Scribd
Upload
67 views4 pages

Equilibrium of Forces (Equilibrant and Resultant)

Equilibrium of forces is a state where all forces acting on a body balance, resulting in no motion change, categorized into static and dynamic equilibrium. The conditions for equilibrium include translational and rotational equilibrium, while resultant and equilibrant forces help maintain this balance. The document also discusses parallel and non-parallel coplanar forces, moments of forces, and the principle of moments, which is crucial for analyzing rotational motion and ensuring system balance.

Uploaded by

palmer okiemute
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
67 views4 pages

Equilibrium of Forces (Equilibrant and Resultant)

Equilibrium of forces is a state where all forces acting on a body balance, resulting in no motion change, categorized into static and dynamic equilibrium. The conditions for equilibrium include translational and rotational equilibrium, while resultant and equilibrant forces help maintain this balance. The document also discusses parallel and non-parallel coplanar forces, moments of forces, and the principle of moments, which is crucial for analyzing rotational motion and ensuring system balance.

Uploaded by

palmer okiemute
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES

Equilibrium of forces refers to a state in which all the forces acting on a body balance each other,
resulting in no change in the motion of the body. In simple terms, when the net force on an object is
zero, the object is said to be in equilibrium.

There are two types of equilibrium:


1. Static Equilibrium – When the object is at rest and remains at rest.
2. Dynamic Equilibrium – When the object is in motion with constant velocity (i.e., no acceleration).

Conditions for Equilibrium:


1. First Condition (Translational Equilibrium):The vector sum of all forces acting on the body must be
zero. Mathematically:∑F = 0
2. Second Condition (Rotational Equilibrium): The sum of all torques (moments) about any axis must be
zero. Mathematically:
∑τ = 0

RESULTANT AND EQUILIBRANT FORCES


Resultant Force: Resultant force is a single force that has the same effect as the combined action of two
or more forces acting on a body. It can be found using vector addition.
Example: If two forces F₁ and F₂ are acting on a point and form an angle θ between them, the magnitude
of the resultant R is given by:
√
R=

Equilibrant Force: Equilibrant force is the force that keeps the system in equilibrium. It is equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction to the resultant force.
So,
Equilibrant (E) = –Resultant (R)

PARALLEL FORCES
Parallel forces are forces that act in the same plane and never intersect, either in the same or opposite
directions.
Types of parallel forces
1. Like Parallel Forces – Forces act in the same direction.
2. Unlike Parallel Forces – Forces act in opposite directions.

Resultant of Parallel Forces:


For like parallel forces, the resultant is equal to the sum of the forces and acts in the direction of the
forces:
R = F1 + F2
For unlike parallel forces, the resultant is the difference between the two forces and acts in the direction
of the larger force:
R = |F1 - F2|

Finding the Point of Application:


To determine the point where the resultant acts, the principle of moments is used:
F1 . d1 = F2.d2
.d1 and d2 are distances from the forces to the resultant

MOMENT OF A FORCE
When we turn on a tap or try screw nail out of wood with screw driver, we exert a turning force and
produce a turning effect. Such turning effect is called moment of a force
The moment of a force (also known as torque) is the turning effect of a force about a point or axis. It
measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object around a pivot.
Mathematically,
Moment (M) = Force (F) × Perpendicular Distance (d)
Where:
Force (F) is the applied force in newtons (N)
Distance (d) is the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the pivot or point of
rotation (in meters)
SI Unit: Newton meter (Nm)
Direction: Can be clockwise or anticlockwise depending on the direction of rotation it causes.

Experiment on Moment of a Force


Objective: To verify the principle of moments (Law of the Lever):
"For a body in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments equals the sum of anticlockwise moments."
Apparatus: A uniform meter rule, Knife edge (acting as fulcrum),Weights and weight hangers,

Procedure:
1. Place the meter rule horizontally on the knife edge, adjust until it balances (the center of gravity is
found).
2. Mark the pivot point (O).
3. Hang known weights at different distances on both sides of the pivot.
4. Adjust positions so that the rule balances horizontally again.
5. Record distances from the pivot and corresponding weights.
6. Calculate moments for each side:

Clockwise moment = Weight × Distance (right side of pivot)


Anticlockwise moment = Weight × Distance (left side of pivot)

Observation and Conclusion:


If the system is in equilibrium:
Sum of clockwise moments = Sum of anticlockwise moments
This verifies the principle of moments.

Moment of Parallel and Non-Parallel Coplanar Forces


Coplanar Forces: These are forces that lie in the same plane. Based on their direction, they can be:
1. Parallel Coplanar Forces:
a. Like parallel forces: Forces that act in the same direction.
The resultant moment is the algebraic sum of individual moments.
Example: Multiple weights hanging on a beam.

b. Unlike parallel forces: Forces that act in opposite directions.


Can create rotational motion if not balanced.
The net moment depends on the difference of the individual moments.

Example:
Consider a see-saw with two kids on either side exerting vertical downward forces (weights). These are
unlike parallel forces. If both have equal moment (force × distance), the see-saw balances.

2. Non-Parallel Coplanar Forces:


These forces act at angles to each other but still lie in the same plane.
The moment caused by each force is calculated about the same pivot point using the perpendicular
distance from the point to the line of action of the force.
The net moment is the vector sum of all moments.
Common in structures and mechanisms with forces acting in various directions (e.g., crane arms,
mechanical linkages).

Analysis:
Use vector decomposition to resolve forces if needed.
Calculate each moment considering the direction (positive for anticlockwise, negative for clockwise).

Conclusion
The concept of moment is fundamental in mechanics, especially in analyzing rotational motion and
equilibrium. The principle of moments ensures balance in systems, while understanding the behavior of
parallel and non-parallel coplanar forces is essential in engineering and physics to predict and control
rotational effects accurately.

Questions
1. A 100cm metre rule is pivoted at its middle point.if a weight 2N is hung from the 20cm mark ,
find out the amount of weight needed to be applied at the 80cm mark so as to keep it in
balanced position.
Solution
According to the principle of moment, if an object is in rotational equilibrium,
the total sum anticlockwise moment is equal to clockwise moment
anticlockwise moment =lever arm x force = 50 _ 20 = 30cm =0.30m
force = 2N
0.30 x 2 = 0.6Nm
Clockwise moment =length of lever arm x force
80 _ 50 = 30cm = 0.30m
Let the force be F
Ie 0.30 x F
= 0.30F =0.6
F = 0.6/0.3 = 2N

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy