Why is a book resting on a table in a state of equilibrium? (1 point)
• The book and the table have the same weight.
• Gravity is a net force acting on the book in a downward direction.
• The book's weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing
directions.
• The book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
The correct answer is: The book's weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
In order for an object to be in a state of equilibrium, the forces acting on it must be balanced. In this case, the force of gravity is pulling the book downwards, and the table is exerting an equal and opposite force upwards, effectively balancing each other out. This creates a state of equilibrium where the book remains stationary on the table.
The correct answer 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 it. The book experiences a downward force due to gravity, which we refer to as its weight. At the same time, the table exerts an upward force on the book, often referred to as the normal force.
For an object to be in a state of equilibrium, the net force acting on it must be zero. In other words, the forces pushing in one direction must be balanced by the forces pushing in the opposite direction.
In this case, the weight of the book and the upward force exerted by the table are balancing each other out. The weight of the book is pulling it downwards, while the upward force from the table is pushing it upwards. According to Newton's third law of motion, these forces have equal magnitude but opposite directions, so they cancel each other out.
This balance of forces keeps the book in a state of equilibrium, meaning it remains stationary on the table without any net force acting on it.