11 November 2020 Engineering Mechanics Lab

Assignment #1

Applications of Equilibrium Conditions

Name: Muhammad Farhan Amin

Registration Number: BSME 01193081

Teacher Name: Sir Muzammal Hussain

Section: A

Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Lahore,

Lahore Pakistan
 Applications of Equilibrium Conditions
State of Equilibrium:
When all the forces that act upon an object are balanced, then the object is said to be in a state
of equilibrium. If an object is at equilibrium, then the forces are balanced. Balanced is the key
word that is used to describe equilibrium situations. Thus, the net force is zero and the
acceleration is 0 m/s/s.
There are three types of equilibrium: stable, unstable, and neutral.
Example:
When hot air and cold air are entering the room at the same time so that the overall temperature
of the room does not change at all.
First condition of Equilibrium:
 Require that the sum of all external forces acting on the body is zero.

 If net force is zero, then net force along any direction is zero.
Fnet=0
 The first equilibrium condition for the static equilibrium of a rigid body
expresses translational equilibrium:
∑kF⃗ k=0⃗

Second Condition of Equilibrium:

The sum of all external torques from external forces is zero.

 The second condition necessary to achieve equilibrium involves avoiding accelerated

rotation.
 A rotating body or system can be in equilibrium if its rate of rotation is constant and
remains unchanged by the forces acting on it.
 The magnitude of torque about a axis of rotation is defined to be

∑kτ⃗ k=0⃗ , τ=rFsinθ.

These two conditions must be simultaneously satisfied in equilibrium.

 Applications of Equilibrium conditions

Illustrative Application 1: The Seesaw

In Figure below Jessica has mass me of 27.0-kg and is located 0.500 m from the left end of the
seesaw. Boris has a mass mb of 33.0-kg and is located on the right end of the seesaw. If the
seesaw is to remain balanced as in Figure below, how far from the center of seesaw must Boris
be seated? The seesaw is 5.50 m long and has a uniformly distributed mass ms of 8.30-kg.
Let us first draw a Free Body Diagram of the situation showing the forces on the seesaw.

The point, P in Figure above is called the pivot, or the fulcrum.  It is the point about which the
seesaw rotates. The axis of rotation is perpendicular to your computer screen, through P. If we
choose the pivot P, then the torque contributed by the seesaw will be zero since the center of
mass of the seesaw is at the pivot P, thus simplifying our calculations. Since the problem has
unknown distance, we will use the equilibrium condition ∑τ=0.
Let us first find the weights of Jessica, Boris, and the seesaw:

meg=(27.kg)(10m/s2)=270N
mbg=(33.kg)(10m/s2)=330N
msg=(8.3kg)(10m/s2)=83N
Jessica is 0.50 m from the left edge and therefore 2.75m−0.50m from the pivot P.
She contributes a (negative) clockwise torque about the pivot

P of τE=−rFsinθ=(2.75m−0.50m)(270N)sin90∘=−607 m⋅N
Boris contributes a (positive) counterclockwise torque about the pivot

P of τB=rFsinθ=(x)(330N)sin90∘=(x)(330N)
∑τ=0→(−607m⋅N)+(330N)x=0
x=607m⋅N330N=1.84m
In order to balance the seesaw, Boris must sit 1.84 m from the pivot while Jessica sits 2.25 m
from the pivot.

Illustrative Example 2: The Daredevil

A daredevil with mass md of 60.0-kg walks along a uniform steel beam with mass mb of 270.0-
kg, and unknown length L. One-third of the length of the beam hangs over the edge of a tall
building. How far can the daredevil walk along the beam without the beam tipping over the edge
of the building? Express the answer in terms of the length L of the beam. See Figure below. 

We begin by drawing a Free Body Diagram of the steel beam.

Once again, there is only one unknown in the problem- distance. Therefore, we will use the
equilibrium condition ∑τ=0. We’ll take the pivot P as our point of rotation. The clockwise
torque due to the weight of the beam must balance the counterclockwise torque due to the
weight of the daredevil. The angle between r and F is 90∘ throughout the problem so write the
torques as just rF.
We must determine the distance, xb from the center of mass of the beam to the pivot, P. Since
the location of the center of mass is 12L and the location of the pivot is 23L, (see Figure above)
the distance between the center of mass and the pivot is xb=23L−12L=16L. The condition for
rotational equilibrium gives ∑τ=0→mbgL6−mdgxd=0.

After canceling g and substituting the givens we have

∑τ=0→(270kg)(16L)−(60kg)xd=0→xd=34L