A hockey puck slides across the ice at a constant speed.
Which of the following is true?
1. The puck is moving and thus not in equilibrium.
2. The puck can be considered neither at
rest nor in equilibrium.
3. It is in equilibrium.
4. The puck is at rest.
5. None of these
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the concept of equilibrium.
Equilibrium refers to a state where the net force acting on an object is zero, meaning there is no acceleration. When an object is in equilibrium, it can be either at rest or moving at a constant velocity (with no acceleration).
In this scenario, the hockey puck is sliding across the ice at a constant speed. This means there is no change in velocity, and therefore, no acceleration. So we can conclude that the puck is not experiencing any net force, and it is in equilibrium.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 3: The puck is in equilibrium.