CHAPTER 9

Static Equilibrium

Units

• The Conditions for Equilibrium

• Solving Statics Problems
• Stability and Balance
• Elasticity; Stress and Strain

The Conditions for Equilibrium

An object with forces acting on it, but that is not moving, is

said to be in equilibrium.

The first condition for equilibrium is that the forces along each
coordinate axis add to zero.

G G
Example 1: Calculate the tensions FA and FB in the two cords that
are connected to the vertical cord supporting the 200-kg chandelier.
∑ Fy = FA sin 60o − (200kg )( g ) = 0
(200kg ) g (200kg )( g )
FA = = = (231kg )( g ) = 2260 N
sin 60o 0.866
∑ Fx = FB − FA cos 60o = 0

FB = FA cos 60o = (231kg )( g )(0.500) = (115kg ) g = 1130 N

The magnitudes of FA and FB determine the strength of cord or wire that must be used. In this
case, the wire must be able to hold more than 230 kg.

The Conditions for Equilibrium

The second condition of equilibrium is that there be no torque

around any axis; the choice of axis is arbitrary.

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 Solving Statics Problems

The previous technique may not fully solve all statics

problems, but it is a good starting point.

Example 2: A uniform 1500-kg beam, 20.0m long, supports a

15,000-kg printing pres 5.0 m from the right support column.
Calculate the force on each of the vertical support columns.

∑ τ = −(10.0m)(1500kg ) g − (15.0m)(15, 000kg ) g + (20.0m) FB = 0

FB = (12, 000kg ) g = 118, 000 N

∑ Fy = FA − (1500kg ) g − (15, 000kg ) g + FB = 0

FA = (4500kg ) g = 44,100 N

If a force in your solution comes out negative

(as FA will here), it just means that it’s in the
opposite direction from the one you chose. This
is trivial to fix, so don’t worry about getting all
the signs of the forces right before you start
solving.

If there is a cable or cord in the problem, it can support forces

only along its length. Forces perpendicular to that would cause it
to bend.

Example 3: A uniform beam, 2.20 m long with mass m = 25.0 kg,

is mounted by a hinge on a wall. The beam is held in a horizontal
position by a cable that makes an angle θ = 30.0o . The beam
supports a sign of mass M = 28.0 kg suspended from its end.
Determine the components of the force FH that the hinge exerts
on the beam, and the tension FT in the supporting cable.

The sum of the forces in the vertical (y) direction is

∑ Fy = 0
FHy + FTy − mg − Mg = 0
The sum of the forces in the horizontal (x) directions is
∑ Fx = 0
FHx − FTx =0
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Choose torques that tends to rotate the beam counterclockwise as positive. The weight mg of the
beam acts as its center.
∑τ = 0
−( FHy )(2.20m) + mg (1.10m) = 0
Solve for FHy

⎛ 1.10m ⎞
FHy = ⎜ ⎟ mg = (0.500)(25.0kg )(9.80m / s ) = 123 N
2

⎝ 2.20m ⎠

Since tension FT in the cable acts along the cable θ = 30.0o , tan θ = FTy / FTx

or FTy = FTx tan θ = FTx (tan 30.0o ) = 0.577 FTx

FTy = (m + M ) g − FHy = (53.0kg )(9.80m / s 2 ) − 123 N = 396 N

FTx = FTY / 0.577 = 687 N

FHx = FTx = 687 N
FT = FTx2 + FTy2 = 793 N

Example 4: A uniform horizontal beam 5.00 m long and weighing

300N is attached to a wall by a pin connection that allows the beam to
rotate. Its far end is supported by a cable that makes an angle of
with the horizontal. If a person weighing 600N stands 1.50 m from the
wall, find the tension in the cable.
∑τ i = τ R + τ B + τ M + τ T = 0
∑ τ i = 0 − WBeam ( L / 2) − WMan (1.50m) + TL sin(53o ) = 0

