Editing Mechanical equilibrium (section)

== Examples ==
A stationary object (or set of objects) is in "static equilibrium," which is a special case of mechanical equilibrium. A paperweight on a desk is an example of static equilibrium. Other examples include a [[rock balancing|rock balance]] sculpture, or a stack of blocks in the game of [[Jenga]], so long as the sculpture or stack of blocks is not in the state of [[Structural integrity and failure|collapsing]].

Objects in motion can also be in equilibrium. A child sliding down a [[Playground|slide]] at constant speed would be in mechanical equilibrium, but not in static equilibrium (in the reference frame of the earth or slide).

Another example of mechanical equilibrium is a person pressing a spring to a defined point. He or she can push it to an arbitrary point and hold it there, at which point the compressive load and the spring reaction are equal. In this state the system is in mechanical equilibrium. When the compressive force is removed the spring returns to its original state.

The minimal number of static equilibria of homogeneous, convex bodies (when resting under gravity on a horizontal surface) is of special interest. In the planar case, the minimal number is 4, while in three dimensions one can build an object with just one stable and one unstable balance point.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gomboc.eu/en/mathematics/ |title= Mathematics|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021 |website=Gömböc |publisher= |access-date=12 November 2023 |quote=}}</ref> Such an object is called a [[gömböc]].