Module 2 Equilibrium of a

Particle (2D and 3D)

Objectives:
Students will be able to :
Identify the reactions of the different types of supports.
(CO3)
Interpret equilibrium equations and analyze problems
involving equilibrium of coplanar force systems.
(CO3)
 EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE

Objectives:
Students will be able to :
a) Draw a free body diagram
(FBD), and,
b) Apply equations of
equilibrium to solve a 2-D
problem.
 Newton’s First Law
• Every object continues in its state of rest,
or uniform velocity in a straight line , as
long as no net force act on it
• Which means,
• An object that is at rest will stay at rest
unless an external force acts upon it.
• An object that is in motion will not change
its velocity unless an external force acts
upon it.

3
Newton’s First Law of Motion

 
Fnet F 0

 
Fx 0 Fy 0

4
Suggested Procedures:

1)Sketch the situation

2)Draw the free-body diagram and the
force vectors (external forces only)
3)Choose coordinate axes
4)Apply condition of equilibrium.
5)Apply system of equations.
Tips in Drawing Free Body
Diagram

• Weight is always downward

• 2. The direction of tension is away
from the body of consideration
• 3. The direction of compression is
towards the body of consideration.
• 4. The normal force is always
exerted by the ground toward the
center of gravity
 EXAMPLE 1
Given: The box weighs 550 lb and
geometry is as shown.
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.
 EXAMPLE (continued)

y
FB
FC FBD at point A
5 3
30˚ 4
A x

FD = 550 lb

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

+   F x = FB cos 30° – FC (4/5) = 0
+   F y = FB sin 30° + FC (3/5) - 550 lb = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FB = 478 lb and FC = 518 lb
Example 2. If the mass of the cylinder is 40 kg, determine the
mass of cylinder A in order to hold the assembly in the
position shown.
Example 3. A 300 kN box is held at rest on a
smooth plane by a force P inclined at 45° with
the plane shown. Compute the value of P and the
normal pressure N exerted by the plane.
Example 4. The cylinders in the figure shown have the
indicated weights and dimensions. Assuming smooth
contact surfaces, determine the reactions at A, B, C,
and D.
Example 5. The system of knotted cords shown in
the figure below support the indicated weights.
Compute the tensile force in each cord.
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Given: The mass of lamp is 20 kg
and geometry is as shown.
Find: The force in each cable.

Plan:

1. Draw a FBD for Point D.

2. Apply E-of-E at Point D to solve for the unknowns (FCD &
FDE).
3. Knowing FCD, repeat this process at point C.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBD at point D
y FDE

FCD 30˚
D x

W = 20 (9.81) N

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

+  Fy = FDE sin 30° – 20 (9.81) = 0
+  Fx = FDE cos 30° – FCD = 0
Solving the above equations, we get:
FDE = 392 N and FCD = 340 N
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBD at point C
FAC y
5
4
3 FCD =340 N
C x
FBC
45˚

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

+  Fx = 340 – FBC sin 45° – FAC (3/5) = 0
+   Fy = FAC (4/5) – FBC cos 45° = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FBC = 275 N and FAC = 243 N
 THREE-DIMENSIONAL FORCE SYSTEMS
Objectives:
Students will be able to solve 3-D particle equilibrium problems by
a) Drawing a 3-D free body diagram, and,
b) Applying the three scalar equations (based on one vector
equation) of equilibrium.
APPLICATIONS

You know the weight of the

electromagnet and its load.
But, you need to know the
forces in the chains to see if
it is a safe assembly. How
would you do this?
APPLICATIONS
(continued)

This shear leg derrick

Offset distance is to be designed to lift
a maximum of 200 kg
of fish.
How would you find
the effect of different
offset distances on the
forces in the cable and
derrick legs?
 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 for any point in equilibrium and allow you to
solve for up to three unknowns.
 EXAMPLE I

