EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE

Todays Objectives:

Students will be able to :

a) Draw a free body diagram
(FBD)
b) Apply equations of equilibrium
to solve a 2-D problem.
c) Drawing a 3-D free body diagram,
d) Applying the three scalar
equations (based on one vector
equation) of equilibrium.

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APPLICATION
The crane is lifting a load. To
decide if the straps holding the
load to the crane hook will fail, you
need to know the force in the
straps. How could you find the
forces?

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3.1 Condition For The Equilibrium of a Particle

A particle is said to be in equilibrium if it remains at rest if

originally at rest, or has constant velocity if originally in motion.

To maintain equilibrium, it is necessary to satisfy Newtons first

law of motion, which requires the resultant force acting on a
particle to be equal to zero

Where F is the vector sum of all forces acting on the particle.

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 This is an example of a 2-D or
coplanar force system.

If the whole assembly is in

equilibrium, then particle A is also
in equilibrium.

To determine the tensions in the

cables for a given weight of the
cylinder, you need to learn how to
draw a free body diagram and
apply equations of equilibrium

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 3.2 The Free Body Diagram
A drawing that shows the particle with all the forces that act on it
is called a free-body diagram (FBD)

To apply the equation of equilibrium, we must account for all the

known and unknown forces (F) which act on the particle.

Draw Outlined Shape PROCEDURE

1
FOR
Show All Forces DRAWING A
2
FREE BODY
DIAGRAM
Identify Each Force
3

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Example

FB
Note : Cylinder mass = 40 Kg

FD 30
x
A

W=392.4 N

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 Attention Quiz
1. Select the correct FBD of particle A.

30 A 40

100 lb

F1 F2
A
A) B)
30 40
100 lb
A
F F1 F2
C) 30 D) 30 40
A
A
100 lb 100 lb
EM102 ENGINEERING STATICS
 3.3 Coplanar Force Systems
For equilibrium, all the forces must sum to produce a zero
force resultant

For this vector equation to be satisfied, the forces x and y

components must both be equal to zero

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 EQUATIONS OF 2-D EQUILIBRIUM
y
FBD at A Since particle A is in equilibrium, the
FB net force at A is zero.
30
FD A A x So FB + FC + FD = 0
A or S F = 0
FC = 392.4 N
FBD at A
In general, for a particle in equilibrium,
S F = 0 or
S Fx i + S Fy j = 0 = 0 i + 0 j (a vector equation)

Or, written in a scalar form,

SFx = 0 and S Fy = 0
These are two scalar equations of equilibrium (E-of-E).
They can be used to solve for up to two unknowns.
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 ATTENTION QUIZ

2. Using this FBD of Point C, the sum of

F2
forces in the x-direction (S FX) is ___ .
20 lb 50
Use a sign convention of + .
C
A) F2 sin 50 20 = 0 F1

B) F2 cos 50 20 = 0
C) F2 sin 50 F1 = 0
D) F2 cos 50 + 20 = 0

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 EXAMPLE 1
y
FBD at A
FB
30
A x
FD A

FC = 392.4 N

Note : Cylinder mass = 40 Kg

Write the scalar E-of-E:

+ S Fx = FB cos 30 FD = 0
+ S Fy = FB sin 30 392.4 N = 0
Solving the second equation gives: FB = 785 N
From the first equation, we get: FD = 680 N

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 EXAMPLE 2
Given: Cylinder E weighs
30 lb and the
geometry is as
shown.
Find: Forces in the cables
and weight of
cylinder F.
Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for Point C.
2. Apply E-of-E at Point C to solve for the unknowns (FCB &
FCD).
3. Knowing FCB , repeat this process at point B.
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 EXAMPLE
y
FCD (continued)
30 x A FBD at C should look like the one at
15 the left. Note the assumed directions for
FBC the two cable tensions.
30 lb

The scalar E-of-E are:

+ S Fx = FBC cos 15 FCD cos 30 = 0
+ S Fy = FCD sin 30 FBC sin 15 30 = 0
Solving these two simultaneous equations for the
two unknowns FBC and FCD yields:
FBC = 100.4 lb
FCD = 112.0 lb
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 EXAMPLE (continued)

y FBA
FBC =100.4 lb
Now move on to ring B.
15 45
A FBD for B should
x
look like the one to the
left.
WF

The scalar E-of-E are:

