Prove a system is at equilibirum?

[flaren5]

I am aware of the meaning when "the system is in equilibrium".

What are two ways to prove it?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated...

Thank you.

 

[rock.freak667]

In what context are you referring to? Like in physics, for a system to be in equilibrium, the sum of forces in the x,y,z directions are zero and the sum of moments about any point is zero.

 

[flaren5]

That sounds to be what I am referring to...I'm assuming it has to do with:
ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0...
Is that how I would prove it?...I was wondering what the explanation is for two ways of proving when a system is in equilibrium.

I hope that explains better to what I am looking for.

Thank you.

 

[rock.freak667]

That sounds to be what I am referring to...I'm assuming it has to do with:
ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0...
Is that how I would prove it?...I was wondering what the explanation is for two ways of proving when a system is in equilibrium.

I hope that explains better to what I am looking for.

Thank you.

Well that is how you would show a system is in equilibrium. Mechanical equilibrium is defined such that the net forces acting on an object are zero. There are also different kinds of equilibrium such as thermal equilibrium.

 

[AJ Bentley]

In general an equilibrium state is characterised by an energy minimum (or plateau).

Generally you calculate the energy of the system as a function of position, differentiate it and set equal to zero. That gives the position of equilibrium.