PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

STATICS (EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE)

Define equilibrium
If a system of forces acting on a body, keeps the body in a state of rest then the system
of forces is said to be in equilibrium.

ALTERNATIVELY, if the resultant of the force system is zero, then, the force system is
said to be in equilibrium.

What is translational Equilibrium?

The linear speed is not changing with time. There is no resultant force and therefore
zero acceleration. Translational equilibrium exists.

What is Rotational Equilibrium?

The angular speed is not changing with time. There is no resultant torque and,
therefore, zero change in rotational velocity. Rotational equilibrium exists.
Equilibrium of Concurrent, Coplanar Force Systems

Newton’s First Law - If, and only if, an object’s “mass center” has zero
acceleration, then the sum of ALL of the forces acting on the object (body)
is zero.

The entire body is at rest, so the mass center, has zero acceleration.
 VECTOR and SCALAR

• VECTOR- refers to the quantity

with directions. Left indicates
negative sign (-), right
indicates positive sign (+)

• FORCE is a VECTOR quantity.

• DISTANCE and TIME are

SCALAR quantities
Concurrent, Coplanar Force System

What is coplanar force system?

The lines of action of all forces lie in
a common plane.

What is concurrent force

system?
The lines of action of all forces
intersect at a common point.
Triangle Law:
If three forces are in equilibrium, then, they form a
closed triangle when represented in a Tip to Tail
arrangement, as shown in Fig 1.(a).
LAMI’S THEOREM
State Lami’s theorem
If a system of three forces is in equilibrium, then, each force of the system
is proportional to sine of the angle between the other two forces (and
constant of proportionality is the same for all the forces). Thus, with
reference to Fig(2), we have,

Note: While using Lami’s theorem, all the three forces

should be either directed away or all directed towards the
point of concurrence.
Sample Problem:

Find magnitude and direction of F.

Sample Problem:

Find magnitude and direction of F.

Statics - Ropes
Find the tension in ropes A and B.
Statics - Ropes
Find tension in ropes A and B.
Statics - Ideal Cable
• Neglect weight (massless).
• Neglect bending stiffness.
➢ Force parallel to cable.
➢ Force only tensile.
• Neglect stretching (inextensible).
Sample illustration - Ideal cable
Find the forces in cables AB and AC. Mass = 12 kg

Procedures:

Make the Free-Body Diagram

Apply the Newton’s 1st Law
Solve first the section with only
one unknown variable.
Sample illustration - Ideal cable
Find the forces in cables AB and AC. Mass = 12 kg
Sol’n:
W = mg = 12 kg (9.81) = 117.72 N

∑ 𝑭𝒚 = 0
 FORCE RULES

✓ Gravity near the surface of the earth

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑔 Where g=acceleration due to gravity: 9.81
𝑚
𝑠2
or 32.2
𝑓𝑡
𝑠2

✓ The Spring (Hooke’s Law) in one dimension:

Where ∆𝑥 =the displacement of the mass on
𝐹 = 𝑘∆𝑥 the spring from equilibrium

✓ Normal Force
𝐹 = 𝑁 any force perpendicular to the surface
Statics - Spring
• Linear elastic spring: change in
length is directly proportional to
the force acting on it.
• Spring constant or stiffness k:
defines the elasticity of the
spring.
• Magnitude of force when
spring is elongated or
compressed.
Statics - Spring (Sample)
Spring AB is stretched 3m. What is
the mass of the suspended block?
Statics - Spring (Sample)
Spring AB is stretched 3m. What is
the mass of the suspended block?
Statics - Spring (Sample)
Spring AB is stretched 3m. What is
the mass of the suspended block?
Beam Illustration
Find the forces exerted by supports A and B.
Neglect the weight of the
10-m beam.

Procedures:
Rotational Equilibrium
Choose axis at point of unknown force. (At
support A for example).

Essentially, we are saying that the torques are

balanced about a chosen axis.
Beam Illustration

Solution:
Beam Illustration
Find the forces exerted by supports A and
B. Neglect the weight of the
10-m beam.

Solution: