10.

3 STATES OF EQUILIBRIUM

An object at rest may be in one of the three states of equilibrium – stable, unstable, or
neutral. These conditions are illustrated in Table 10.1. The location of the center of gravity is
important for stability. Stability is the ability of an object to maintain its position or overcome
the tendency to tip over when pushed.

Factors Affecting the Stability of an Object:

1. Location of the center of gravity – The lower the position of the CG in an object, the more
stable it is. Keeping the CG directly over the base and as near the geometric center of the
base as possible, the more stable object is.
Table 10.1. Comparison of the Three States of Equilibrium
(Source: Physics by Delia C. Navaza, 1996, pp.48-49)
State Description Examples
- The center of gravity is found above and inside
an object’s base of support and at its lowest
Stable possible position.
- The object will just return to its original position
after a little disturbance.
- The center of gravity of an object cannot be
found above the area of its support and it is at
Unstable its highest possible position.
- Slight movement will cause the object to tip over
because its base is small.
- The center of gravity is neither lowered nor raised
when the object is slightly disturbed.
Neutral - The object can be pushed or rolled from one
side to another.

2. Mass or weight of an object 3. Area of the base of an object

The heavier the object, The wider the area of
the more stable it is. 1 the base, the more stable 2
the object is.

Figure 10.5.1. Box A is empty Figure 10.5.2. Which is more

while Box B is loaded. Which stable, A or B? (Source: Physics
is more stable? (Source: Physics by Delia C. Navaza, 1996, p.49)
by Delia C. Navaza, 1996, p.49)

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Something To Think About Racing cars are stable because

of their wide wheel bases.
Answer the following questions completely.
T
1. To resist being toppled, why does a wrestler E
stand with (a) feet wide apart and (b) knees bent? C
2. Why does a man with large belly or a woman in (Source: Microsoft Encarta 2009) H
N
her last trimester of pregnancy tend to lean O
FRONTIERS
backward when walking?

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