Experiment No.

FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

OBJECTIVE: To verify the first condition of equilibrium.

MATERIALS: Dynamic kit stand, protractor, weights, pulley system, clamps, ruler,
hard cardboard, bond papers, pencil

THEORY:
The first condition by which an object remains at equilibrium (either at rest, or in
straight – line motion with constant speed) states that the net external force acting on the
object must be zero. Any object hangs at rest if its weight is counteracted by other forces,
so that the vector sum of all concurrent forces along the vertical and the horizontal
directions is zero. In this activity, the weights hanging on the left, right, and center objects
are considered as tensions on the left, right, and center cords, respectively. If the system
remains at rest, then the sum of the upward components of the tensions in the left and
right cords is equal in magnitude to the weight of the center object. Likewise, the leftward
component of the tension in the left cord is equal in magnitude to the rightward component
of the tension in the right cord.

OBJECTIVE:
A. Graphical Method:
1. Set up the dynamic kit stand with clamps and pulley system as shown in Fig. 1.

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2. Hang a number of weights on the left, center and right cords such that the center weight is less
than the sum of the left and right weights.

3. Give the system a little jerk and let it come to rest.

4. With the use of a hard cardboard, trace the lines of the cords on the bond paper. See Figure 2.

5. With a convenient scale of unit length for every weight, (2 cm = 1 weight), construct graphically
the vector sum of the left, right and center cords. Use the graphing paper provided.

6. Complete table A and reproduce the graphical vector sum of Step No. 5 just below table A for
your final report.

B. Analytical Method:

1. Reproduce the lines of the traced cords of Step #4 in Procedure A in a rectangular

2. Using the protractor, measure the angle made by the left and right lines with reference
to the x – axis of the rectangular coordinate system.

3. Representing each weight by 2 cm = a unit vector, analytically apply the first condition
of equilibrium to the three forces.

4. Complete table B, showing all your computations in its completion.

Figure 2.

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 Chavez, Kimberly N., Cariño, Camille
Mae P., Cauntic, Jerlien R., Casaclang,
Seth G., Cueto, Andrea Jienne U.,
De Leon, Niño Angelo, De Villa,
Name: James Allen Date: 3/17/21
Course, Year, & Section: BSIS-NS-1A Group No. : 2

Experiment No. 3

FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

Table A. Scale: 2 cm = 1 weight

NUMBER OF LENGTH OF ANGLE IN DEGREES BETWEEN

LEFT (L) 1 2 cm LEFT and RIGHT 35°

RIGHT (R) 1 2 cm RIGHT and CENTER 120°

CENTER (C) 1 2 cm CENTER and LEFT 270°

Graphical construction of vectors:

L= 1 R= 1

R= 1

Vector sum
= 0.8 cm C= 1

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 C= 1

Ɵ = 270° L= 1

Table B.

Number Angle with Components of Forces Along

Left 2 4 120° -2cm 3.464 cm

Right 1 2 20° 1.879 cm 0.684 cm

Cente
2 4 270° 0 cm -4 cm
r

Total - 0.121cm 0.148 cm

Resultant R = 0.191cm R = 129.27°

COMPUTATIONS

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X-AXIS:
L x =Lcos θL R x =Rcos θR C x =Ccos θC
L x =4 cos 120 ° R x =2 cos 20 ° C x =4 cos 2 70 °
L x =4 (−0.5) R x =2(0.9396) C x =4( 0)
L x =−2 cm R x =1.879 cm C x =0 cm

Y-AXIS:
L y =Lsin θL R y =Rsin θR C y =Csin θC
L y =4 sin 1 20° R y =2sin 20 ° C y =4 sin 270 °
L y =4( 0.8660) R y =2 ( 0.3420 ) C y =4 (−1)
L y =3.464 cm R y =0.684 cm C y =−4 cm

TOTAL:
Σ X=L x + R x +C x ΣY =L y + R y +C y
Σ X=−2 cm+1.879 cm+0 cm ΣY =3.464+ 0.684+(−4)
Σ X=−0.121cm ΣY =0.148 cm

RESULTANT:

R=√ Σ X 2 + ΣY 2 ΣY
θ R=tan−1
R=√−0.1212+ 0.1482 ΣX
R=√−0.14641+ 0.021904 0.148
θ R=tan−1
R=√ 0.036545 −0.121
R=0.191 cm θ R=180 °−50.73 °
θ R=129.27 °

ANALYSIS OF DATA/QUESTIONS:

1. In Step 2 of method A, why should the center weight be less than the sum of the left and
right weights?

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2. The net external force acting on an object is zero. Is it possible for the object to be
traveling with a velocity that is not zero? Justify your answer.

APPLICATIONS:

1. The steel I beam in the drawing has a

70o 70o

2. In the figure below, find T1 and T2.

5m
1 2

T2
T1 3m
4m

500 N

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