The term ‘equilibrium‘ means a state where a system is balanced without any changes happening externally and internally. Nevertheless, “dynamic equilibrium” stands for the well-balanced nature of a given system regardless of the continuously on-going external and internal processes. This kind of equilibrium can be observed in different aspects of life, and here we will look at various interpretations of the dynamic equilibrium.
Dynamics means a constant change, while equilibrium refers a state of balance. Regardless of the conflicting nature of these two terms, they’re coupled together to explain a concept seen in complex systems. This notion of dynamic equilibrium describes a state of balance, regardless of the always changing external and internal forces of that specific system. It shouldn’t be mistaken with the stasis concept, which refers to the lack of any change in the given system. Stasis is focused on isolated systems, where there is any possible parameter. Nevertheless most systems in the entire world are either closed or open systems, which don’t exactly exhibit a state where there is no change. Thus to these systems, the dynamic equilibrium concept has to be used.
Though it’s widely used in physics and chemistry, this concept can also be translated in biology, economics, and ecology. It’s used in describing complex functions that might seem to be unchanging, when they are actually changing when viewed from another angle. Another type of dynamic equilibrium is registered when the output and input values of a given system ‘oscillate’ around a mean value, with the oscillations’ magnitudes canceling each other out, thus producing a natural, dynamic stability. Because of the broad applicability of the concept, it finds uses in a variety of fields of study. Distinct fields of study offer distinct interpretations of the dynamic equilibrium.
Chemistry interpretation of the Dynamic Equilibrium
Here, dynamic equilibrium is the state of balance in a reversible reaction system where the proportion of the reactants and products stay constant, regardless of the continuous transition of reactants to products and products to reactants. The general system’s composition doesn’t shift and the changes in the products and reactants concentration are unnoticeable. To put it in a different way, it implies that there is no change in the total amount of the products and reactants, regardless of the reaction taking place continuously.
Dynamic Equilibrium in Physics
A body is said to be in dynamic equilibrium the minute all the forces that are acting on it are balanced, and the body is moving with reference to the Newton’s first and second law of motion. As we have discussed during our Physics tuition classes, the law states that an object stays in motion or at rest, unless a force from outside is applied to it, where force is equal to the product of acceleration and mass (F=ma). Hence, for a body to stay in motion lacking any external force, it has to move with a constant velocity, and exhibit no acceleration.
