manaliKnowledge Contributor
What is the difference between internal and external forces in the context of static equilibrium?
What is the difference between internal and external forces in the context of static equilibrium?
Internal forces are forces that act between the particles or components of a body and do not affect the motion of the center of mass of the body as a whole. External forces are those that act on the body from outside and can change its state of motion or cause deformation. In static equilibrium, only external forces must be considered, as they are the ones that need to be balanced to keep the object at rest.