GENERAL PHYSICS (Laboratory) BS-Psychology 2A

9:00 – 12:00 noon

Name: Mel Jaen M. Martus Date Performed: February 10, 2020

Group #: 3 Instructor: Engr. Juanita Z. Sayson

EXPERIMENT NO. 1

EQUILIBRIUM OF CONCURRENT FORCES VECTOR ADDITION

Objective:

To study the equilibrium of a body under the action of concurrent forces and to use
analytical and graphical methods in the solution of problems in static.

Apparatus and Materials:

Force table set (complete w/centering pin), cords, ring, pulleys, weight hangers w/slotted
masses, small builders level, protractor, ruler, graphing paper.

Procedure:

1. Set up the force table, level it carefully, and arrange two rather large forces, not equal and
not forming a right angle. These should be set up with the centering pin in place. Now
adjust a third force, as to both magnitude and direction, which will bring the force system
exactly into equilibrium. Record the direction and magnitude of the two origin forces and
of the equilibrium. (The resultant is equal in magnitude to the equilibrant but opposite in
direction.)
2. In a second trial, set up another three forces of unequal magnitude and not forming equal
angles , and determine a fourth force which will render the system in equilibrium. Record
all data in a table.
3. Draw a vector diagram of the actual forces as set on the force table in Procedure 1. Then
solve for the resultant by the parallelogram method. This second drawing should be a
large neat drawing to scale, on a sheet of cross-sectional paper. Then solve for the
resultant analytically by Eq. (2.1). Next, solve for equilibrium by the closed polygon
method, as in Fig. 2.4. Make an accurate vector diagram on the same cross-sectional
paper.
Compare the results with the actual experimental values obtained from the force
table.
Figure of Experimental Set-up:

Data and Results:

Trial 1 Experimental Graphical Parallelogram Analytical Law of

Cosine/Sine
Vector1 85g , 0° 85g , 0°
Vector2 80g , 140° 80g , 180°
Resultant 85g , 60° 155.06 , 40°
Equilibrant 85g , 220°

Trial 1 Experimental Graphical Closed Polygon Analytical Component

Method Method
Vector 1 125g , 0°
Vector 2 100g , 100°
Vector 3 120g , 150°
Resultant 260g , 60°
Equilibrant 260g , 240 °

Computations: (Solutions and Answers)

Questions:

1. List three examples from industry in which coplanar concurrent forces in equilibrium
are involved.

Why the study of forces in equilibrium is involved?

Why is the study of forces in equilibrium (static) so important to construction

engineering?

2. By means of a simple sketch show how two coplanar forces are involved in bridge
trusses and roof trusses?

Analysis of the Data:

Conclusion:

References: