MODULE 3: EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCE SYSTEMS

This aims to give you an overview of the equilibrium of various force systems, which
constitutes the most important part of statics.

Recall your learnings from the course EnggPhys: Physics for

Engineers. Answer the following questions by writing your answers
in the space provided.

The man attempts to pull the four - wheeler up the

incline and onto the trailer. From the position shown,
is it more effective to pull on the rope at A, or would
it be better to pull on the rope at B? Explain your
answer.
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Where is the best place to arrange most of the logs

in the wheelbarrow so that it minimizes the amount
of force on the backbone of the person transporting
the load? Explain your answer.
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Read: Equilibrium of Force Systems (pp. 76 - 95)

Singer, Ferdinand, Engineering Mechanics. 3rd ed. New York:
Harper and Row, 1980

EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCE SYSTEMS

When the resultant of all the forces acting on a particle is zero, the particle is said to be in
equilibrium.

A body is to be in equilibrium when it is at rest or is moving along a straight - line path with
constant velocity.

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 EQUILIBRIUM IN TWO DIMENSIONS
CONDITIONS FOR RIGID-BODY EQUILIBRIUM

The force and couple moment system acting on a body can be

reduced to an equivalent resultant force and resultant couple
moment at any arbitrary point O on or off the body shown to the
left.

If this resultant force and couple moment are both equal to zero,
then the body is said to be in equilibrium. Mathematically, the equilibrium of a body is
expressed as
𝑅 = Σ𝐹 = 0
Σ𝑀 = 0

The first of these equations’ states that the sum of the forces acting on the body is equal to
zero. The second equation states that the sum of the moments of all the forces in the
system about point O, added to all the couple moments, is equal to zero.

Three Equations for Equilibrium:

𝚺𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
𝚺𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
𝚺𝑴 = 𝟎

FREE – BODY DIAGRAMS

a sketch of an isolated body (or group of bodies) showing all the forces that other bodies
exert on the isolated body.

Steps in constructing the free-body diagram:

1. A sketch of the body is drawn assuming that all supports have been removed.
2. All applied forces are drawn and labeled on the sketch. The weight of the body is
considered to be an applied force acting at the center of gravity.
3. The support reactions are drawn and labeled on the sketch. If the sense of a
reaction is unknown, it should be assumed. The solution will determine the correct
sense(A positive result indicates that the assumed sense is correct, whereas a negative result
means that the correct sense is opposite to the assumed sense)
4. All relevant angles and dimensions are shown on the sketch.

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 REACTION AT SUPPORTS AND CONNECTIONS OF A TWO – DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE

To help you understand the topic better, please analyze the

following sample problems:

1. A 300-lb box is held at rest on a smooth incline by a force P making an angle of 45°
with the incline as shown. Determine the value of P.

Required: Magnitude of P
45°

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 Solution:

Draw the FBD

y
W = 300 lb x

30
°

45
°

▪ By summing components along the x – axis

𝛴𝐹𝑥 = 0 ↗ +
𝑃 cos 45° − 300 sin 30° = 0
𝑷 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐. 𝟏𝟑𝟐 𝒍𝒃

▪ By the use of the force triangle,

P
45°
105°
N
W = 300 lb
30°

Applying the sine law,

𝑃 300 𝑙𝑏
=
sin 30° sin 45°
𝑷 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐. 𝟏𝟑𝟐 𝒍𝒃

2. Two forces P and Q are applied as shown to an aircraft connection. Knowing that
the connection is in equilibrium and that P = 500 lb and Q = 650 lb, determine the
magnitudes of the forces exerted on the rods A and B.

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 Required: Magnitude of 𝐹𝐴 and 𝐹𝐵

Solution:
𝛴𝐹𝑣 = 0 ↑ +
𝐹𝐴 sin 50° − 500 − 650 cos 40° = 0

𝑭𝑨 = 𝟏𝟑𝟎𝟐. 𝟕𝟎𝟒 𝒍𝒃

𝛴𝐹ℎ = 0 → +

𝐹𝐵 − 1302.704 cos 50° + 650 sin 40° = 0

𝑭𝑩 = 𝟒𝟏𝟗. 𝟓𝟓𝟎 𝒍𝒃

3. Determine the horizontal and vertical components of reaction on the member at

the pin A and of the roller B.