S Fx = FBA cos 45 100.4 cos 15 = 0
S Fy = FBA sin 45 + 100.4 sin 15 WF = 0

Solving the first equation and then the second yields

FBA = 137 lb and WF = 123 lb

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 SPRINGS, CABLES, AND PULLEYS

T1
T2

Spring Force = spring constant * With a frictionless pulley,

deformation, or T 1 = T 2.
F=k*s

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EXAMPLE 3

If the spring has unstrectched

length of 0.8m and a stifness
k=500N/m and it is stretched to a
length of 1m. Find a force of the
spring

Solution:

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 THE EQUATIONS OF 3-D EQUILIBRIUM

When a particle is in equilibrium, the vector sum

of all the forces acting on it must be zero (S F =
0).
This equation can be written in terms of its x, y
and z components. This form is written as
follows.
(S Fx) i + (S Fy) j + (S Fz) k = 0

This vector equation will be satisfied only when

SFx = 0
SFy = 0
SFz = 0
These equations are the three scalar equations of equilibrium. They
are valid for any point in equilibrium and allow you to solve for up to
three unknowns.
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 EXAMPLE 4

Given: The four forces and

geometry shown.
Find: The force F5 required to
keep particle O in
equilibrium.
Plan:

1) Draw a FBD of particle O.

2) Write the unknown force as
F5 = {Fx i + Fy j + Fz k} N
3) Write F1, F2 , F3 , F4 and F5 in Cartesian vector form.
4) Apply the three equilibrium equations to solve for the three
unknowns Fx, Fy, and Fz.

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 EXAMPLE #4
(continued)

F1 = {300(4/5) j + 300 (3/5) k} N

F1 = {240 j + 180 k} N
F2 = { 600 i} N
F3 = { 900 k} N
F4 = F4 (rB/ rB)
= 200 N [(3i 4 j + 6 k)/(32 + 42 + 62)]
= {76.8 i 102.4 j + 153.6 k} N

F5 = { Fx i Fy j + Fz k} N
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 EXAMPLE #4
(continued)
Equating the respective i, j, k components to zero, we have
SFx = 76.8 600 + Fx = 0; solving gives Fx = 523.2 N
SFy = 240 102.4 + Fy = 0 ; solving gives Fy = 137.6 N
SFz = 180 900 + 153.6 + Fz = 0 ; solving gives Fz = 566.4 N

Thus, F5 = {523 i 138 j + 566 k} N

Using this force vector, you can determine the forces magnitude and
coordinate direction angles as needed.

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 EXAMPLE 5

Determine the tension developed in cables AB, AC and AD

900 N

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 EXAMPLE 6

Given: A 600 N load is supported

by three cords with the
geometry as shown.
Find: The tension in cords AB,
AC and AD.
Plan:

1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force

magnitudes be FB, FC, FD .
2) Represent each force in the Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.

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 EXAMPLE #6 (continued)
FBD at A z
FD FC

2
m
1 30 y
2 A
m
m FB
x
600 N

FB = FB (sin 30 i + cos 30 j) N
= {0.5 FB i + 0.866 FB j} N
FC = FC i N
FD = FD (rAD /rAD)
= FD { (1 i 2 j + 2 k) / (12 + 22 + 22) } N
= { 0.333 FD i 0.667 FD j + 0.667 FD k } N
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 EXAMPLE #6 (continued)
Now equate the respective i , j , k FBD at A z
FD FC
components to zero.
2
Fx = 0.5 FB FC + 0.333 FD = 0 m y
1 30
2 A
m
Fy = 0.866 FB 0.667 FD = 0 m FB
x
Fz = 0.667 FD 600 = 0 600 N

Solving the three simultaneous equations yields

FC = 646 N
FD = 900 N
FB = 693 N

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 TRY THIS!
Given: The box weighs 550 lb and
geometry is as shown.
Find: The forces in the ropes AB
and AC.

Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for point A.
2. Apply the E-of-E to solve for the
forces in ropes AB and AC.

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 SOLUTION

y FC FBD at point A
FB
5 3
30 4
A x

FD = 550 lb

Applying the scalar E-of-E at A, we get;

+ F x = FB cos 30 FC (4/5) = 0
+ F y = FB sin 30 + FC (3/5) - 550 lb = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FB = 478 lb and FC = 518 lb
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