STATICS (ME 211)

Fall 2020

Instructor: Sadia Bakhtiar

LECTURE NO: 07

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering 1

Contents
• Conditions for equilibrium of a particle

• The Free-body diagram

• Coplanar force system

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Chapter 3: Equilibrium of a Particle

Condition for the Equilibrium of a Particle

• A particle is said to be in equilibrium if it remains at rest if originally

at rest, or has a constant velocity if originally in motion.

• however, the term “equilibrium” or, more specifically, “static

equilibrium” is used to describe an object at rest.

➢ Equilibrium in 2-D (Coplanar Force System)

➢ Equilibrium in 3-D 3
Free-Body Diagram
• Supports encountered in particle equilibrium problems
1. Springs
2. Cables and pulleys
3. Smooth contact

Procedure for drawing a Free-Body Diagram

• Draw outlined shape

• Show a forces
• Identify each force

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 Coplanar Force Systems (2-D)

For this vector equation to be satisfied

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 Procedure for Analysis

Free-Body Diagram:

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Equations of Equilibrium:

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The lift sling is used to hoist a container having a mass of 500 kg.
Determine the force in each of the cables AB and AC as a
function of θ. If the maximum tension allowed in each cable is
3.5 kN, determine the shortest lengths of cables AB and AC that
can be used for the lift. The center of gravity of the container is
located at G.

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Class Problem
The springs on the rope assembly are originally stretched 1 ft.
when θ= 0̊. Determine the vertical force F that must be applied
so that θ= 30̊

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Practice Problems

•3-2
•3-3
•3-13
•3-14
•3-18
•3-31
•3-32
•3-41
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