EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES

MECHANICS 1
 RESOLVING FORCES/VECTORS

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝒂 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠, 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛

𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝜃 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝒂𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦.

1. Find the component of each force in x and y directions.

2. Find the magnitude of single force equivalent to following systems of forces.

 EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCES

The sum of the forces acting on a particle is called the resultant.

If the resultant of the forces acting on a particle is zero we say that these forces are in equilibrium.

The forces acting on a particle at rest or moving with constant velocity are in equilibrium.

In practical terms this means, for forces in equilibrium the sum of the components of the forces in
any direction must be zero.

If an object is in equilibrium on a horizontal plane, then we resolve forces in x and y

directions and if an object is in equilibrium on a inclined plane, then we resolve forces
parallel to the plane and perpendicular to the plane.

1. Each of the diagram shows a particle in equilibrium under the action of three or more forces. In
each case,
a) Resolve the forces in the x direction
b) Resolve the forces in the y direction
c) Find the magnitude of any unknown forces (marked as P and Q) and the size of any unknown
angles.
2. A smooth bead B is threaded on a light inextensible string. The ends of the string are attached to
two fixed points A and C on the same horizontal level. The bead is held in equilibrium by a
horizontal force of magnitude 6 N acting parallel to AC. The bead B is vertically below C and
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∠𝐵𝐴𝐶 = 𝛼, as shown in Figure. Given that 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = , find
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(a) the tension in the string,

(b) the weight of the bead.

3. A particle of weight 24 N is held in equilibrium by two light inextensible strings. One string is
horizontal. The other string is inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown in Figure. The
tension in the horizontal string is Q newtons and the tension in the other string is P newtons. Find

(a) the value of P,

(b) the value of Q

4. A particle P is attached to one end of a light inextensible string. The

other end of the string is attached to a fixed point O. A horizontal force
of magnitude 12 N is applied to P. The particle P is in equilibrium with
the string taut and OP making an angle of 20° with the downward
vertical, as shown in Figure. Find

(a) the tension in the string,

(b) the weight of P.

5. A particle of mass 𝑚 kg is attached at C to two light inextensible strings AC and BC. The other ends
of the strings are attached to fixed points A and B on a horizontal ceiling. The particle hangs in
equilibrium with AC and BC inclined to the horizontal at 30° and 60° respectively, as shown in
Figure. Given that the tension in AC is 20 N, find

(a) the tension in BC,

(b) the value of 𝑚.

6. A rock climber of mass 68 𝑘𝑔 is making a traverse horizontally across a cliff face 20 metres wide
between the fixed points P and Q. When he has got 12.5 metres across the rock face, he loses his
footing and dangles in mid air. While the climber is shouting at him to “get a life”, the companion
sets out to measure the angle at P from the horizontal, which are shown he finds to be 200 as in the
diagram.
a) What is the weight of the climber?
b) Show that the angle 𝜃 is about 310
c) Calculate the values of 𝑇1 and 𝑇2

7. A particle P of mass 2 kg is attached to one end of a light string, the other end of which is attached
to a fixed point O. The particle is held in equilibrium, with OP at 30 to the downward vertical, by a
force of magnitude F newtons. The force acts in the same vertical plane as the string and acts at an
angle of 30 to the horizontal, as shown in Figure. Find
(i) the value of F,

(ii) the tension in the string.

8. A particle of weight 8 N is attached at C to the ends of two light inextensible strings AC and BC. The
other ends, A and B, are attached to a fixed horizontal ceiling. The particle hangs at rest in
equilibrium, with the strings in a vertical plane. The string AC is inclined at 35° to the horizontal and
the string BC is inclined at 25° to the horizontal, as shown in Figure. Find
(i) the tension in the string AC,
(ii) the tension in the string BC.

9. A small package of mass 1.1 kg is held in equilibrium on a smooth plane by a horizontal force. The
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plane is inclined at an angle to the horizontal, where 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = 4 . The force acts in a vertical plane
containing a line of greatest slope of the plane and has magnitude P newtons, as shown in Figure.
The package is modelled as a particle. The package is in equilibrium.
(a) Draw, all the forces acting on the package, showing their directions clearly.
(b) Find the magnitude of the normal reaction
between the package and the plane.
(c) Find the value of P.

10. A particle of weight 𝑊 newtons is held in equilibrium on a smooth inclined plane by a horizontal
force of magnitude 4 N. The force acts in a vertical plane containing a line of greatest slope of the
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inclined plane. The plane is inclined to the horizontal at an angle 𝛼, where 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = 4.
• Find the magnitude of the normal reaction between the particle and the plane ,
• Find the value of 𝑊.

11. A package of mass 4 kg lies on a smooth plane inclined at 30° to the horizontal. The package is held
in equilibrium by a force of magnitude 45 N acting at an angle of 50° to the plane, as shown in
Figure. The force is acting in a vertical plane through a line of greatest slope of the plane. The
package is in equilibrium. The package is modelled as a particle. Find the magnitude of the normal
reaction of the plane on the package,
12. A box of mass 5 kg lies on a smooth plane inclined at 30° to the horizontal. The box is held in
equilibrium by a horizontal force of magnitude 20 N, as shown in Figure. The force acts in a vertical
plane containing a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane. The box is in equilibrium. The box is
modelled as a particle. Find the magnitude of the normal reaction of the plane on the box.

13. A box of mass 2 kg is held in equilibrium on a fixed smooth inclined plane by a rope. The rope lies in
a vertical plane containing a line of greatest slope of the inclined plane. The rope is inclined to the
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plane at an angle 𝛼, where 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 = 4, and the plane is at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, as shown
in Figure. By modelling the box as a particle and the rope as a light inextensible string, find the
tension in the rope.

14. The system below is in equilibrium. If 𝑚2 = 0.2𝑘𝑔 find 𝑚1

 Motion under a resultant force

If an object experiences a resultant force, it will move in the direction of resultant force.

To find the acceleration of the object we can apply 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 in the direction of its motion.

Even though an object moves under the action of a resultant force, forces acting
perpendicular to the direction of its motion must be balanced.

1. Each of the following diagrams shows a body of mass 5kg accelerating on a horizontal plane. Find
the acceleration and normal reaction (𝑅) for each case. (𝐹 = 5𝑂𝑁)
2. Each of the following diagrams shows a particle accelerating up or down an inclined plane. Find the
acceleration and normal reaction of the particle (𝑅) for each case.