Science Common Sense

1254 - Why does the resultant force on a balanced object equal zero and the resultant torque equal zero.

Imagine you're standing still, not moving at all. If you push on a wall, it doesn't move, right? That's because the force from your push is matched by an equal and opposite force from the wall. This is called balance.

When we say an object is 'balanced', it means that all the forces (like pushes or pulls) acting on the object are equal in strength but opposite in direction. So, they cancel each other out, and that's why the resultant force equals zero. The object doesn't move because the forces are balanced.

Now, about the resultant torque: torque is like a force that makes something turn or rotate. Imagine holding a long pencil and trying to turn it. If you push on one end, it will rotate, but if someone else pushes on the other end just as hard, it won't rotate anymore. That's because the torques are balanced.

When an object is balanced, not only are the forces equal and opposite, but the torques are also equal and opposite. This means that there is no net turning force (torque), so the object doesn't turn or rotate. That's why the resultant torque also equals zero.