Equilibrium of a Particle: Coplanar

Systems
Chapter #3 from R.C. Hibbeler

Fawwad Masood
Coplanar Systems

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

plane
Resolve into i and j components for equilibrium and
find
∑Fx
∑Fy

FAWWAD MASOOD
 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
F3-1 The crate has a weight of 550 lb.
Determine the force in each supporting cable.

Given:
Weight of cable =W=FAD= 550 lb
Required:
FAB and FAC
Step 1: Free Body Diagram
(FBD)
Which point out of A, B, C and D
should be chosen as the particle
to be solved?
Pick a point with multiple known and
Unknown forces
Select Joint A
Three Forces are acting on joint A i.e.
FAB, FAC and W
You can only solve a joint with at least one Known and at
most two Unknowns
1- Free Body Diagram
Draw Joint A as a particle y
Fac
Fab
5 3
Establish x and y axis 30 4
x

Draw all the forces

W
2-Equilibrium
Resolve all the forces into Rectangular Components
Fabx= -Fab cos 30, Faby = Fab sin 30
Facx= Fac (4/5), Facy = Fac (3/5) y
Fac
Wx= 0 lb, Wy=-550 lb Fab
5 3
30 4
∑Fx = 0 x

Fabx+Facx+Wx=0
-0.866 Fab+0.8 Fac=0 (i)
∑Fy = 0 W
Faby+Facy+W=0
0.5 Fab+0.6 Fac - 550=0 (ii)
-0.866 Fab+0.8 Fac=0 (i)
0.5 Fab+0.6 Fac =550(ii)
By Simultaneous Solution y
Fac
Fab= 478.4 lb Fab
5 3
Fac = 517.94 lb 30 4
x

W
3-14 Determine the stretch in each spring for
equilibrium of the 2-kg block. The springs are
shown in the equilibrium position.
STEP 1: FBD
y
Fab
Fac
5 3
45 4
x

Fad=2x9.81 N
∑Fx =0 y
Fab
Fabx+Facx+Wx=0 Fac
5 3
0.8 Fab -0.707 Fac=0 (i) 4
45
∑Fy = 0 x

Faby+Facy+W=0
0.6 Fab+0.707 Fac – 19.61=0 (ii)
Fad=19.61 N
Fac= 16.03 N Fab= 14.15 N
For Stretch in springs

Fac= 16.03 = kx

SAC=16.03/20=0.8 m

SAB=14.15/30=0.472 m

SAD=19.62/40=0.49 m
How will you calculate un-
stretched length
For AC
Current length is
𝐴𝐶 = 32 + 32 = 4.24
System of cables with multiple
joints (Case I – Known Force)
When there are more than one joints, Start with a
joint with AT Least ONE known and At Most TWO
UNKNOWNS
Draw FBD of that joint and solve for the unknowns
Move to adjacent joint and repeat the previous
step
Keep repeating the procedure until all of the forces
are known.
The 30-kg pipe is supported at A by a
system of five cords. Determine the
force in each cord for equilibrium.
Weight of the pipe=W=30 x 9.81
W=294.3 N
Joint B has three forces
All three are unknowns
Joint A has three forces
Two are unknown (FAB and FAE)
W (FAH) is known
Start with Joint A
FABx= - FAB Cos 60 = -0.5 FAB
FABy= FAB Sin 60 = 0.866 FAB
y

FAEx= FAE FAB

FAEy= 0 60 FAE
x

Wx= 0
W=294.3 N
Wy= -294.3 N
- 0.5 FAB + FAE = 0
0.866 FAB + 0 = 294.3

FAB = 339.84 N
FAE = 169.92 N
Move to joint B
Joint B

FABx= 339.84 Cos 60=169.92 N y

FBD
FABy= -339.84 Sin 60= -294.31 N
5 3
FBC 4
FBCx= -FBC x
60
FBCy= 0

FAB=339.84 N
FBDx= FBDx (4/5) =0.8 FBD
FBDy= FBDy (3/5)=0.6 FBD
FABx + FBCx + FBDx = 0
FABy + FBCy + FBDy = 0
-FBC + 0.8 FBD = -169.92 (i)
+ 0 + 0.6 FBD = 294.31 (ii)
FBC =501.61 N
FBD =415.52 N
Summary of Results
The force in each cord for
equilibrium are
FAB = 339.84 N
FAE = 169.92 N
FBC =501.61 N
FBD =415.52 N
System of cables with multiple
joints (Case II – Max. Allowable
Force)
The same question may be
given in another way
If the tension in each
cable is not supposed
to exceed 500 N,
determine the max
weight of the cylinder
that can be supported.
This time there is no known
force
We will have to assume
force in any one cable
as the given limit, i.e.
500 N for this case
We can assume
AB=500 N or AE=500N
And start from Joint A
Or Assume BC,BD or
AB as 500 N & Start
From B
Suppose we assumed FBD
=500N
If rest of the forces come out to
be less than 500 N, our
assumption was correct and we
will quote that as the
Final Answer
If one or more forces come out
to be more than 500, we will
have to resolve the question
assuming the cable with highest
force value from previous
attempt to have the force as
500 N
Suppose we assumed FBD
=500N
FAB = 408.94 N
FAE = 204.47 N
FBC =603.6 N
FBD =500 N (Assumed)
W= 354.14 N
We should solve the question again, assuming FBC= 500 N.
This time we’ll get the right answer for sure
However, this may make us
solve the question twice.
Another way of dealing with
the correct answers without FBC =603.6 N x 500/603.6= 500N
attempting the second 500 is the given limit
solution is
Denominator is the value of the
FAB = 408.94 N highest force
FAE = 204.47 N FAB=408.94N x 500/603.6 =338.7N
FBC =603.6 N FAE=204.47N x 500/603.6 =169.4N
FBD =500 N (Assumed)
FBD =500 N x 500/603.6 =414.2N
W= 354.14 N x 500/603.6 =293.3N
W= 354.14 N
Practice Questions for 2 D
Fundamental Problems
F3-3,3-5, 3-6
Problems
3-1, 3 to 10,12 to 17, 18 to 21, 24 to 27, 36
(check if its 2d or 3d),
The answers for all of the questions are at
the end of the book