Equilibrium

Occurs when F 0 and 0

Static Equilibrium

Occurs when F 0, 0, and

v 0

Static Equilibrium Examples

1. A hinge attached to a wall connects a 3.0 m long pole while the other end is held up by
a rope as shown. If the tension in the rope is 250 N, and the force makes a 37 angle
with the pole, what is the mass of the pole?

FT
FHy
37

FHx

Fg
37

Hinge

3.0 m

T g 0

Fx 0

Fy 0

FHx FTx 0

FHy FTy Fg 0

FHx FT cos 37

FHy mg FT sin 37

g T
L
mg LFT sin 37
2
2 F sin 37
m T
g
2 250 N sin 37
9.8 N
kg
m 31 kg
m

Static Equilibrium Examples

2. A ladder whose length (l) is 15 m and whose mass m is 50. kg rests against a wall. The
top of the ladder is a distance h = 11 m above the ground. The center of mass of the
ladder is 1/3 of the way up. Assume that the wall, but not the ground is frictionless.
What forces are exerted on the ladder by the wall and by the ground?

Fwall
l

Fground

F fs

Fg

Static Equilibrium Examples

2. A ladder whose length (l) is 15 m and whose mass m is 50. kg rests against a wall. The
top of the ladder is a distance h = 11 m above the ground. The center of mass of the
ladder is 1/3 of the way up. Assume that the wall, but not the ground is frictionless.
What forces are exerted on the ladder by the wall and by the ground?

Fwall

Fy 0
Fx 0

Fground

F fs

Fg

Fwall F fs 0
Fwall F fs

Fground Fg 0
Fground Fg
Fground mg
Fground 50.kg (9.8 N
Fground 490 N

kg

Static Equilibrium Examples

2. A ladder whose length (l) is 15 m and whose mass m is 50. kg rests against a wall. The
top of the ladder is a distance h = 11 m above the ground. The center of mass of the
ladder is 1/3 of the way up. Assume that the wall, but not the ground is frictionless.
What forces are exerted on the ladder by the wall and by the ground?

Fwall
0
h

l
r

Analyze around the contact point with

the ground and then F fs and Fground

exert 0 torque!

g wall 0
a

wall g
But r F

wall hFwall

Fground

F fs

Fg

Static Equilibrium Examples

2. A ladder whose length (l) is 15 m and whose mass m is 50. kg rests against a wall. The
top of the ladder is a distance h = 11 m above the ground. The center of mass of the
ladder is 1/3 of the way up. Assume that the wall, but not the ground is frictionless.
What forces are exerted on the ladder by the wall and by the ground?

Fwall
0
Analyze around the contact point with

the ground and then F fs and Fground

r
a

exert 0 torque!

F fs

g wall 0
wall g

Fground

Fg

But r F

wall hFwall
hFwall

a
g Fg
3
a
Fg
3

Static Equilibrium Examples

2. A ladder whose length (l) is 15 m and whose mass m is 50. kg rests against a wall. The
top of the ladder is a distance h = 11 m above the ground. The center of mass of the
ladder is 1/3 of the way up. Assume that the wall, but not the ground is frictionless.
What forces are exerted on the ladder by the wall and by the ground?
a
hFwall mg
3

Fwall

Fwall

amg
3h

10.20 m 50.kg

9.8 N

311 m
Fwall 150. N

But
a

l 2 a 2 h2
a l 2 h2
a

15 m 2 11 m 2

a 10.20 m

kg

Static Equilibrium Examples

3. Four identical bricks, each of length L, are put on top of one another in such a way that
part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum
values of a1, a2, a3, a4, and h, such that the stack is in equilibrium.

FN 1
1
1
2
a1

3
a2
Fg1
4
a3
The normal force acts from the edge of the brick
a4
below since at maximum a1 the top brick balances
h
on the tip of the brick below.
Since r F ,
Fg and FN are the forces
acting on the top block.
0

N 1 g1

Fy 0
FN 1 Fg1
FN 1 mg

rN rg for any chosen axis of rotation

Therefore, since the Fg acts from the center of
gravity, the edge of the brick must be directly
below the center of gravity so that FN exerts an
equal but opposite torque as Fg.
L
a1
2

Static Equilibrium Examples

3. Four identical bricks, each of length L, are put on top of one another in such a way that
part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum
values of a1, a2, a3, a4, and h, such that the stack is in equilibrium.

FN 2
1
2
a1
3
a2

4
2
FN 1
a3

a4
Fg 2
a2
h

Fy 0
0
FN 2 Fg 2 FN 1 0
FN 2 Fg 2 FN 1
FN 2 mg mg
FN 2 2mg

g 2 N 2 0
N 2 g2
L
a2 FN 2 Fg 2
2
L
a2 2mg mg
2
L
a2
4

Static Equilibrium Examples

3. Four identical bricks, each of length L, are put on top of one another in such a way that
part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum
values of a1, a2, a3, a4, and h, such that the stack is in equilibrium.

FN 3
1
2
a1
3
a2

4
3
FN 2
a3

a4
Fg 3
a3
h

Fy 0

FN 3 Fg 3 FN 2 0
FN 3 Fg 3 FN 2
FN 3 mg 2mg
FN 3 3mg

g3 N 3 0
N 3 g3
L
a3 FN 3 Fg 3
2
L
a3 3mg mg
2
L
a3
6

Static Equilibrium Examples

3. Four identical bricks, each of length L, are put on top of one another in such a way that
part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum
values of a1, a2, a3, a4, and h, such that the stack is in equilibrium.

FN 4
1
2
a1
3
a2
4
4
a3

Fg 4
a4
a4

h
FN 3
0

Fy 0
FN 4 Fg 4 FN 3 0
FN 4 Fg 4 FN 3
FN 4 mg 3mg
FN 4 4mg

g4 N 4 0
N4 g4
L
a4 FN 4 Fg 4
2
L
a4 4mg mg
2
L
a4
8

Static Equilibrium Examples

3. Four identical bricks, each of length L, are put on top of one another in such a way that
part of each extends beyond the one beneath. Find, in terms of L, the maximum
values of a1, a2, a3, a4, and h, such that the stack is in equilibrium.
1
3

2
a2

a3
a4
h

a1
h a1 a2 a3 a4
L L L L n L
h
2 4 6 8 i 1 2n
h

25
L
24

Brick 1 is actually out beyond

the edge of the table!