Principle of Moments: Restoring Forces Explained

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The discussion centers on the mechanics of equilibrium in a beam or scale supported at its center with equal weights. When one weight is lowered by an external force, the question arises about how the system returns to a horizontal position. Restoring forces are generated due to the change in potential energy and the geometry of the beam. A straight bar on a pivot does not return to horizontal, while a slightly curved bar does because of its design. The dynamics of these systems illustrate the principles of stability and equilibrium in physics.
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This has botherd me for quite sometime ...imagine a beam or a simple scale supported at its centre and carrying equal weights on two extreme positions on the scale from the centre, now under equilibrium the scale will be horizontal...now my question is if one of the weight is lowered by action of some external force, how does it come back to its horizonatal config. What and how are the restoring forces generated...??
 
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A straight bar on a razor-edge pivot would not come back to its horizontal config but a slightly curved bar with its ends lower than the pivot would. I think you can figure out why.
 
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