Revised 9/17

Experiment 3: Equilibrium of Forces

Purpose
(1) To become familiar with vectors, their components, their addition and subtraction.
(2) To study the equilibrium of coplanar forces intersecting at a point.

Apparatus
Force table, slotted weights

Theory
There are basically two types of quantities in physics: scalars quantities and vector quantities.
A scalar quantity is simply a number that has no direction. Examples of scalars are 32 ft, 10 kg,
and 8.6 s.

A vector quantity has both a magnitude (which is just a scalar) and a direction (which tells
you which way the vector is pointing). Forces, velocity, and acceleration are examples of
vectors. They are often designated by putting an arrow over the symbol like this representation
of a force vector: F.

The symbol used for drawing a vector is an arrow. The

length of the arrow represents the magnitude (after
choosing a scale such as 1 inch = 1 newton). The angle
the arrow makes with the x-axis gives us the direction
of the vector. The angle is measured from the positive
x axis, counter-clockwise from 0 to 360. A force F of
magnitude 90 N acting at angle q = 200° would be
drawn using an arrow as shown in Figure 1.

Another way of describing a vector V is by

decomposing it into its components Vx and Vy in the
x and y directions as shown in Figure 2.

BOTH way of expressing the vector V tell us the

magnitude and direction of the vector.
1) magnitude V and angle 
2) the components Vx and Vy

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 Experiment 3

We can use trigonometry to go back and forth between these two expressions:
1) From the magnitude and angle to the components: Vx = V cos  and Vy = V sin  (1)

2) From the components to the magnitude and angle: V =  Vx 2 + Vy 2 and (2)

 = tan-1 (Vy / Vx).
WARNING: There are TWO solutions of the equation tan  = Vy / Vx.
To find the correct value of  use these facts:
(1) both x and y are positive in quadrant 1
(2) x is negative and y is positive in quadrant 2
(3) both x and y are negative in quadrant 3
(4) x is positive and y is negative in quadrant 4

Vector Addition
You can add vectors in both representations - either as components or graphically.
Adding Vectors As Components
To add two vectors as components, add the components which are in the same direction. for
example, to add vector A + vector B to obtain the resultant vector C, you would add Ax + Bx to
obtain the value of Cx and the value of Ay + By to obtain the value of Cy. We now know the two
components Cx and Cy of the resultant vector C.
You can add more than one vector the same way: The sum of adding three forces 1, 2,
3, is found by summing all three components and using Equation (2) to find the magnitude
and direction of the sum:
Sx = Fx = sum of all Fx (3)
Sy = Fy = sum of all Fy
S = magnitude of the sum = Sx2 + Sy2
 = angle of = tan-1 (Sy /Sx) (0   360)

Adding Vectors Graphically

Figure 3 shows how to add vector A and vector
B graphically. Draw vector A at the correct
angle on the graph, its length calculated
according to the scale. Then vector B is placed
at the arrow end of A. Draw a line parallel to
the x axis to measure the angle of B. The sum
is the vector which goes from the beginning of
A to the end arrow of B. Measure the line and
use your scale to find the magnitude of the
vector. Use a protractor to find its angle from a
line parallel to the x axis.

Preliminary Procedure
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 Experiment 3

(a) Your instructor will explain how to operate the force table.

(b) Do the holders have mass? This must be taken into account when calculating the total
applied force of the masses at the ends of the strings.

(c) When all of the applied forces sum to zero (ie the system is in equilibrium), the plastic ring
will remain centered. If the ring is pulled in some direction that means there is an unbalanced
force in that direction.

Using only two holders (let other two strings hang free), set one pulley at 127 and the other at
307. Load each holder with 100 grams. After all adjustments, verify that the plastic ring is
centered on the central pin. This shows that the two
forces are equal and opposite and that F = 0 since the
ring is not pulled in any direction (Newton’s first law).

(d) Remove 50 grams from one mass holder. Note that the
ring is immediately pulled by the heavier force (100 gms
> 50 gms). This is due to the imbalance of the two forces
since when the sum of forces is not zero a net force is
present, and an acceleration (i.e. a motion) begins to
occur. This shows Newton's second law, namely:
F = m a

UNITS NOTE: Grams are units of mass, not force. You

would have to multiply masses by the acceleration of gravity g to find their weight (W = mg, g =
9.8 m/s2) which is the force due to gravity. We are going to simplify our calculations and use
grams as a proxy for the force.

Procedure Part I: Finding the Opposing Force by Adding Components

In Part I, we will add vectors F1 and F2 using the component method and then calculate their
opposing force. Copy this table onto your data sheet:

PART I DATA
Magnitude (grams) ϴ (º) Fx (grams) Fy (grams)
F1
F2
Sum

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 Experiment 3

(1) Set a pulley at 0 and load the string with any mass you choose unless directed otherwise by
your instructor. This mass + massholder is the magnitude of force vector F1. Set the second
pulley at 90 and load it with a different mass. This is force vector F2. Calculate the vector
components of F1 and F2 using Equation (1). Sum the vector’s components in both x and y
directions.

