03 Equilibrium of A Particle

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Chapter 3 Equilibrium of a Particle

APPLICATIONS

For a spool of given


weight, what are the forces
in cables AB and AC ?
APPLICATIONS

For a given weight of the


lights, what are the forces
in the cables? What size
of cable must you use ?
COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEMS

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 engine, we need to
learn how to draw a free body
diagram and apply equations
of equilibrium.
THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF A
FREE BODY DIAGRAM (FBD)

Free Body Diagrams are one of the most important things for
you to know how to draw and use.

What ? - It is a drawing that shows


all external forces acting on the
particle.

Why ? - It helps you write the


equations of equilibrium used to
solve for the unknowns (usually
forces or angles).
How ?
1. Imagine the particle to be isolated or cut free from its
surroundings.
2. Show all the forces that act on the particle.
Active forces: They want to move the particle.
Reactive forces: They tend to resist the motion.
3. Identify each force and show all known magnitudes
and directions. Show all unknown magnitudes and /
or directions as variables .

Note : Engine mass = 250 Kg FBD at A


EQUATIONS OF 2-D EQUILIBRIUM

FBD at A

In general, for a particle in equilibrium,  F = 0 or


Fx i + Fy j = 0 = 0 i + 0 j (A vector equation)
Or, written in a scalar form,
Fx = 0 and  Fy = 0
These are two scalar equations of equilibrium. They can be
used to solve for up to two unknowns.
Note : Engine mass = 250 Kg FBD at A
Write the scalar EofE:
+ →  Fx = TB cos 30º – TD = 0
+  Fy = TB sin 30º – 2.452 kN = 0
Solving the second equation gives: TB = 4.90 kN
From the first equation, we get: TD = 4.25 kN
EXAMPLE

Given: Sack A weighs 20 N


and geometry is as
shown.
Find: Forces in the cables
and weight of sack
B.
Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for Point E.
2. Apply EofE at Point E to
solve for the unknowns
(TEG & TEC).
3. Repeat this process at C.
A FBD at E should look like the one
to the left. Note the assumed
directions for the two cable tensions.

The scalar E-of-E are:


+ →  Fx = TEG sin 30º – TEC cos 45º = 0
+   Fy = TEG cos 30º – TEC sin 45º – 20 N = 0
Solving these two simultaneous equations for the
two unknowns yields:
TEC = 38.6 N
TEG = 54.6 N
Now move on to ring C.
A FBD for C should look
like the one to the left.

The scalar E-of-E are:


+ →  Fx = 38.64 cos 45 – (4/5) TCD = 0
+   Fy = (3/5) TCD + 38.64 sin 45 – WB = 0

Solving the first equation and then the second yields


TCD = 34.2 N and WB = 47.8 N .
EXAMPLE #1

Given: F1, F2 and F3.


Find: The force F required to
keep particle O in
equilibrium.

Plan:
1) Draw a FBD of particle O.
2) Write the unknown force as
F = {Fx i + Fy j + Fz k} N
3) Write F1, F2 and F3 in Cartesian vector form.
4) Apply the three equilibrium equations to solve for the three
unknowns Fx, Fy, and Fz.
EXAMPLE #1
(continued)

F1 = {400 j}N
F2 = {-800 k}N

F3 = F3 (rB/ rB)
= 700 N [(-2 i – 3 j + 6k)/(22 + 32 + 62)½]
= {-200 i – 300 j + 600 k} N
EXAMPLE #1
(continued)
Equating the respective i, j, k components to zero, we have
Fx = -200 + FX = 0 ; solving gives Fx = 200 N
Fy = 400 – 300 + Fy = 0 ; solving gives Fy = -100 N
Fz = -800 + 600 + Fz = 0 ; solving gives Fz = 200 N

Thus, F = {200 i – 100 j + 200 k} N


Using this force vector, you can determine the force’s magnitude
and coordinate direction angles as needed.
EXAMPLE #2

Given: A 100 Kg crate, as shown, is


supported by three cords. One
cord has a spring in it.
Find: Tension in cords AC and AD
and the force in the elastic
spring.
Plan:
1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force
magnitudes be FB, FC, F D .
2) Represent each force in the Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.
4) Find the force in the elastic spring
EXAMPLE #2 (continued)

FBD at A
FB = FB N i
FC = FC N (cos 120 i + cos 135 j + cos 60 k)
= {- 0.5 FC i – 0.707 FC j + 0.5 FC k} N
FD = FD(rAD/rAD)
= FD N[(-1 i + 2 j + 2 k)/(12 + 22 + 22)½ ]
= {- 0.3333 FD i + 0.667 FD j + 0.667 FD k}N
EXAMPLE #2 (continued)
The weight is W = (- mg) k = (-100 kg * 9.81 m/sec2) k = {- 981 k} N
Now equate the respective i , j , k components to zero.
Fx = FB – 0.5FC – 0.333FD = 0
Fy = - 0.707 FC + 0.667 FD = 0
Fz = 0.5 FC + 0.667 FD – 981 N = 0
Solving the three simultaneous equations yields
FC = 813 N
FD = 862 N
FB = 693.7 N
Given: A 150 Kg plate, as shown,
is supported by three
cables and is in
equilibrium.
Find: Tension in each of the
cables.

Plan:
1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force
magnitudes be FB, FC, F D .
2) Represent each force in the Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.
z

FBD of Point A: W

y
x FD
FB FC

W = load or weight of plate = (mass)(gravity)


= 150 (9.81) k = 1472 k N
FB = FB(rAB/rAB) = FB N (4 i – 6 j – 12 k)m/(14 m)
FC = FC (rAC/rAC) = FC(-6 i – 4 j – 12 k)m/(14 m)
FD = FD( rAD/rAD) = FD(-4 i + 6 j – 12 k)m/(14 m)
The particle A is in equilibrium, hence
FB + FC + FD + W = 0

Now equate the respective i, j, k components to zero (i.e.,


apply the three scalar equations of equilibrium).
Fx = (4/14)FB – (6/14)FC – (4/14)FD = 0
Fy = (-6/14)FB – (4/14)FC + (6/14)FD = 0
Fz = (-12/14)FB – (12/14)FC – (12/14)FD + 1472 = 0
Solving the three simultaneous equations gives
FB = 858 N
FC = 0 N
FD = 858 N
SPRINGS, CABLES, AND PULLEYS

Spring Force = spring constant * With a


deformation, or frictionless
F=k* S pulley, T1 = T2.
APPLICATIONS

For a given cable strength,


what is the maximum
weight that can be lifted ?
Given: The car is towed at
constant speed by the 600
N force and the angle  is
25°.
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.
600 N

FBD at point A
A
25° 30°

FAB FAC

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


+ → Fx = FAC cos 30° – FAB cos 25° = 0
+ → Fy = -FAC sin 30° – FAB sin 25° + 600 = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FAB = 634 N
FAC = 664 N
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 ( F = 0 ) .
This equation can be written in terms of its x,
y and z components. This form is written as
follows.
(Fx) i + (Fy) j + (Fz) k = 0
This vector equation will be satisfied only when
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
Fz = 0
These equations are the three scalar equations of equilibrium.
They are valid at any point in equilibrium and allow you to
solve for up to three unknowns.

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