Given: The four forces and

geometry shown.
Find: The force F5 required to
keep particle O in
equilibrium.
Plan:
1) Draw a FBD of particle O.
2) Write the unknown force as
F5 = {Fx i + Fy j + Fz k} N
3) Write F1, F2 , F3 , F4 and F5 in Cartesian vector form.
4) Apply the three equilibrium equations to solve for the three
unknowns Fx, Fy, and Fz.
 EXAMPLE I (continued)
Solution:
F1 = {300(4/5) j + 300 (3/5) k} N
F1 = {240 j + 180 k} N
F2 = {– 600 i} N
F3 = {– 900 k} N

F4 = F4 (rB/ rB)
= 200 N [(3i – 4 j + 6 k)/(32 + 42 + 62)½]
= {76.8 i – 102.4 j + 153.6 k} N

F5 = { Fx i – Fy j + Fz k} N
 EXAMPLE I (continued)

Equating the respective i, j, k components to zero, we have

S Fx = 76.8 – 600 + Fx = 0; solving gives Fx = 523.2 N
S Fy = 240 – 102.4 + Fy = 0 ; solving gives Fy = – 137.6 N
S Fz = 180 – 900 + 153.6 + Fz = 0 ; solving gives Fz = 566.4 N

Thus, F5 = {523 i – 138 j + 566 k} N

Using this force vector, you can determine the force’s
magnitude and coordinate direction angles as needed.
 EXAMPLE II
v2
Given: A 600 N load is supported
by three cords with the
geometry as shown.
Find: The tension in cords AB,
AC and AD.
Plan:

1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force

magnitudes be FB, FC, FD .
2) Represent each force in its Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.
 EXAMPLE II (continued)
FBD at A z
FD FC

2m

1m 30˚ y
2m A
FB
x
600 N

FB = FB (sin 30 i + cos 30 j) N

= {0.5 FB i + 0.866 FB j} N
FC = – FC i N
FD = FD (rAD /rAD)
= FD { (1 i – 2 j + 2 k) / (12 + 22 + 22)½ } N
= { 0.333 FD i – 0.667 FD j + 0.667 FD k } N
 EXAMPLE II (continued)
FBD at A
Now equate the respective i , j , k
z
components to zero. FD FC

 Fx = 0.5 FB – FC + 0.333 FD = 0 2m
y
 Fy = 0.866 FB – 0.667 FD = 0 1m
2m A 30˚

FB
 Fz = 0.667 FD – 600 = 0 x
600 N

Solving the three simultaneous equations yields

FC = 646 N (since it is positive, it is as assumed, e.g., in tension)
FD = 900 N
FB = 693 N
Determine the force in each
cable used to support the 40-lb
crate shown in the figure.
Determine the tension in each cord used to support the 100-kg
crate shown in the figure.
Determine the force acting along the axis of each of the three
struts needed to support the 500-kg block.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING
Given: A 3500 lb motor and
plate, as shown, are in
equilibrium and supported
by three cables and
d = 4 ft.
Find: Magnitude of the 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.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
FBD of Point A
z
W
y
x
FD
FB FC
W = load or weight of unit = 3500 k lb

FB = FB(rAB/rAB) = FB {(4 i – 3 j – 10 k) / (11.2)} lb

FC = FC (rAC/rAC) = FC { (3 j – 10 k) / (10.4 ) }lb
FD = FD( rAD/rAD) = FD { (– 4 i + 1 j –10 k) / (10.8) }lb
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
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/ 11.2)FB – (4/ 10.8)FD = 0
 Fy = (– 3/ 11.2)FB + (3/ 10.4)FC + (1/ 10.8)FD = 0
 Fz = (– 10/ 11.2)FB – (10/ 10.4)FC – (10/ 10.8)FD + 3500 = 0

Solving the three simultaneous equations gives the tension forces

FB = 1467 lb
FC = 914 lb
FD = 1420 lb
 ATTENTION QUIZ
1. Four forces act at point A and point z
A is in equilibrium. Select the F3 = 10 lb
P
correct force vector P. F2 = 10 lb

A) {-20 i + 10 j – 10 k}lb F1 = 20 lb A y
B) {-10 i – 20 j – 10 k} lb
C) {+ 20 i – 10 j – 10 k}lb x
D) None of the above.

2. 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