Required: 𝐴ℎ , 𝐴𝑣 and 𝑅𝐵

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 Solution:
Draw the FBD

𝑨𝒉

𝑨𝒗
30°

𝑹𝑩
𝛴𝐹𝑣 = 0 ↑ +

𝐴𝑣 + 𝑅𝐵 cos 30° − 750 = 0 → ①

𝛴𝐹ℎ = 0 → +

𝐴ℎ − 𝑅𝐵 sin 30° = 0 → ②
𝛴𝑀𝐴 = 0 ↻ +
750(3) + 𝑅𝐵 sin 30° (2) − 𝑅𝐵 cos 30° (6) = 0

𝑹𝑩 = 𝟓𝟑𝟔. 𝟐𝟎𝟓 𝒍𝒃

Substitute the value of B in equations ① and ②,

𝑨𝒗 = 𝟐𝟖𝟓. 𝟔𝟑𝟑 𝒍𝒃 ↑

𝑨𝒉 = 𝟐𝟔𝟖. 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝒍𝒃 →

4. Beam AD carries two 40 – lb loads shown. The beam is held by a fixed support at D
and cable BE that is attached to the counterweight W. Determine the reaction at D
when W = 90 lb

Required: The magnitude of the reaction at

D. 𝐷ℎ , 𝐷𝑣 and 𝑀𝐷

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 Solution:

Draw the FBD 90 lb

𝑫𝒉

𝑴𝑫
𝑫𝒗

𝛴𝐹ℎ = 0 → +

𝑫𝒉 = 𝟎

𝛴𝐹𝑣 = 0 ↑ +
90 − 40 − 40 + 𝐷𝑣 = 0
𝐷𝑣 = −10 𝑙𝑏 → wrong assumed direction

𝑫𝒗 = 𝟏𝟎 𝒍𝒃 ↓

𝛴𝑀𝐷 = 0 ↻ +
90(5) − 40(4) − 40(8) + 𝑀𝐷 = 0

𝑴𝑫 = 𝟑𝟎 𝒍𝒃 − 𝒇𝒕 ↻

5. A 12 - ft bar of negligible weight rests in a horizontal position on the smooth inclines.

Compute the distance x at which the 100 – lb load should be placed from point B to
keep the bar horizontal.

P = 200 lb T = 100 lb

Required: length of distance x

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 Solution:
Draw the FBD

P = 200 lb T = 100 lb

30° 45°
𝑵𝑩
𝑵𝑨

𝛴𝐹ℎ = 0 → +
𝑁𝐴 sin 30° − 𝑁𝐵 sin 45° = 0
𝑁𝐴 sin 30°
𝑁𝐵 = → ①
sin 45°
𝛴𝐹𝑣 = 0 ↑ +

𝑁𝐴 cos 30° + 𝑁𝐵 cos 45° − 300 = 0 → ②

Substitute equation ① into ②

𝑁𝐴 sin 30°
𝑁𝐴 cos 30° + ( ) cos 45° = 300
sin 45°
𝑁𝐴 = 219.615 𝑙𝑏
𝛴𝑀𝐵 = 0 ↻ +
219.615 cos 30° (12) − 200(9) − 100(𝑥 ) = 0

𝒙 = 𝟒. 𝟖𝟐𝟑 𝒇𝒕

The following problems are given to assess your ability to solve for
problems on equilibrium of force systems.

Instructions: Solve for what is asked in each problem. Refer to the format and guidelines
presented in the Assignment Guide.

1. Two cables tied together as shown in figure 1. Knowing that Q = 60 lbs and that the
system is in equilibrium, draw the free – body diagram of the force system at C and
determine the tension in cable AC and in cable BC.

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 Figure 2

Figure 1
2. Determine the reactions at A and E of the truss shown in figure 2, if P = 500 N. Specify
the direction of each reaction.

3. A light bar AD is suspended from a cable BE and supports a 50 – lb load block at C,

as shown in figure 3. The ends A and D of the bar are in contact with frictionless
vertical walls. Determine the tension in cable BE and the reactions at A and D.

Figure 3 Figure 4

4. Three cables are joined at the junction ring C. Determine the tensions in cables AC
and BC caused by the weight of the 30-kg cylinder.

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