Physics A-Level
Equilibrium
What Equilibrium means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Equilibrium
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Reference: AQA
Zero resultant force and constant velocity, distinguished from a body with a non-zero resultant force, which accelerates.
The state of an object at rest or moving with constant velocity, in which the resultant force on the object is zero.
A body in equilibrium has zero resultant force, so the vector sum of all forces acting at the point is zero.
Topics that use Equilibrium
- Newton’s laws of motion (AQA A-Level)
- Scalars and vectors (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Resultant force
- Acceleration
- Action–reaction pairs
- Coplanar forces at a point
- Displacement
- Equilibrium conditions
- Free-body diagrams
- Measurement accuracy
Using Equilibrium in the exam
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