(2). Copy the table below onto your data sheet and enter the components of the sum. Then find
the magnitude and angle  of the sum using Equation (2). Show your calculations (including
units) to three significant digits. Write the magnitude and direction of the opposing force. It has
the same magnitude as the sum but the opposite angle OPPOSING = SUM + 180

PART I CALCULATIONS
Does it
Sum of Sum of
Magnitude (gm) ϴ (º) Check?
Fx (gm) Fy (gm)
(Y/N)
Sum ×
Opposing
Force
× ×
(3) Check if your calculations are correct by setting up the third pulley at the angle ϴ OPPOSING and
load it with the magnitude of the opposing force. Verify that the ring is perfectly centered on the
pin as shown in Fig. 4 and note this observation on your data sheet (Y/N).

DO NOT CONTINUE UNTIL YOU HAVE THE RING CENTERED. If you can’t center it,
and you can’t find your mistake, CALL YOUR INSTRUCTOR.

Procedure Part II: Finding The Opposing Force by Trial And

Error
We find the opposing force for two vectors F1 + F2. Copy this data table onto your data sheet.:

PART II DATA
Magnitude (g) ϴ (º)
F1
F2
OFII (Opposing Force for Part II)

(4) Set two pulleys at angles 1 and 2 that are not at 90° to each other, load them with F1 and F2
grams (choose new values for 1 and 2, F1 and F2 unless directed otherwise by your instructor).

Pulling the third string, by trial and error find the direction which will oppose the force due to
the sum of F1 and F2 and leave the ring centered. By experimentation, find the mass that will

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 Experiment 3

balance the two forces. This is the opposing force OFII of the vector sum S of F1 and F2. Record
its magnitude and angle. No calculations required.
(5) Now that the three forces are in equilibrium, increase the load on the opposing force string
OFII in steps of 1 gram. Record the smallest change that will cause the ring to move. Call this
value OFII. This is the uncertainty in the opposing force caused by friction in the pulleys.

(6) Return to the original magnitude of OFII. Shift the opposing force pulley and find the
smallest change in the angle II of the opposing force that causes an observable change in the
angle. Measure and record this small change as II.

Procedure Part III: Finding the Opposing Force of Three Forces

by Trial And Error
7) Make a data table PART III DATA for 3 vectors
F1, F2, F3 like the one you made for Part II. Load
three strings with masses of your choice (see Fig. 5).
Using trial and error as you did in Part II, find the
fourth force that will balance the three forces.
Record the magnitude and angle of the opposing
force OFIII.
No calculations required.

(8) Repeat (5) and (6) above to find OFIII and III.
.

ADVICE: BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE LAB

You will have to add forces graphically, as well as mathematically, in your report. See page 9.
Ask your instructor for help if you are not sure how to do this.

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 Experiment 3

Lab Report
Part I
(1) Answer the following: If F1 was acting at 45 (instead of 0) and F2 at 135 (instead of 90),
would either the angle or the magnitude, or both, of their sum change? Can you answer this
question without any calculations?

Part II
(2) Copy the Part II Table to your Lab Report and insert your Part II experimental values. From
your values of F1, F2, 1, and 2, calculate the components of F1 and F2, and their sum and
write them in the table. Round to 3 significant figures.
PART II TABLE
Magnitude (grams) ϴ (º) Fx (grams) Fy (grams)
F1
F2
SumII

(3) Calculate the magnitude and angle of the vector sum SumII of Fx and Fy using Equation (2).
The calculated magnitude of the opposing force OFII = magnitude of SumII and its angle
OP = II + 180˚. Write in Part II Analysis Table your Part II measured values of the opposing
force OFII from your data and your calculated values from (2).

PART II ANALYSIS TABLE

magnitude (grams)  (º)
OFII
(measured)
OFII
(calculated)

(4) Calculate for Part II:

experimental % uncertainty
u =  OFII x 100% (Find the experimental % uncertainty in the magnitude of ΔFopposing using
OFII your experimental value from (5) above and your measured magnitude
OFII)

% discrepancy
d = (OFII measured- OFII calculated) x 100% (% discrepancy between the measured and calculated magnitudes
OFII measured OFII)

On the basis of the quantity u (your experimental uncertainty in the magnitude OFII), explain
what could be the major reasons of your discrepancy d between the measured and calculated
values of OFII. If your error is small, still consider what can cause discrepancies.

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 Experiment 3

Part III
(5) Complete the Part III Table using
the experimental data and PART III TABLE
calculations. Magnitude (g) θ (º) Fx (g) Fy (g)
(6) Calculate the magnitude and angle F1
of the sum SumIII of Fx and Fy using
Equation (2). F2
F3
(7) Calculate quantities u and d using
your experimental value for ΔOIII and SumIII
and calculated value for OIII.
Comment on your results.

(8) Forces F1, F2 and F3 can be added graphically on graph paper as shown in Fig. 6. First
write the scale you will use for your graph in terms of grams per centimeter. Draw your diagram
using a pencil, a ruler, a triangle, and a protractor. Calculate the lengths of your vectors using
your scale. Remember all angles are calculated from the positive x axis. (See page 9 for help.)

Scale_____
x direction
F2
F3 x direction
Sgraph
F1 x direction

Fig. 6

(9) Measure the length of the sum Sgraph on your graph and calculate its magnitude using your
scale. Enter it in Table 4 along with the other two values listed. State which one of the three
values you think is most reliable and why.

TABLE 4: PART III

QUANTITY MAGNITUDE (g)
OFIII (from your experimental data)
SUMIII (from calculation(6))
Sgraph (from your graphical sum)

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