Dynamic Equilibrium

Did you see the video? It’s not a miracle, it’s a reality. Trust is not in the chair, it’s in the friendship and collaboration. It is a real experiment called Dynamic Equilibrium.   

Do you remember dynamic equilibrium in chemistry? It’s a reversible process, when the forward and reverse processes occur at the same rate, and reaction appears to have stopped, but the actual reaction goes on, as the rate of formation of reactants is equal to the rate of formation of products.

For example, in the reaction, NaCl = Na + Cl becomes in dynamic equilibrium, when the rate of the dissolution of NaCl equals the rate of crystallisation.

The human body also interacts with itself to maintain a balance with changes, e.g. temperature. This is called human homoeostasis. A state of balance is needed among all organs and systems for the body to survive and function properly.

When a person is in a state of intellectual or emotional stability, he or she is said to be in a state of equilibrium, as he or she adjusts between the opposing or divergent influences.

Dynamic equilibrium refers both to an internal balance between interrelated social phenomena and to the external relationship maintained with friends and environment.

Coming back to chemistry, according to the Le Chatelier’s principle, a change in one variable produces a shift in the position of the equilibrium that counteracts the effect of this change.

In economics too, demand and supply of a product remain in equilibrium, but if any one side is disturbed, the equilibrium is again established by raising or paring the price.

Even in daily life, when we heat water in a saucepan to boil some potatoes, water reaches boiling point after sometime, and then if we add some more potatoes, the temperature drops a bit, but regains the previous state quickly.

Let’s also see an example of see-saw. The balance is disturbed, when one more person joins on one side, but in order to maintain balance, the person sitting alone on the other side increases the distance from the fulcrum.

There are so many examples in our day-to-day life, when we indulge in dynamic equilibrium knowingly or unknowingly.

The things around us keep changing. Change is a continuous process. We have to coordinate the efforts of people to accomplish the desired goals. If we help each other, we will never fall down as shown in the video, be it society, work place or family!    

–Kaushal Kishore         

images: pinterest and video:elina taverner

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