LESSON 2.8 .

Analysing forces in

Forces in Equilibrium
The principle of the forces in
equilibrium states, Weight = Tension
“ When forces act upon an object , the (c)
object is said to be in a state of
equilibrium when the resulting force
acting on the object is zero ( no net
force acting upon it) ”
When the equilibrium is reached, then
the object is in two states, that is
(i) remains stationary (if the object is
stationary)
(ii) moves at a constant velocity ( if
the object is moving)
Based on , F = ma or a = F Buoyant force =
Weight
m
When the equilibrium of forces (d)
is achieved, then, F = 0 ,
hence a =0
Thus a = 0 , it means the
object remains stationary or
moves at a constant velocity.

Newton’s Third Law of

Motion
Newton’s third law of motion states , “
To every action there is an equal but
opposite direction” Weight = Normal
reaction
Examples Forces in (e)
Equilibrium
(a)

Weight = Normal reaction

Weight = Normal reaction
(b)

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 Pulling force = Frictional Two Forces in Equilibrium
force
(f)

P + Q=0
P =-Q

Example 1
Figure shows a stationary wooden
block of mass 2 kg resting on a table.
Weight = Lifting force
Driving force = Dragging
force
(g)
Calculate
(a) the weight of the wooden block
(b) the normal reaction

Solution
Three Forces in
Equilibrium
Weight = Normal reaction
Engine thrust = Air
resistance +
Frictional
force
(h)

P + Q +R=0

When three forces in equilibrium the

triangle of forces in one direction (in
order)

Example 2

The following figure shows a steel

sphere of mass
12 kg suspended from a length of rope
which is pulled to the side by a
Buoyant force = Weight of horizontal force of M. The tension of
load + Weight of another rope is N.
helium
gas

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 In this method the tail of the first
vector is joined to the tail of second
vector and then draw a parallelogram.
The diagonal represents the resultant
force.

Triangle method:
In this method the tip of the first
vector is joined to the tail of second
vector and then draw a line to
(a) Draw a triangle of forces. complete the triangle.
(b) Calculate the value of The third side represents the resultant
(i) M force.
(ii) N

Solution
Example 3

Find the resultant force for the

following figure:-

Solution:

Resultant force
Force is a vector quantity and hence
it has magnitude and direction.
Two or more forces which act on an
object can be combined into a single
force called the resultant force.

If two forces are in same line, vector

addition is easy. We simply add the
forces if both pull or push together;
subtract them if one is in the opposite
direction.
Example 4
If they are at an angle, the resultant
force can be determined by the The figure shows a trolley is pulled by
triangle method and the parallelogram two forces
method.

Parallelogram method :

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What is the magnitude and the • the sign of the force depend on
direction of the resultant force acting the quadrant where the force ,
on the trolley. F is placed

Solution For an object on a inclined plane, the

weight ,W of the object can be
resolved into two components ;
(i) parallel to inclined plane, A
(ii) perpendicular to inclined plane, B

Example 5

Figure shows a boat is pulled by two

forces.
Calculate the magnitude of the
resultant force acting on the trolley.

Solution:

A = W sin θ
B = W cos θ
Resolution of forces
A force can be resolved into two
components, that is,
(i) the horizontal component, Fx and
(ii) the vertical component , Fy

Example 6
Fx = F cos θ Find the values of Px and Py for the
Fy = F sin θ following figures.

• θ is an angle between the

force F to the horizontal line

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 2 Which of the following shows the
three forces 5N, 12N and 13 N in
equilibrium.

Solution:

3 Figure shows three forces F1 , F2

and F3 acting at a point.

Example 7

Figure shows a stationary wooden

block of mass 50 g which is placed on
a inclined plane that is at an angle of
40o to the horizontal.
What is the magnitude of the weight
parallel to the inclined plane. Which of the following vector
diagram represents the forces
Solution correctly?

