Why is a book resting on a table in a state of equilibrium?(1 point)
Responses
a Gravity is a net force acting on the book in a downward direction.
b The book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
c The book and the table have the same weight.
d The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
d The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
d The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
The correct answer is (d) The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
To understand why, let's break it down:
When an object is at rest or in a state of equilibrium, it means that the net force acting on the object is zero. In the case of the book resting on the table, there are two forces acting on it: the weight of the book pulling it downwards and the upward force exerted by the table.
The weight of an object is the force exerted on it due to gravity, and it always acts in the downward direction. So, the book experiences a downward force due to its weight.
Now, the table exerts an upward force on the book. In order for the book to be in equilibrium, this upward force needs to be of equal magnitude but in the opposite direction to the book's weight.
This is because Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So, the weight of the book creates a downward force, and the table exerts an upward force of equal magnitude to balance it out.
Since the forces are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, they cancel each other out, resulting in a net force of zero on the book. This is what keeps the book in a state of equilibrium and prevents it from moving.