table in a state of equilibrium?(1 point)
Responses
The book and the table have the same weight.
The book and the table have the same weight.
The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
Gravity is a net force acting on the book in a downward direction.
Gravity is a net force acting on the book in a downward direction.
The book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
The book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
The correct response is:
The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
The correct answer is:
The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
To understand why a book resting on a table is in a state of equilibrium, we need to consider the forces acting on the book. One of the forces is the downward force due to gravity, which we commonly refer to as the book's weight. This force is exerted on the book by the Earth and acts in a downward direction.
The table, in turn, exerts an upward force on the book in order to support it. According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, the table exerts a force on the book that is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the book's weight.
Because the book's weight and the upward force from the table are equal and opposite, they cancel each other out. This means that the net force on the book is zero. Consequently, the book remains in a state of equilibrium, neither accelerating nor moving.
So, it's important to understand that the state of equilibrium for the book on the table is a result of the balance between the downward force of gravity and the opposing upward force from the table.