TUTORIAL
2.8
1 When the equilibrium is reached
an object

A remains stationary
B moves at a constant velocity
C remains stationary or moves
at a
constant velocity

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4 Figure shows the forces 10 N, P
and Q acting at a point in
equilibrium.

If the tension of each strings is

150 N, what is the mass of the
monkey?

A 5 kg B 10 kg
C 15 kg D 20 kg
E 30 kg
What is the magnitude of the
force, P ? 7 Figure shows three loads
suspended from inelastic strings
A 5.0 N B 6.4 N through two smooth pulleys.
C 8.7 N D 10.0 N
E 12.7 N

5 Figure shows the three forces L , M

and N acting on a point O and
which are in equilibrium

If the three loads in equilibrium,

what is the value of W ?

A 8N B 12 N
C 16 N D 24 N
E 32 N

What is the tension , L? 8 Figure shows a lantern of mass 0.2

kg is suspended by a string that is
A 40 N B 30 N joined two other strings.
C 20 N D 10 N
E 5N

6 Figure shows a monkey hangs

from the middle of a light rope.

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 What is the tension in each string
P and Q ?

A 0.86 N B 1.00 N
C 1.74 N D 2.00 N
E 3.48 N

9 The figure shows three identical Which of the following figures

pictures are hang differently on a show the resultant of two forces.
wall .

Which comparison is true about

the tension of each strings in the
arrangement of P ,Q and R?

A Tension in P > Tension in Q >

12 Figure shows two forces 3 N and
Tension in R
4 N which are perpendicular each
B Tension in Q > Tension in P >
other.
Tension in R
C Tension in P > Tension in R >
Tension in Q
D Tension in R > Tension in Q >
Tension in P

10 Which of the following produces

the largest resultant force?

What is the angle between the

resultant force to the force of 4 N?

A 53.1o B 48.8o
C 42.0o D 36.9o
E 23.5o

13 Figure shows two forces 5 N and 4

11 Figure shows two forces 9 N and N act at a point and make an
12 N act at a point O. angle of 60o with each other.

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 What is the magnitude of the
resultant force acting on the
ground?

A 217 N B 433 N
C 560 N D 866 N
E 1732 N

16 Figure shows two forces 15 N and

What is the resultant force ? 10 N are applied at a point O.
A 12.5 N B 9.2 N
C 7. 8 N D 3.0 N
E 1.5 N

14 Figure shows two forces F N

respectively act at a point O and
make an angle of 120o with each
other. What is the resultant force?

A 9.5 N B 10.2 N
C 10.6 N D 11.8 N
E 12.4 N

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What is the resultant force?

A ¼FN B ½FN
C FN D ¾FN
E 2F N
Based on the figure above , which
15 Figure shows two lengths of of the following figures show the
cables, PQ and RQ are used to resultant of two forces
hold a flagpole upright. Each cable
has a tension 1 000 N and makes
and angle 60o to the surface of the
ground.

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 18 Which of the following figures C 9.5 N D 7.5 N
give the largest resultant force E 4.5 N
of three forces.
21 Figure shows a gardener pushes a
lawnmower with a force 500 N at
an angle 60o to the surface of the
field.

What is the force pushing the

19 Figure shows four forces 3 N, 8 N, lawnmower forward ?
8 N and 20 N acting at a point. .
A 50 N B 125 N
C 250 D
500 N E 1000 N

What is the resultant force acting

at the point?

A 5N B 6N 22 Figure shows a small carton of

C 8N D 10 N weight 50 N is placed on a inclined
E 13 N plane makes an angle 30o to the
horizontal .
20 Figure shows a trolley being
pushed by a 15 N force on a floor.

What is the value of F ?

A 50 N B 25 N
C 20 N D 10 N
E 5N
What is the vertical component of
the force? 23 Figure shows a trolley of mass 2
kg being pulled by a 10 N force on
A 27.5 N B 12. 5 N a rough surface . The frictional

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 force between the rough surface
and the trolley is 2 N.
Figure (b) shows a car is moving
at an uniform velocity 20 ms-1
along a straight road.
F3 and F4 are the forces acting at
the car.

