Question

Explain in your own words why three forces must lie in the same plane if they are acting on an object in equilibrium?

Answer 1

Well forces are vectors, so lets arrange them head to tail...

The three vectors must form a triangle if the forces are in equilibrium, and we know that a triangle is a flat shape. Therefore all three forces must lie on the same plane.

Answer 2

What does it mean when one says 'if the forces are in equilibrium'? This is the only part that's confusing me

Answer 3

Oh so in the case of forces, the net force is zero

Answer 4

equilibrium is generally when the current state is balanced

Answer 5

Um yeah i think so

Have you done forces represented as vectors?

Answer 6

Yeah I have; we're actually learning this in the vectors section for math, and I haven't taken physics in about 1.5 years, so my memory's a bit hazy
But thank you so much! :)

Answer 7

Haha yeah i have very basic knowledge of forces in 3D space and vectors in general, but thankfully enough to answer your question