Final answer:
Three non-parallel forces that can be represented by the sides of a triangle taken in order imply equilibrium, following the triangle law of forces and Newton's third law of motion, which dictates that forces occur in pairs, equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
When three non-parallel forces can be represented both in magnitude and direction by the three sides of a triangle, taken in order, these forces can keep a body in equilibrium.
This situation is an application of the triangle law of forces. Can you imagine forming a triangle with arrows representing these forces? If the third side of the triangle closes the path formed by the first two forces, this implies that the resultant force is zero, and the body will remain in equilibrium. It's a visual representation of Newton's third law of motion where forces always occur in pairs, equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, acting on different bodies.
If you have a scenario where forces are acting on a body and the body remains stationary or moves with constant velocity, the body is said to be in a state of equilibrium. That means the net force acting on the body is zero. This is supported by Newton's first law, which tells us that a body at rest or moving with constant velocity will remain in that state unless acted upon by a non-zero net external force.