What is the acceleration of the

trolley?
Figure (b)
A 0.5 ms-2 B 1.0 ms- (a) Name the force
2 (i) F1
C 1.5 ms-2 D 3.0
ms-2
E 6.0 ms-2 ……………………………………
(ii) F4
24 Figure shows a toy car of mass 0.8
kg which is released from rest and
is now moving down a smooth …………………………………….
inclined plane. The inclined plane (b) What is the magnitude of
makes an angle of 50o with the resultant force between
horizontal plane. (i) F1 and F2

……………………………………
(ii) F3 and F4

…………………………………..
(c) Based on your answers in (b)(i)
What is acceleration experienced and (b)(ii) also the
by the toy car informations in Figure(a) and
Figure(b), relate the situations
A 5.14 ms-2 B 6.13 to deduce a relevant physics
-2
ms C 6.42 ms-2 D concept and hence name the
7.66 ms-2 E 8.00 ms-2 concept.

25 Figure(a) shows a situation in tug

of war contest. The rope remains …………………………………………………
stationary at central line although
the rope is pulled at opposite ends ……………………………….
by both of teams. ………………...
F1 and F2 are the forces acting at (d) (i) What will happen to
the rope. the motion of the car if F3
is 8 000N ?

…………………………………
Figure (a) ………..

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 (ii) Give one reason for
your answer in
(d)(i). …………………………………………………
……
(e) Explain why the cyclist can
………………………………………….. gets serious injuries if he falls
into the road which the surface
26 Figure shows a cyclist is riding is very hard.
along a road at a constant
velocity. The total of downward
force acting on the bicycle and the
cyclist is 650 N. The normal …………………………………………………
reaction of the front tyre is 300 N ……
and forward thrust is 200 N.

…………………………………………………
……

…………………………………………………
……

(a) Calculate the normal

reaction ,P acting on the rear 27 Figure shows a ball of mass 4kg
tyre . suspended from a length of
rope NO which is pulled by two
ropes NP and NM.

(b) Give one reason why the

total resistance, Q should be
200 N at that moment?

…………………………………………………
……
(c) What will happen when the
forward thrust is increased?

…………………………………………………
…… (a) Draw a vector diagram to
(d) Why the cyclist thrown forward show the action of the forces.
when
the bicycle runs over a
stone.?
(b) Determine

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 (i) the value of T

(b) Determine the resultant force

along y-axis

(ii) the value of angle k

(c) Determine the resultant force

(c) If the rope NO is cut , the time acting on the ship.
taken for the ball to reach the
floor is 2.5 s .
(i) What is the velocity of the
ball when it reaches the
floor?

29 Figure shows a man pulls a trolley

full of groceries with a force 70 N
at an angle 20o to the surface of
(ii) What is the height of the the floor.
ball from the floor.

28 Figure shows a ship is pulled

horizontally by two boats with two
forces 6 kN and 10 kN.

(a) What is
(i) the horizontal component
of the pulling force?

(ii) the vertical component of

the pulling force?

(b) If the total mass of the trolley

(a) Determine the resultant force and the groceries is 60 kg,
along x-axis determine
(i) the acceleration of the
trolley

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 (ii) the force cause by the
trolley and the groceries
only acting on floor.

(a) What is the force pulling the

(iii) the total force acting on sampan forward.
the floor.

(b) What is the force pulling the

sampan
(d) If the trolley is pushed by to the bank?
the man at a same angle
as the trolley is pulled ,
what is the total force (c) (i) If the length of the rope is
acting on the floor. increased ,
how easier for the
workman to pull the
sampan forward?

...........................................
.................
(ii) Give the reason for your
answer in (c)(i)

…………………………………
………..

…………………………………
………..

30 Figure show a sampan in river is …………………………………

pulled by a workman. The workman ………..
pulls with a force of 400 N and the
rope used make an angle 50o with
the bank of the river. …………………………………
………..

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