Forces at rest

.t'lhout this section tuke the value of g, free-fall acceleration, to equctl

"\

hich pair of physical quantities consists of two vectors?

\
B
C
D
I

l0 m,s 2

speed and acceleration

power and momentum

msss ?nd kinetic energy
tbrce and displacement

(1)

i)bject O is held in equilibrium by three coplanar forces X, Y and Z as shown. The force X
i:'akes an angle I with the vertical.

The magnitude of Y must be

.{ X*Z
B X tanO
C X sinO
D X cosO

(1)

AEB

.\ cyclist
I.
-l ms

free-wheels down a slope, inclined at 15" to the horizontal, at a constant velocity

of

The combined mass of the rider and bicycle is 70 kg. The total force of friction is

A I81 N
B 21ON
C 362N
D 39IN
E 676N

(1)
SEB

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a\
ANSWETS
\.'..

FORCES AT RBST

Acceleration, momentum, force and displacement are all vector

quantities. The others are scalars, they do not have a direction.

Y is equal in size (and opposite in direction) to the horizontal

component of X. The vefiical component of X is equal and opposite to Z.

*-------:t-,:l--

l]-

Exami-lfdi|,lsliffi:iffi
,3'lt'i'i..e'rr"4 I The speed of 3 m s*1 is irrelevant. you should recognise that, as
the

cyclist is travelling at constant velocity, the forces are balanced. The resistive forces
on the cyclist act in the direction opposrte to the motion. The diagram shows the
forces on the cyclist.
normal reaction force

The component of the weight perpendicular to the slope (700 cos 15') balances the
normal reaclion force and the component parallel to the slope (700 cos 75.)
balances the resistive forces.

The downward force at X prevents rotation about y. Using the principle

of moments, this force must equal 900 N (from 600 N x 5 m = Frx2 m). The foice
at Y is calculated using the fact that, for equilibrium, the total upward force must
equal the total downward force (Fv = 600 N + 900 N).

",:t7":'::?,.:..tw'1

Zcos 20'= 500 N

Z = 500

-:-

cos 20o = 532 N

The principle is that the horizontal component of the tension must be

equal in size to the frictional force which is acting in the opposite direction.
The verlical component of the tension opposes the weight of the log.