: Any small displacement results in a force that pushes the system further away from its initial state. This occurs at the maximum of a potential energy curve.
: The system experiences a restoring force that pulls it back toward its original position after a disturbance. This typically occurs at the local minimum of a potential energy curve.
: The system remains in its new position after being moved and has no tendency to return or move further away. Visualization of Stability States This graph illustrates the potential energy ( ) of a system relative to its position (