Why is a book resting on a table in a state of equilibrium?
Responses
The book and the table have the same weight.
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’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
The book is resting on the table in a state of equilibrium because the book's weight and the upward force exerted by the table on the book have equal magnitudes but opposite directions. This means that the forces acting on the book are balanced, resulting in no net force and therefore no acceleration.
The book is resting on a table in a state of equilibrium because the book's weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
The correct explanation for why a book resting on a table is in a state of equilibrium is the fourth response: The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
To understand why this is the case, let's consider the forces acting on the book. The primary force acting on the book is the force of gravity pulling it downward. According to Newton's third law of motion, there is an equal and opposite force exerted by the table called the normal force. This normal force arises from the interaction between the book and the table, and it acts in an upward direction.
In order for the book to remain in a state of equilibrium (not moving), the forces acting on it must balance each other out. The force of gravity pulling the book downward is equal in magnitude to the upward normal force exerted by the table. Since these two forces have the same magnitude but opposite directions, they effectively cancel each other out. This balancing of forces keeps the book from accelerating in any direction, resulting in a state of equilibrium where it remains at rest on the table.
Understanding the concept of equilibrium and the equal but opposite forces at play allows us to explain why the book stays in place on the table.