Stable equilibrium

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created: 2022-07-10 15:45:38
modified: 2022-07-10 16:04:12

A stable equilibrium is an equilibrium point where the second derivative of the potential energy is positive

In multiple dimensions, this changes to

being positive for all constant vectors , meaning that equilibrium holds in all directions.

Relation to force

The above expressions express that, for a particle being in a stable equilibrium point, for small deviations, the force acting on the particle pushes it back towards the equilibrium point.