Dynamic equilibrium
In: Physics
It’s right in the name – an equalibrium state where things are still moving.
Usually this is used in chemistry: keep pouring salt into water until it stops dissolving.
The salt concentration is no longer changing because the solution is saturated, but individual molecules are entering and leaving solution all the time. They’re just entering and leaving at the same rate.
It can also apply to a physical system like a waterfall or dam reservoir – water enters and leaves at the same rate so the system is in “equilibrium” but clearly very energetic and dynamic.
Static Equilibrium (unchanging equilibrium):
There are 5 unmoving balls on the right side and 5 unmoving balls on the left side. Nothing is changing so this is an equilibrium state.
Dynamic Equilibrium (changing equilibrium):
There are 5 moving balls on the right side and 5 moving balls on the left side. One ball moves from the right side to the left side every second. One ball moves from the left side to the right side every second. At any given time, there will still be 5 balls on the right side and 5 balls on the left side. This is still an equilibrium state even though things are moving around.
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