EQUILIBRIANT OF A FORCE SYSTEM

We have seen that the resultant of a system of forces is a single force which will have the same effect
as the system of forces. According to Newton’s second law of motion, the body starts moving with
acceleration in the direction of the resultant force. If we apply a force equal and opposite to the
resultant, the body should come to the equilibrium state. Such a force is called equilibriant. Thus an
equilibriant of a system of forces may be defined as the force which brings the body to the state of
equilibrium and obviously, this forces is equal in magnitude, but opposite in the direction to the
resultant.
2.9 COMPOSITION OF COPLANAR NON-CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM
Let F1, F2 and F3 [Fig. 2.18(a)] constitute a system of forces acting on a body. Each force can be
replaced by a force of the same magnitude and acting in the same direction at point O and a moment
about O. Thus, the given system in Fig. 2.18(a) is equal to the system shown in
Fig. 2.18(b) where MO is the algebraic sum of the moments of the given forces about O.
At O, the concurrent force F1, F2 and F3 can be combined as usual to get the resultant force R.
Now the resultant of the given system is equal to force R at O and a moment MO as shown in Fig.
2.18(c).