Chapter 3: Equilibrium of Coplanar

Force Systems
Equilibrium – the condition when the forces acting on a body are
balanced meaning is either at rest or moving in a straight line with
constant velocity. In short, the resultant is zero.

For a body to be in translational equilibrium, the resultant force

acting on a body should be zero. In such equilibrium, the body has
no translational motion. Therefore, 𝜮𝑭 = 0.

For a body to be in rotational equilibrium, the resultant moment

acting on a body should be zero. In such equilibrium, the body has
no rotational motion. Therefore, 𝜮𝑴 = 0.
Free Body Diagrams – an isolated view of a body which shows
only the external forces exerted on the body.
Draw the FBD that can be created from the figure below.
𝐸𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 3.1.1

𝑀𝐴
𝑅𝐶𝑥

𝑅𝐶𝑦
𝑅𝐴𝑥
𝑅𝐴𝑦

𝑅𝐵

𝑅𝐶𝑥

𝑅𝐶𝑦
𝑅𝐵
Draw the FBD that can be created from the figure below.
 𝑇𝐸𝐷

𝑇𝐷𝐸
𝑊

𝑁𝐴

𝑁𝐶

𝑅𝐵𝑥

𝑅𝐵𝑦
Equilibrium of Coplanar Concurrent Forces

From the equation 𝑹𝟐 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙𝟐 + 𝜮𝑭𝒚𝟐 , 𝑹 will

be zero and equilibrium will exist if these
equations will be satisfied.
𝜮𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝜮𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
 Methods in Analyzing Concurrent Forces
Using Horizontal and Vertical Axes – commonly used method
using horizontal and vertical components of forces.

Using Rotated Axes– used by setting one of the axes through one
of the unknows forces.

Using Force Triangle– an effective way in analyzing three forces

in equilibrium. Forces in equilibrium form a closed polygon and
in this case a triangle. Therefore, we can apply the triangle laws.
Example 1: The cable and boom shown support a load of 600 lb.
Determine the tensile force T in the cable and the compressive for
C in the boom.
Example 2: Three identical cylinders are stacked within a rigid bid
as shown. All the cylinders have the same weight of 500 lbs.
Neglect friction on any contact surface. Find the reaction at point
A, B, and C.
 𝑊𝐶1

𝑊𝐶3
𝑊𝐶2
 𝑊𝐶1

𝑊𝐶3
𝑊𝐶2
60°

60° 60°
𝐸𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 3.2.2.
𝑊𝐶1 𝑊𝐶1

𝑊𝐶3 𝑊𝐶2 𝑊𝐶3 𝑊𝐶2

60°

60° 60°

@ 𝑪𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝟏
500 𝑙𝑏𝑠
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 →=← 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 1 & 2
𝑅𝐷 sin 30° = 𝑅𝐴 sin 30° 𝑅𝐴 cos 30° + 𝑅𝐴 cos 30° = 500
2𝑅𝐴 cos 30° = 500
𝑅𝐷 = 𝑅𝐴 (𝑒𝑞. 1)
𝑹𝑨 = 𝟐𝟖𝟖. 𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟏 𝒍𝒃𝒔
30° 30°

𝐷
∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ↑=↓
𝐴
𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑞. 1
𝑅𝐷 𝑅𝐴 cos 30° + 𝑅𝐷 cos 30° = 500 (𝑒𝑞. 2)
𝑅𝐴 𝑅𝐴 = 𝑅𝐷
𝑹𝑫 = 𝟐𝟖𝟖. 𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟏 𝒍𝒃𝒔
 𝑊𝐶1 𝑊𝐶1

𝑊𝐶3 𝑊𝐶2 𝑊𝐶3 𝑊𝐶2

60°

60° 60°

@ 𝑪𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝟐
𝑅𝐴 500 𝑙𝑏𝑠
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 →=← ∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ↑=↓
𝐴
𝑅𝐴 cos 60° = 𝑅𝐵 𝑅𝐶 = 500 + 𝑅𝐴 sin 60°
60°
𝐵 𝑅𝐵 𝑹𝑩 = 𝟏𝟒𝟒. 𝟑𝟑𝟕𝟔 𝒍𝒃𝒔 𝑅𝐶 = 500 + 288.6751 sin 60°
𝑹𝑪 = 𝟕𝟓𝟎 𝒍𝒃𝒔
𝐶

𝑅𝐶
 𝑊𝐶1

∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ↑=↓
𝑅𝐹 + 𝑅𝑐 = 500 + 500 + 500
750 + 750 = 1500
𝑊𝐶3 √
𝑊𝐶2 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎

𝑅𝐺 G 𝑅𝐵 ∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 →=←
E 𝑅𝐺 = 𝑅𝐵

𝑅𝐹 𝑅𝐶
Example 3: The system of knotted cords shown support the
indicated weights. Compute the tensile force in each cord.
Example 4: A wheel of 10-in radius carries a load of 10000 lb, as
shown. If the force P may be inclined at any angle with the
horizontal, determine the minimum value of P to start the wheel
over the block; the angle P makes with horizontal; and the reaction
at the block.
𝐸𝑥𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 3.2.4.

30°
5”
10”

𝑃 10000 𝑃 10000
= =
sin 60° sin(𝛼 + 30°) sin 60° sin(𝛼 + 30°)
𝜃 10000 sin 60° 𝑃 10000
𝑃= =
𝑃 sin(𝛼 + 30°) sin 60° sin(60° + 30°)
𝑑𝑃 sin 𝛼 + 30° 0 − 10000 sin 60°(cos(𝛼 + 30°)) 10000 sin 60°
= 𝑃=
𝑑𝛼 (sin(𝛼 + 30°))2 sin(90°)
10000 𝑙𝑏𝑠

𝑎
−10000 sin 60°(cos( 𝛼 + 30°))
=0 𝑷 = 𝟖𝟔𝟔𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝟒 𝒍𝒃𝒔
30° (sin(𝛼 + 30°))2
𝑅 10000
−10000 sin 60°(cos(𝛼 + 30°)) = 0 =
60°
𝑅 sin 30° sin(90°)
30°
cos( 𝛼 + 30°) = 0
𝛼 + 30° = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0 𝑹 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃𝒔
𝛼 + 30° = 90°
𝜶 = 𝟔𝟎°
 Equilibrium of Coplanar Parallel Forces

From the equation 𝑹 = 𝜮F and 𝑹𝒅 = 𝜮𝑴, 𝑹 will

be zero resulting in these equations to be
satisfied:
𝜮𝑭 = 𝟎
𝜮𝑴 = 𝟎
Example 1: From the beam loaded as shown, find 𝑅1 and 𝑅2 .
Example 2: Find 𝑅1 , 𝑅2 and 𝑅3 in the beam shown. A roller at A
separates the upper and lower beams.
Example 3: A beam built into a wall 2 ft thick so that it rest
against points A and B. Find the reactions at A and B.
Equilibrium of Coplanar Non-concurrent Forces

From the equation 𝑹𝟐 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙𝟐 + 𝜮𝑭𝒚𝟐 and

𝑹𝒅 = 𝜮𝑴 , 𝑹 will be zero giving us these
equations to be satisfied:
𝜮𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝜮𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
𝜮𝑴 = 𝟎
Example 1: A beam shown is supported by a hinge at A and a
roller at B sloped at 2H:1V. Find the reactions at A and B.
Example 2: A 9-m bar weighing 60 N rests on a smooth floor at A
and a smooth wall at B as shown. A tie rod CD keeps the ladder
from slipping. Find the reactions at A and B and the tension on rod
CD.
Example 3: Solve for the reactions at roller A and hinge B of the
truss shown.