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EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE
A par*cle is said to be in equilibrium when the resultant of all the forces ac*ng on it is zero. If two forces are the only forces ac*ng on a body in equilibrium, then the forces are equal and opposite.
A 150 N
1

EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE
If there are three forces, when drawing the force polygon, it will close if the par*cle is in equilibrium.
F2 F1 F2 A F1 F3
2

F3 A

150 N

EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE
In general, if there are several forces, when drawing the force polygon, it will close if the par*cle is in equilibrium.
F2 A F1 F4 F3 F2 F4 F1 A F3

EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE
The force polygon is a graphical representa*on of the equilibrium of forces ac*ng on a par*cle. Mathema*cally, for equilibrium:
Vector form:

R = F = 0
RX = FX = 0

(R i ) + (R j ) = 0
X Y

Scalar form:

RY = FY = 0
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FREE BODY DIAGRAMS (FBD)

Space diagram represents the sketch of the physical problem. The free body diagram selects the significant particle or points and draws the force system on that particle or point. Steps: 1. Imagine the particle to be isolated or cut free from its surroundings. Draw or sketch its outlined shape.
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FREE BODY DIAGRAMS (FBD)

2. Indicate on this sketch all the forces that act on the particle. These include active forces - tend to set the particle in motion e.g. from cables and weights and reactive forces caused by constraints or supports that prevent motion.
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FREE BODY DIAGRAMS (FBD)

3.Label known forces with their magnitudes and directions. Use letters to represent magnitudes and directions of unknown forces. Assume direction of force which may be corrected later.
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Example 10

Solu*on
FBC = FAC sin 75o = 3.73FAC .............(1) cos 75o
1962 + 0.26 FAC = 20312 . + 0.27 FAC ......(2) 0.966

Equilibrium of a Par.cle in Space

A par*cle is in equilibrium if the resultant of all the forces ac.ng on the par.cle is zero. The component Rx, Ry, Rz of the resultant are given by the previous sec*on are zero.

Fy = 0 i.e. FBC sin 75o - FAC cos 75o - 1962 = 0

FBC =

From Equations (1) and (2), 3.73 FAC = 2031.2 + 0.27 FAC FAC = 587 N From (1), FBC = 3.73 x 587 = 2190 N
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Rx = Fx = 0

Ry = Fy = 0

Rz = Fz = 0

Note: The above equa.ons represent the necessary and sucient condi.ons for the equilibrium of a par.cle in space. They can be used to solve problems dealing with the equilibrium of a par.cle involving no more than 3 unknowns.

Example 11
A 200-kg cylinder is hung by means of two cables AB and AC, which are aaached to the top of a ver*cal wall. A horizontal force P perpendicular to the wall holds the cylinder in the posi*on shown. Determine the magnitude of P and the tension in each cable.
8m B 10m 1.2m A 12m 200kg P 2m C
B

Example 11
y 8m 1.2m 10m C

TAC

TAB
12m

AC
A

P 2m

AB
O

k W

Free-body Diagram. Point A was chosen as a free body; this point is subjected to four forces, three of which are of unknown magnitude.

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Example 11
y

Example 11
10m 8m C B 1.2m

y 8m B j 1.2m

10m

P=Pi
TAC

(1)
TAB
12m

TAC

AC
A

In the case of TAB and TAC, it is necessary rst to determine the components and magnitudes of the vectors AB and AC. Deno*ng by AB the unit vector along AB, we write
2m

TAB
12m

AC
A

W = -mg j = 200(9.81) j
2m

AB
O

AB = -(1.2m) i +(10m) j +(8m) k

AB
O

W = -1962 N j

(2)

k W

|AB| = 12.862 m

k W

AB

AB + 0.7775 = = 0.09330i j + 0.6220k 12.862

(3)

+ 0.7775T AB T AB = TAB AB = 0.09330T AB i j + 0.6220TAB k

Example 11
y 8m B j 1.2m 10m C

Example 11
Equilibrium Condi*on. Since A is in equilibrium, we must have : F = 0 TAB + TAC + P + W =0

TAC

Deno*ng by AC the unit vector along AC, we write in a similar way

TAB
12m

AC
A

AB
O

AC = -(1.2m) i +(10m) j +(10m) k

2m i x

( 0.09330TAB 0.08455TAC + P )i + (0.7775TAB + 0.7046TAC 1962) j =0 + (0.6220TAB 0.7046TAC )k

|AC| = 14.193 m

k W

= 0:

0.09330TAB 0.08455TAC + P = 0

AC

AC + 0.7046 = = 0.08455i j 0.7046k 14.193

(4)

FY = 0 :

+ 0.7775TAB + 0.7046TAC = 1962

+ 0.7046TAC TAC = TAC AC = 0.08455TAC i j 0.7046TAC k

= 0:

+ 0.6220TAB 0.7046TAC = 0
P = 235 N TAB = 1402 N TAC = 1238 N

Solving simultaneously,

Example 12
C(-2, 0, -2)m D(-3, 0, 3)m z y x B (4, 0, 2)m A (0, -4, 0)m

Example 12
Draw the Free-Body Diagram. We isolate part of the cable system near point A (considered as a par*cle) and complete the free-body diagram by showing the forces exerted by the tensions in the cables. The magnitudes of the vectors TAB, TAC, and TAD are the tensions in cable AB, AC, and AD, respec*vely.
y C D z A B TAC x TAD A -(100)(9.81) N j TAB

100 kg

The 100 kg cylinder is suspended from the ceiling by cables attached at points B, C, and D. What are the tensions in cables AB, AC, and AD?

100 kg

F =T

AB

+ T AC + T AD 981 j = 0

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Example 12

C(-2, 0, -2)m D(-3, 0, 3)m z

y x B (4, 0, 2)m A (0, -4, 0)m

Example 12
TAD

TAC TAB A

100 kg

F =T

AB

+ T AC + T AD 981 j = 0

-(100)(9.81) N j

= 4i (m ) + (y B y A ) + 4 rB A = (x B x A )i j + (z B z A ) k j + 2k
+ 0.667 T AB = T AB e B A = T AB 0.667i j + 0.333k
rB A + 0.667 eB A = = 0.667i j + 0.333k rB A

= (0.667T AB 0.408T AC 0.514T AD )i + (0.667T AB + 0.816T AC + 0.686T AD 981) j

=0 + (0.333T AB 0.408T AC + 0.514T AD )k

T AC = T AC eC

= T AC

T AD = T AD e D A = T AD

) ( 0.408i + 0.816 j 0.408k) ( 0.514i + 0.686 j 0.514k)

F = 0.667T F = 0.667T F = 0.333T

x

AB

0.408T AC 0.514T AD = 0

AB + 0.816TAC + 0.686TAD = 981

AB

0.408T AC + 0.514T AD = 0
TAD = 168 N

TAB = 519 N

TAC = 636 N