Engineering Mechanics

Statics Module

Dr Rodney Entwistle
1
Example to try

Meriam and Kraige 2.26

• A gusset plate is subject to two
forces
• Replace them with equivalent force
components Fx and Fa
• Determine the magnitudes
of Fx and Fa
• Solve geometrically or graphically

Meriam and Kraige “Engineering Mechanics Volume 1 Statics

5th edition” John Wiley & Sons 2003, page 36
Example to try

Meriam and Kraige 2.23

• The cable AB prevents the bar
OA from rotating clockwise
about the pivot point O. If the
cable tension is 750 kN,
determine the n and t
components of the force acting
on point A of the bar

Meriam and Kraige “Engineering Mechanics Volume 1 Statics

5th edition” John Wiley & Sons 2003, page 36
solution

N Lloyd
solution

• Check
• Approx 4 cm ≈ 1.2m
• 8 cm ≈ 2.4 m
• 2.34 m seems OK

N Lloyd
http://www.myonlineruler.com/
solution

N Lloyd
Engineering Mechanics:
Statics in SI Units, 12e

3 Equilibrium of a Particle

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Chapter Objectives

• Concept of the free-body diagram for a particle

• Solve particle equilibrium problems using the equations
of equilibrium

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Chapter Outline

1. Condition for the Equilibrium of a Particle

2. The Free-Body Diagram
3. Coplanar Systems
4. Three-Dimensional Force Systems

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3.1 Condition for the Equilibrium of a Particle

• A Particle is at equilibrium if
- it is at rest
- it is moving at constant velocity
• Newton’s first law of motion ∑F = 0
where ∑F is the vector sum of all the forces acting on
the particle
• For equilibrium, the vector sum of ALL of the forces
acting ON a particle must be zero.
• The forces include body forces such as gravity,
magnetic and electrostatic forces.

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3.1 Condition for the Equilibrium of a Particle

• Newton’s second law of motion

∑F = ma

• When the forces fulfill Newton's first law of motion,

ma = 0
a=0
therefore, the particle is moving in constant velocity or
is at rest.

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The Resultant Force = 0

• When ALL of the forces are summed vectorially, the sum

is zero.
• Therefore, a tail to head graphical force summation will
result in a closed polygon.
• The summation of x and y components will both be zero.

F x 0
F y 0
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Note again:
We are considering particles only

• The object is small enough that its physical dimensions

are negligible.

• Therefore, ALL of the forces acting ON the particle have

their lines of action necessarily coinciding at the location
of the particle – i.e. they are concurrent forces.

• When the object has significant dimensions, the forces

may not be concurrent. We will learn how to deal with
that situation later.

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Co-planar Concurrent Forces Acting ON Particle P

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The Vector Summation Polygon is Closed

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The Vector Summation Polygon is Closed

y F x 0
F y 0
x

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3.2 The Free-Body Diagram

• The best way to ensure that ALL of the forces acting

are accounted for is to sketch a Free Body Diagram
(FBD)
• A FBD is a sketch showing the particle isolated from all
contacting bodies along with all the forces acting on it

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3.2 The Free-Body Diagram

Procedure for Drawing a FBD

1. Draw an outline of the object’s shape. For a particle it
will be a dot.
2. Show all the forces acting ON the particle. These may
be:
- Applied forces
- Reaction forces from constraints that prevent motion
3. Identify each force
- Known forces with proper magnitude and direction
- Variable names (e.g. F3, R, etc.) used to represent
unknown magnitudes and directions
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About Constraint Forces

• An anchor or support will prevent movement in a

particular direction, or several directions at once.
• A support ‘generates’ whatever force magnitude and
direction is needed to prevent the object from moving.
• A support force grow or shrinks, and alters direction as
needed, to maintain equilibrium.
• These forces are often called ‘Reaction Forces’.

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An Example of a Free Body Diagram

Note: This object is not a particle.

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Consider two common connections:

– Spring
– Cables and Pulleys

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3.2 The Free-Body Diagram

• Spring
– Linear elastic spring: change in length is directly
proportional to the force it is supporting.
– The elasticity of the spring is defined by the spring
constant or stiffness, k = F/s
Units of k are N/m.
– Magnitude of force when spring
is elongated or compressed
F = ks

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
3.2 The Free-Body Diagram

• Cables and Pulley

– Cables (or cords) are assumed to have negligible weight
and cannot stretch
– The tension force (stretching force) always acts in the
direction of the cable
– For any section of the cable
to be in equilibrium, the tension
force must be constant
everywhere along its length
– If the pulley bearing is frictionless,
the cable tension on both sides of
the pulley will be the same,
regardless of the angle .
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Example 3.1

The sphere has a mass of 6 kg and is supported as

shown. Draw a free-body diagram of the sphere, the cord
CE and the knot at C.

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Solution

FBD of Sphere
Two forces acting, its weight and the tension in the cord
CE. (Weight of 6 kg) = mg = 6 kg x 9.81 m/s2 = 58.9 N

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Solution

Cord CE
Two forces are acting:
From the sphere and from the knot.

Newton’s 3rd Law: Forces come in

equal and opposite pairs.
Therefore FCE at the sphere is
equal but opposite to that in the cable.

FCE and FEC pull the cord in tension

For equilibrium, FCE = -FEC
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Solution

FBD at Knot C
3 forces are acting: cord CBA, cord CE and spring CD
Important to know that the weight of the sphere does not
act directly on the knot but is transferred via the cord CE.

