Imagine a ball is perfectly balanced at the very top of a smooth, rounded hill. If this ball is given a very small nudge to the side, which statement best analyzes the forces at play and the nature of its initial position?

Analyzing Equilibrium on a Hilltop

A ball resting at the very peak of a hill is considered to be in an unstable equilibrium. This is because if the ball is slightly displaced, a restoring force will act upon it, pushing it back to its original position at the peak.

Match each description of a ball's position with the type of equilibrium it represents.