4/27/2023

Engineering Mechanics
Lecture 8

Engr. Danish Saeed

Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
KFUEIT, RYK

Conditions of 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.
 We can define the equilibrium as;

“When the resultant of all the forces acting on a particle is

zero, the particle is in equilibrium”

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Conditions of Equilibrium of a Particle

 Most of the time, the term “equilibrium” or specifically “static
equilibrium” is used to describe an object at rest.
 To maintain equilibrium, it is necessary to satisfy Newton’s first
law of motion, which requires the resultant force acting on a
particle to be equal to zero
 This condition is stated by the equation of equilibrium,

The Free-Body Diagram

 To apply the equation of equilibrium, we must consider all the
known and unknown forces (∑F) which act on the particle.
 To do this, think of the particle as isolated and “free” from its
surroundings.
 A drawing that shows the particle with all the forces that act
on it is called a free-body diagram (FBD).

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Conditions of Support and Attachment

 Two types of supports are often encountered in particle
equilibrium problems.

 Cables and Pulleys

 Smooth Contact

Conditions of Support and Attachment

Cables and Pulleys.
 A cable can support only a tension or “pulling”
force, and this force always acts in the
direction of the cable.
 The tension force developed in a continuous
cable which passes over a frictionless pulley
must have a constant magnitude to keep the
cable in equilibrium as shown in figure 6-1b
Figure 6-1

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Conditions of Support and Attachment

Smooth Contact.
 If an object rests on a smooth surface,
then the surface will exert a force on
the object that is normal to the surface
at the point of contact.
 In addition to this normal force N, the
cylinder is also subjected to its weight
W and the force T of the cord. As
shown in figure 6-2 Figure 6-2

Free Body Diagram

 Consider the 75-kg crate
shown in figure 6-3a.
 This crate was lying between
two buildings, and it is now
being lifted onto a truck.
 It is desired to determine the
tension in each of the ropes
AB and AC.

Figure 6-3a

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Free Body Diagram

 In order to solve this problem, a free-body diagram
showing a particle in equilibrium must be drawn.
 Since we are interested in finding the force in the
rope, the free-body diagram should include at least
one of these forces or, if possible, both forces.
 Point A is seen to be a good free body for this
problem.
 The free-body diagram of point A is shown in figure
6-3b. Figure 6-3b

Example 6.1
 Determine the tension in cables BA and BC necessary to support
the 60-kg cylinder in figure 6-4a.

Figure 6-4a

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Example 6.1
 Due to equilibrium, the tension force in cable BD is equal and
y
opposite to weight of cylinder.
 Considering the free body diagram of cylinder; TBD

𝐹 =0
x
𝑇 − 60 9.81 = 0
𝑇 = 588.6 𝑁

Figure 6-4b

Example 6.1
 To determine the tension forces in cables BA
and BC, we will consider the free body
diagram of ring at B.
 Applying the equations of equilibrium in x
and y axis, we get;

(I)
Figure 6-4b
(II)

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Example 6.1
 The first equation can be written as;
(III)

 Substituting this in second equation;

 Substitute this in eq. (III)

Example 6.2
 The 200-kg crate in Fig. 6-5a is suspended
using the ropes AB and AC. Each rope can
withstand a maximum force of 10 kN
before it breaks. If AB always remains
horizontal, determine the smallest angle θ
to which the crate can be suspended
before one of the ropes breaks.
Figure 6-4b

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Example 6.2
 Free Body Diagram.
 Considering the equilibrium of ring at A;
 The magnitude of FD is equal to the
weight of the crate

Figure 6-4b

Example 6.2
 Applying the equations of equilibrium
along x and y axis

(1)

Figure 6-4b

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Example 6.2
 Applying the equations of equilibrium
along x and y axis

(2)

 From Eq. (1), FC is always greater than FB

since cos θ ≤ 1.
Figure 6-4b

Example 6.2
 Therefore, rope AC will reach the maximum tensile force of 10 kN
before rope AB.
 Substituting FC = 10 kN into Eq. (2), we get;

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Example 6.2
 The force developed in rope AB can be obtained by substituting the
values for u and FC into Eq. (1)

Assignment Problems
 Q 6-1: If the mass of cylinder C is 40 kg, determine the mass of
cylinder A in order to hold the assembly in the position shown.

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Assignment Problems
 Q 6-2: Determine the tension force in cable AC and rope BC.

20o

Assignment Problems
 Q 6-3: The cables ABC and BD can each
support a maximum load of 100 lb.
Determine the maximum weight of the
crate, and the angle θ for equilibrium.

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