The system under consideration for this experiment
will need to not only attain equilibrium, but also remain
in equilibrium. This will require that the object
be in stable equilibrium, meaning if a slight displacement
of the system occurs, the system will return to
its original position (e.g., a pendulum). If the system
were to move farther from its original position when
given a slight displacement, it would be in unstable
equilibrium (e.g., a ball on a hill).