what is meant by the term equilibrium ?

Answer 1

it can go along with many things but the most common use is to describe balance.

Answer 2

In physics equilibrium means :

condition in which the resultant or vector sum of all forces acting upon a particle is zero. A rigid body (by definition distinguished from a particle in having the property of extension) is considered to be in equilibrium if, in addition, the algebraic sum of the moments of the force components, both translational and rotational, along or about each of three mutually perpendicular axes chosen with respect to the body, is equal to zero. Thus, the body in equilibrium experiences neither linear acceleration nor angular acceleration and, unless disturbed by an outside force, will continue in that condition indefinitely. An equilibriumis said to be stable if small, externally induced displacements from that state produce forces that tend to oppose the displacement and return the body or particle to theequilibrium state. Examples include such systems as a pendulum or a brick lying on a level surface. An equilibrium is unstable if the least departures produce forces tending to increase the displacement. An example is furnished by a ball bearing balanced on the edge of a razor blade.

Answer 3

Equilibrium basically means a situation in which nothing is changing. For instance, thermal equilibrium is a situation in which the temperatures of several objects capable of exchanging heat are all equal, meaning that no temperatures are changing. An equilibrium between two forces is a state where the two forces balance each other out resulting in no net force, and thus nothing moves.

Answer 4

If you are referring to forces (F) and torques (T) of forces then the term means that

Ftotal = 0 and
Ttotal = 0

But if you're referring to dynamic equilibrium then the term means that on the microscopic scale something changes while on the macroscopic scale nothing does. For example consider that you empty a spoonful of sugar in a small glass of water. Part of the sugar will be dissolved, while the rest will concentrate on the bottom of the glass. In this case macroscopically nothing changes, since the quantity of sugar that remains undissolved does not change. On the other hand, microscopically there's a constant change: every single moment N molecules of sugar in crystal form are dissolved, while N molecules of dissolved sugar are crystallized. So the net result is a state of equlibrium.

Answer 5

In Physics equilibrium means the sum of the vector forces along the x-axis or along the horizontal equals 0; likewise the sum of the vector forces along the y-axis or along the vertical equals 0. In this state of equilibrium the body either remains at rest or moves at a constant velocity.

When we sit on a chair we can be said to be in equilibrium because the sum of all the forces that I mentioned above equals 0. If someone pushes us in whatever direction our state of equilibrium is disturbed and our body..and maybe the chair as well. .moves in the direction of the force of the push applied to us.

Answer 6

Equilibrium in physics is the condition when an object has both the sums of its clockwise and anti-clockwise moments equal. Therefore, the resultant force is zero.
Equilibrium in chemistry is whereby the rate of the forward reaction and backward reaction in a reversible reaction is equal, i.e. dynamic.

Answer 7

in chemical terms:
when the rate of forward reaction and the rate of backward reaction are same then the system is in equilibrium.
To a naked eye it wouldn't seem that anything is happening but both the forward as well as backward reaction are goin on.

Answer 8

equilibrium is a state of being equal on both sides.
eg:you add cold water to hot water till the equilibrium is acquired.

Answer 9

equilibrium means balance.when the forces on the left equals the forces on the right.state of rest(relatively speaking)

Answer 10

sum of the horizontal froces=0
sum of the vertical froces=0
Thesum of resultant force acting at a point is = 0

Answer 11

It can be static and dynamic both.
It just means that opposite forces cancel each other out.

Or to be more correct ... Potential is zero. Potential can be Chem potential or Potential of any other place.

This is more correct and accepted i beleive.