Question
Why is a book resting on a table in a state of equilibrium?
The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.
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 book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
The book and the table have the same weight.
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’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 book and the table both have acceleration (due to gravity) of 9.8 m/s/s.
The book and the table have the same weight.
The book and the table have the same weight.
Gravity is a net force acting on the book in a downward direction.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The correct explanation for why a book resting on a table is in a state of equilibrium is:
**The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.**
In this situation, the weight of the book acts downward due to the force of gravity, while the table exerts an equal and opposite force upward (known as the normal force). Since these two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, the net force acting on the book is zero, resulting in a state of equilibrium.
The other statements provided do not accurately explain equilibrium in this context:
- While gravity does act on the book, it does not explain why the book is in equilibrium.
- The acceleration due to gravity affecting both the book and the table is not relevant to the equilibrium condition.
- The weights of the book and table are generally not the same; it is the force from the table that is balancing the weight of the book.
Thus, the first explanation is the correct one regarding the equilibrium state.
**The book’s weight and the upward force the table exerts on the book have equal magnitude but opposing directions.**
In this situation, the weight of the book acts downward due to the force of gravity, while the table exerts an equal and opposite force upward (known as the normal force). Since these two forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, the net force acting on the book is zero, resulting in a state of equilibrium.
The other statements provided do not accurately explain equilibrium in this context:
- While gravity does act on the book, it does not explain why the book is in equilibrium.
- The acceleration due to gravity affecting both the book and the table is not relevant to the equilibrium condition.
- The weights of the book and table are generally not the same; it is the force from the table that is balancing the weight of the book.
Thus, the first explanation is the correct one regarding the equilibrium state.