Unstable equilibrium When the center of gravity of a body lies above the point of suspension or support, the body is said to be in unstable equilibriumExample pencil standing on its point or a stick in vertically standing position.Explanation: If thin rod standing vertically is slightly disturbed from its position it will not come back to its original position. This type of equilibrium is called unstable equilibrium, other example of unstable equilibrium are vertically standing cylinder and funnel etc.