NILE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

HONORIS UNITED UNIVERSITIES

TITLE: THE PRINCIPLE OF FORCES IN BEAM OF PARALLEL FORCES
A REPORT

AIM: To verify the principle of forces in beam of Parallel Forces Apparatus with the help
of beam supported at its ends.
THINGS REQUIRED:
1. Parallel Forces Apparatus
2. 10 Kg Dial Type.
3. Conical Weights.
4. Aluminum hangers for hanging weights
5. 100 meters ruler
6. Meter scale

APPARATUS:

The apparatus comprising of two dial type weight gauges of 10 kg, one straight wooden beam
of 150cm, a wooden platform for the support of the dial gauges, three weight hangers for
hanging the weights on the wooden beams, three weights weighing 7kg aggregate. The beam
is provided with angular slots on them in order to place the hanger in it, the distance between
each groove is 5cms. The weight of each hanger will be neglected.

THEORY:

If a system of coplanar forces acting on a rigid body keep it in equilibrium, then the
algebraic sum of their moments about any point in their plane is zero. As long as two forces are
acting on a body in the same direction and are parallel to one another, they are said to be
acting in parallel and are referred to as parallel forces.

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 A beam is a structural component that is susceptible to lateral loads and develops flexural
resistance to deformation. A beam is primarily made to withstand bending moments, but it also
needs to consider the effects of transverse or vertical shearing pressures.

Reactions in a simply supported beams are determined by using the principle of moments
According to this principle algebraic sum of the moments of all the force about a point is zero,
for equilibrium condition Varignon's principle of Moments states "If a number of coplanar forces
are acting simultaneously on particle, the algebraic sum of the moments of all the forces about
any point is equal to the moment of their resultant force about the same point"

PROCEDURE:

1. First of all arrange the apparatus by placing the beams on the given dial gauges as
shown in the figure. Note the zero error in the compression balances. When the beams
are supported at it ends.
2. Suspend three different weights from the sliding hook against any division marked on
the beam.
3. Note the reaction on the beam given by the readings of compression balances and takes
into account the zero error from each reading.
4. Find the sum of clockwise moment about the mid points of the beam and find also the
sum of anti-clockwise moment about its each reading.
5. Find the percentage error between clockwise and anti-clockwise moment.
6. Suspend three or four weights at different graduated division of the beam and find
percentage error between clockwise and anti –clockwise moments as before.

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OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS:

 Taking Equilibrium condition about A,

R’B*L – W1*L1 – W2*L2 = 0

R’B = W1*L1 + W2*L2

 Same as, Taking Equilibrium condition about B,

R’A = W1*L1 + W2*L2

But R’A + R’B = W1 + W2

R’A = (W1 + W2) – R’B

OBSERVATION TABLE:

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 Observed
Initial Weight Distance Of Load Distance
Final Reading Values Of
s/n Reading Suspended From Left End (A) Between
Reactions
(F.R) Support Supports
(I.R) W
(F.R - I.R)

A B
A B A B W1 W2 L1 L2 L
(RA) (RB)

1 0.0 0.0 9.0 11.0 9.0 11.0 10N 10N 0.35MM 0.70MM 1MM

2 0.0 0.0 10.0 12.0 10.0 12.0 10N 10N 0.30MM 0.75MM 1MM

s/n Calculated Reactions Percentage Error In Reactions At

R A −R ' A RB −R ' B
R’A R’B A= X 100 B= X 100
RA RB

1 9.5N 10.0N 5.6 4.5

2 9.5N 10.0N 5.0 12.5

R’B = W1*L1 + W2*L2 ……………………………………………….1

R’B = (10 x 0.35) + (10 x 0.70) = 3.5 + 7.0 = 10.5 = 10.5N

1 1 1
R’A = (W1 + W2) – R’B…………………………………………………….1

= (10 + 10) – 10.5 = 20 – 10.5 = 9.5N

'
R A −R A
A= X 100 …………………………………………...1
RA

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 = 9.0 - 9.5 x 100 = -0.056 x 100 = 5.6
9.0

RB −R ' B
B= X 100 …………………………………………….1
RB

= 11.0 – 10.5 x 100 = 0.045 x 100 = 4.5

11.0

R’B = W1*L1 + W2*L2 ………………………………………………….2

R’B = (10 x 0.30) + (10 x 0.75) = 3.0 + 7.5 = 10.5 = 10.5N

1 1 1
R’A = (W1 + W2) – R’B……………………………………………………..2

= (10 + 10) – 10.5 = 20 – 10.5 = 9.5N

'
R A −R A
A= X 100 …………………………………………..............2
RA

= 10.0 - 9.5 x 100 = 0.05 x 100 = 5.0

10.0

RB −R ' B
B= X 100 ………………………………………………………...2
RB

= 12.0 – 10.5 x 100 = 0.125x 100 = 12.5

12.0

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PRECAUSIONS:
1. Conical weight does not touch the table
2. Avoid zero error in reading meter rule
3. The weights should be placed gently on the hooks
4. The measurement of distance of weights should be done from one end
5. The apparatus should be placed horizontally perfect
CONCLUTION:
The experiment's goal, which was to satisfactorily confirm the principle
of moment for parallel and non-parallel forces, was accomplished. The
finds revealed that, the sum of clockwise moments about a point is equal
to the sum of anticlockwise moment about the same point.
REFERENCE:
1. INDIAMART (2019)FIGURE1..\Downloads\applied-mechanics-
instruments.html
ENGR. Dakut J.Y (2022) Applied Mechanics Manual (Principle of forces in
beam of Parallel Forces Experiment), Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja