University of Bahrain

College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MENG 163
Sem. 1, 2013/2014

Equilibrium of a
Particle/s in space

Done by: Rashid Alsyouf

Section:
Instructor:
Statics (MENG 163)
Table of contents

Title ........................................................................................................................... Page

Table of contents ..............................................................................................................2

1. Lab Title………………………………………...…………………………………… 3

1.1. Objectives ...................................................................................................3

2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................3

3. Theoretical background ...............................................................................................3

4. Apparatus and procedure .............................................................................................4

4.1. Apparatus ....................................................................................................4

4.2. Procedure/s ..................................................................................................4

5. Results ...........................................................................................................................5

6. Discussion .....................................................................................................................6

7. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................6

8. Recommendation ..........................................................................................................7

9. References .....................................................................................................................7
 1. Lab title: Equilibrium of a Particle/s in space

1.1. Experiment objective:

- To study the Equilibrium of a particle in space.

2. Introduction:

In mechanics, a particle which remains at rest or in uniform motion with respect to its
frame of reference is said to be in equilibrium in that frame.

Centuries ago it was recognized that the state of rest was a natural state of things, it was
observed that objects set in motion on the surface of the earth tended to come to rest [1].

At the moment, there are many engineering problems that can be solved by considering
the equilibrium of a particle, by treating the bollard as a particle, the relation among the
tensions in the ropes can be obtained [2].

3. Theoretical background:

According to Newton's first law, a particle is said to be in equilibrium if there is no net

force acting on it and the resultant of all the forces which do act on the particle is zero.

∑ Fx=0

∑ Fy=0

∑ Fz=0

∑ F=∑ Fx + ∑ Fy + ∑ Fz=0

Therefore, a force is vector quantity, and the resultant of the forces must be obtained by
vector methods [1].
4. Apparatus and Procedure:

4.1. Apparatus:

The apparatus consists of a force table, and a set of movable pulleys with weights. A
string is attached to a small ring at the top of the table which is centered with a pin
(figure 1).

(Figure 1)

4.2. Procedures:
1- Arranging the system (figure 2).
2- Adding weight to the hunger at A.
3- Adding weight to the hunger at D (Line AD horizontal).

(Figure 2)
5. Results:

Readings:

B (0, 180, -160)

C (0, 160, 185)

A (130, 0, 0)

W= 1000 g = (1 Kg) (9.81 m/s2) = 9.81 N = - 9.81 j N

P= 850 g = (0.85 Kg) (9.81 m/s2) = 8.3385 N = 8.3385 i N = TAD

(Experimentally)

TAB (Exp) = 9.5 N

TAC (Exp) = 9 N

(Theoretically)

eAB= - 0.47i + 0.66j - 0.58k

TAB= - 0.47 TAB i + 0.66 TAB j - 0.58 TAB k

eAC= - 0.47i + 0.58j + 0.67k

TAC= - 0.47 TAC i + 0.58 TAC j + 0.67 TAC k

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

∑ Fx= - 0.47 TAB i - 0.47 TAC i + 8.3385 i= 0 → 1

∑ Fy= 0.66 TAB j + 0.58 TAC j - 9.81 j= 0 → 2

∑ Fz= - 0.58 TAB k + 0.67 TAC k= 0 → 3

In equation 3, TAC= TAB0.58/0.67

Substitute (TAC= TAB0.58/0.67) in equation 1

- 0.47 TAB - 0.47 (TAB0.58/0.67) + 8.3385 = 0

Then TAB (Theo) = 9.47 N

By substituting the value of TAB in any equation, the value of TAC can be determined.

- 0.47 (9.47) - 0.47 TAC + 8.3385 = 0

Then TAC (Theo) = 8.3 N

6. Discussion:

As results shown, the theoretical value for the tension on the cable AB is equal to 9.47 N,
this lead to a result which the error will equal 0.32%, this shows that the apparatus used to
measure the tension is having a good accuracy as it measured it at 9.5 N.

On the other hand the theoretical value for the tension on the cable AC is equal to 8.3 N,
the error for it equal 7.78% which can be classified as high comparing to the first result
for the cable AB, the apparatus measured it to equal 9 N.

The lack of accuracy in reading the apparatus measurements for tension on cable AC
could be the reason for the high error between the theoretical and experimental values, the
inaccurate measurements on the apparatus could be another reason or it need more time to
get a stable tension to get the reading.

7. Conclusion:

To conclude, an equilibrium of a particle/s is consider to be one of the most important

concepts in mechanics which confirms that, a set of forces acting on a particle can be
reduced to a single resultant by replacing pairs of forces by their resultant and that a
particle remains at rest if the resultant of all forces acting on it is equal to zero.
8. Recommendations:

- Using more accurate apparatus as a body frame and for the tension measurements.

9. References:

[1]- University of Nebraska. “The Equilibrium of a Particle” - from University of

Nebraska website:
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1138&context=physicskaz
accessed October 17, 2013.

[2]- “Statics of Particles,”

http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/dl/free/0072976985/300829/Ch02.pdf accessed
October 18, 2013.