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==Key Stage 3==
===Meaning===
'''Equilibrium forces''' are a pair of equal [[force]]s acting on opposite sides of an [[object]] in opposite directions.
===About Equilibrium Forces===
: '''Equilibrium forces''' can act to stretch or squash an [[object]].
: When an [[object]] is acted on by two equal, but opposing [[force]]s, the object is in '''equilibrium'''.
: [[Elastic]] [[object]]s like [[Coil Spring|springs]] need two opposing [[force]]s to change length. Once the [[force]]s have been applied the [[Coil Spring|spring]] will stay at this new length until the [[force]]s are removed.
{| class="wikitable"
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|[[File:SpringForcesEquilibrium.png|center|300px]]
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| style="height:20px; width:200px; text-align:center;" |The spring will stretch to a certain length and then stay the same due to two opposing [[force]]s.
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: If one [[force]] were bigger than the other the [[elastic]] [[object]] would [[accelerate]] rather than stretch. This is what happens when a rubber band is flicked. It begins in '''force equilibrium''' stretched by two fingers pulling in opposite directions. When one finger is removed there are no longer two opposing [[force]]s so the rubber band [[accelerate]]s.
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
'''Equilibrium forces''' are a pair of equal [[magnitude]] [[force]]s acting on opposite sides of an [[object]] in opposite directions.
===About Equilibrium Forces===
: '''Equilibrium forces''' can act to stretch or squash an [[object]].
: When an one [[object]] is acted on by two equal, but opposing [[force]]s, which are equal in [[magnitude]] but opposite in direction the object is in '''equilibrium'''.
: [[Elastic]] [[object]]s like [[Coil Spring|springs]] need two opposing [[force]]s to change length. Once the [[force]]s have been applied the [[Coil Spring|spring]] will stay at this new length until the [[force]]s are removed.
: [[Plastic Deformation|Plastic]] [[object]]s also need two opposing [[force]]s to change length. However, while the [[force]] is applied the [[object]] will continue to stretch until the [[force]]s are removed. At that point the [[Plastic Deformation|plastic]] [[object]] will remain at this new length.
{| class="wikitable"