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Images by N Lloyd
Images by Chris Edwards, Graduate Engineer
3.3 Coplanar Systems

• A particle is subjected to coplanar forces in the x-y

plane
• Resolve into i and j components for equilibrium
∑Fx = 0
∑Fy = 0
• Scalar equations of equilibrium
require that the algebraic sum
of the x and y components to
equal to zero

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

3.3 Coplanar Systems

• Procedure for Analysis

1. Free-Body Diagram
- Establish the x, y axes
- Label all the unknown and known forces

2. Equations of Equilibrium
- Apply F = ks to find spring force
- Apply the equations of equilibrium ∑Fx = 0 , ∑Fy = 0
- When the results is negative, the force’s assumed
sense was incorrect.

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Example 3.4

Determine the required length of the cord AC so that the

8 kg lamp is suspended as shown. The undeformed
length of the spring AB is l’AB = 0.4 m, and the spring has
a stiffness of kAB = 300 N/m.

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Solution

FBD at Point A
Three forces are acting: tension in cable AC, tension in
spring AB and weight of the lamp.
If force in spring AB is known, stretch of the spring is
found by s = F/k.
+→ ∑Fx = 0; TAB – TAC cos30º = 0
+↑ ∑Fy = 0; TACsin30º – 78.5N = 0
Solving,
TAC = 157.0 N
TAB = 136.0 N

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Solution

TAB = kABsAB;
136.0 N = 300N/m x (sAB)
sAB = 0.453 m
For stretched length,
lAB = l’AB+ sAB
lAB = 0.4 m + 0.453 m
= 0.853 m

The horizontal distance BC = 2 m.

0.853 m + lACcos30 = 2 m
lAC = 1.32 m
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
QUIZ

1. When a particle is in equilibrium, the sum of forces

acting on it equals ___ . (Choose the most appropriate
answer)
A) A constant B) A positive number C) Zero
D) A negative number E) An integer

2. For a frictionless pulley and cable,

tensions in the cables are related as
A) T1 > T2
B) T1 = T2 T1
T2
C) T1 < T2
D) T1 = T2 sin 
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QUIZ

100 N 100 N
100 N
(A) (B) (C)
3. Assuming you know the geometry of the ropes, you cannot
determine the forces in the cables in which system above?

4. Why?
A) The weight is too heavy.
B) The cables are too thin.
C) There are more unknowns than equations.
D) There are too few cables for a 100 kg weight.
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QUIZ

5. Select the correct FBD of particle A.

30 A 40

100 kg
F1 F2
A
A) B)
30 40°
100 kg
A
F F1 F2
C) 30 D) 30 40°
A °
° A
100 kg 100 kg

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QUIZ

6. Using this FBD of Point C, the sum of forces in the

x-direction ( Fx) is _________________ .
Use a sign convention of +  .
y
F2
A) F2 sin 50° – 20 = 0
B) F2 cos 50° – 20 = 0 50
20 N
C) F2 sin 50° – F1 = 0 x
D) F2 cos 50° + 20 = 0 C

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3.4 Three-Dimensional Force Systems

• For particle equilibrium

∑F = 0
• Resolving into i, j, k components
∑Fxi + ∑Fyj + ∑Fzk = 0
• Three scalar equations representing algebraic sums of
the x, y, z forces
∑Fxi = 0
∑Fyj = 0
∑Fzk = 0

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3.4 Three-Dimensional Force Systems

• Procedure for Analysis

Free-body Diagram
- Establish the z, y, z axes
- Label all known and unknown force
Equations of Equilibrium
- Apply ∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy = 0 and ∑Fz = 0
- Substitute vectors into ∑F = 0 and set i, j, k
components = 0
- Negative results indicate that the sense of the force is
opposite to that shown in the FBD.

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Example 3.7

Determine the force developed in each cable used to

support the 40kN crate.

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Solution

FBD at Point A
To expose all three unknown forces in the cables.
Equations of Equilibrium
Expressing each forces in Cartesian vectors,
FB = FB(rB / rB)
= -0.318FBi – 0.424FBj + 0.848FBk
FC = FC (rC / rC)
= -0.318FCi – 0.424FCj + 0.848FCk
FD = FDi
W = -40k

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Solution

For equilibrium,
∑F = 0; FB + FC + FD + W = 0
-0.318FBi – 0.424FBj + 0.848FBk - 0.318FCi
– 0.424FCj + 0.848FCk + FDi - 40k = 0

∑Fx = 0; -0.318FB - 0.318FC + FD = 0

∑Fy = 0; – 0.424FB – 0.424FC = 0
∑Fz = 0; 0.848FB + 0.848FC - 40 = 0

Solving,
FB = FC = 23.6kN
FD = 15.0kN
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QUIZ

7. Particle P is in equilibrium with five (5) forces acting on

it in 3-D space. How many scalar equations of
equilibrium can be written for point P?
A)2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 6
8. In 3-D, when a particle is in equilibrium, which of the
following equations apply?
A) ( Fx) i + ( Fy) j + ( Fz) k = 0
B)  F = 0
C)  Fx =  Fy =  Fz = 0
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

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QUIZ

9. In 3-D, when you know the direction of a force but not

its magnitude, how many unknowns corresponding to
that force remain?
A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
10. If a particle has 3-D forces acting on it and is in static
equilibrium, the components of the resultant force ___ .
A) have to sum to zero, e.g., -5 i + 3 j + 2 k
B) have to equal zero, e.g., 0 i + 0 j + 0 k
C) have to be positive, e.g., 5 i + 5 j + 5 k
D) have to be negative, e.g., -5 i - 5 j - 5 k

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QUIZ

11. Four forces act at point A and point A z

is in equilibrium. Select the correct F3 = 10 N
force vector P. P
F2 = 10 N
A) {-20 i + 10 j – 10 k}lb
A y
B) {-10 i – 20 j – 10 k} lb
C) {+ 20 i – 10 j – 10 k}lb
D) None of the above. x
12. In 3-D, when you don’t know the direction or the
magnitude of a force, how many unknowns do you
have corresponding to that force?
A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
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