Substitute L = 5.00 m and the weights, solving for T;

−(300 N )(2.50m) − (600 N )(1.50m) + (T sin 53.0o ) = 0

T = 413 N
∑ Fx = Rx − T cos 53.0o = 0
∑ Fy = Ry − WBeam − WMan + T sin 53.0o = 0

Sub the value of T and the weights;

Rx = 249 N Ry = 570 N

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Example 5: A 5.0-m-long ladder leans against a wall at a point
4.0 m above a cement floor. The ladder is uniform and has mass
m = 12.0 kg. Assuming the wall is frictionless (but the floor is not),
determine the forces exerted on the ladder by the floor and by the
wall.
The wall, since it is frictionless, can exert a force only
perpendicular to the wall, and is labeled force FW. The cement
floor exerts a force FC which has both horizontal and vertical force
components: FCX is frictional and FCY is the normal force. Gravity
exerts a force mg = (12kg )(9.80m / s 2 ) = 118 N on the ladder at
its midpoint.
The y-component of the force equation is
∑ Fy = FCy − mg = 0
So we have:
FCy = mg = 118 N

The x-component of the force equation is

∑ Fx = FCx − FW = 0
The ladder touches the floor a distance

xo = (5.0m) 2 − (4.0m) 2 = 3.0m

from the wall. The lever arm for mg is half this, or 1.5m, and the lever arm for FW is 4.0m.

We get ∑ τ = (4.0m) FW − (1.5m)mg = 0

(1.5m)(12.0kg )(9.80m / s 2 )
FW = = 44 N
4.0m

For the x-component of the force equation

FCx = FW = 44 N

FC = (44 N ) 2 + (118 N ) 2 = 126 N θ = tan −1 (118 N / 44 N ) = 70o

Example 6: A uniform ladder 10.0 m long and

weighing 50.0 N rests against a smooth vertical wall.
If the ladder is just on the verge of slipping when it
makes a 50.0o angle with the ground, find the
coefficient of static friction between the ladder and
ground. ∑ Fx = Ffr − P = 0 → Ffr = P
∑ Fy = Fn − 50.0 N = 0 → Fn = 50.0 N 21.0 N = Ffr = Fs − max = μ s n = μ ss (50.0 N )
∑ τ i = τ fr + τ Fn + τ grav + τ P = 0 μs =
21.0 N
= 0.420
50.0 N
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 Elasticity; Stress and Strain
0 + 0 − (50.0 N )(5.00m) sin 40.0o + P(10.0m) sin 50.0o = 0
P = 21.0 N

Hooke’s law: the change in length is proportional to the applied force.

This proportionality holds until the force reaches the

proportional limit. Beyond that, the object will still
return to its original shape up to the elastic limit.
Beyond the elastic limit, the material is permanently
deformed, and it breaks

The change in length of a stretched object depends

not only on the applied force, but also on its length and cross-sectional area, and the material from
which it is made.
The material factor is called Young’s modulus, and it has been measured for many materials.

The Young’s modulus is then the stress divided by the strain.

Example 7: A 1.60-m-long steel piano wire has a diameter of 0.20 cm. How great is the tension in
the wire if it stretches 0.25 cm when tightened?
A = π r 2 = (3.14)(0.0010m) 2 = 3.14 x10−6 m 2
ΔL ⎛ 0.0025m ⎞
F=E = (2.0 x1011 N / m 2 ) ⎜ ⎟ (3.14 x10−6 m 2 ) = 980 N
Lo ⎝ 1.60m ⎠
Young’s modulus for steel is:
E = 200 x109 N / m 2

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Example 8: The steel piano wire from example problem 7, was 1.60 m long with a diameter of 0.20
cm. approximately what tension force would break it?

r = 0.10cm = 1.0 x10−3 m

F
= 500 x106 N / m 2
A
F = (500 x106 N / m 2 )(π )(1.0 x10−3 m) 2 = 1600 N