ABSTRACT

When all of the forces that act upon an object are in equilibrium with one another, we say that the
object is in a state of equilibrium. If the forces acting in a rightward direction are balanced by forces acting
in a leftward direction, and if forces acting in an upward direction are balanced by forces acting in a
downward direction, then the forces are said to be balanced. With the help of the tension prorectors, the
primary purpose of this experiment is to give the students the opportunity to ascertain and validate the first
condition of equilibrium. The participants in this study utilized two tension protractors, an iron stand, a
multi-clamp set, and a hooked mass that weighed either 200 grams or 0.2 kilograms for the purpose
of conducting this experiment. After the apparatus for the experiment has been assembled, the data for the
experiment will be read and gathered. In conclusion, the resultant is equal to zero, which is the first condition
of equilibrium. This was determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem and summation to the data.

INTRODUCTION
A state of equilibrium denotes that the object in question is either motionless (static) or that the
motion of its center of mass is unchanging. It is stated in this first condition of equilibrium that in order to
keep the transitional equilibrium in a body, the vector sum of all the forces acting on the body must remain
equal to zero. If we want to maintain equilibrium, we can say that the sum of all the forces operating along
the x-axis must be zero, and the sum of all the forces acting along the y-axis must also be zero.
The application of tension protractors is going to be used in this investigation with the goal of
establishing that the first condition of equilibrium has been satisfied. The experiment also utilized the
Newton’s second law of motion in which it indicates that the acceleration of an object as produced by a net
force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and
inversely proportional to the mass of the object. Newton’s first law which states that if a body is at rest or
moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant
speed unless it is acted upon by a force. And also, the Vector sum of all forces that is, the net force is the
resultant of all the forces; it is the result of adding all the forces together as vectors.
PROCEDURES
The materials that were used in this experiment were two tension protractors, an iron stand, a
multiclamp set, and a hooked mass that weighed either 200 grams or 0.2 kilograms. The first part of the
experiment consisted of the experimenters clamping two metal rods that were 90 centimeters long upward
onto the table and keeping them approximately 80 centimeters apart from one another. Following this step,
the tension protractors are fastened to the iron rods. After ensuring that everything was in place for the
experiment, the experimenter ensured that the scale on each force and tension protractor was set to zero.
Adjust the thumb screw located in the back of the Tension Protractor until the power scale reads zero. This
must be done with nothing attached to the string of the instrument. The experimenter will then hang a small
mass from the hook after first ensuring that the angle of each tension protractor is set to zero. After that, the
person conducting the experiment rotates the outer ring so that it is in line with the string at the 90-degree
mark. After cutting a small portion out
of the string, the experimenter will then
attach one end of the string to the wire
hook on one of the tension protractors
and the other end of the string will be
attached to the wire hook on the other
tension protractor. Following this step,
attach the mass of 200 grams, which is
equal to 0.2 kilograms, to the string
loop. After the apparatus that the
experimenter has been assembling has
been finished, the experimenter is
required to read and record the data by
measuring the magnitude and angle
contained within the apparatus.

DATA AND OBSERVATIONS

ANGLE IN DEGREES
MAGNITUDE MEASURED FROM THE
CORD
OF FORCE (N) +XAXIS
COUNTERCLOCKWISE

Left cord (l) 1.6 N 116 degrees

Right cord (r) 0.9 N 42 degrees

Center cord (c) 1.96 N 270 degrees

 Table 1. Data of the magnitude and angle from the experiment
So, based on the readings the magnitude of force in the left cord is 1.6 N and the Angle of it is 64 degrees
but the angle of it measured from the x-axis is 116 degrees because 180-64 = 116. Next is the right cord that
has a magnitude of 0.9 N and 42 degrees from x axis. Lastly, the center cord, which has a 1.96 N and since
it is the weight and in Y-axis, its angle is 270 degree.

Graph 1. Graphical construction of vectors

Based on the experiment results, we believe that we may use graphical and mathematical methods to
compute the resultant of the specified forces and the angle of it. The stated forces are the strings of the
tension protractors, which are the Fl (left string), Fr (right string), and Fc (center string). We shifted all of
the angles in the data to the +x-axis. During the task, we realized that it is required to graph the forces first
in order to get the accurate Resultant force from the data presented. By graphing the forces, we can easily
anticipate what we will learn and how we will discover it.

ANGLE WITH COMPONENTS OF

CORD TENSION IN NEWTON RESPECT TO +X FORCES ALONG
– AXIS X – AXIS Y – AXIS

Left 1.6 N 116 -0.70 1.44

Right 0.9 N 42 0.67 0.60

Center 1.96 N 270o 0 -1.96

Total -0.03 0.08

 Table 2. Complete data of resultant
Resultant R = 0.09 θR = -69.44
vector with magnitude and direction

This experiment focuses on the First Condition of Equilibrium. Protractors for tension. Based on
the information we obtained, the outcome of the resultant in Table B is 0.09, thus we apply the formula 𝑅
=√( 𝑅𝑥)2+(𝑅𝑦)2. We need to acquire the Tension in Newtons and the Angle with respect to the
x-axis first, then the Components of Forces along the x and y axis. For the components of the x-axis, we
use the formula (T1Cos(x) =0.9Cos116=-0.70N), which is Tension in Newton, whereas for the components
of the y-axis, we use (T1sin(y) =0.9Sin116=144N). The total component of forces along the x- and y-axes
from the cord left, right, and center is -0.03, whereas the y-axis component is 0.08. For the resultant theta
we use the formula (R=√(Rx)^2+(Ry)^2 =√(-0.03)^2+(0.08)^2=0.09).

DISCUSSION AND RESULT

In making activities such as lab sheets we can’t avoid experiencing circumstances that may cause a
problem or hinder the process when doing the activity. There are several difficulties that we experience, and
this is according to our group members. First, as the semester goes on many professors assign more
activities, and there are many events happenings in our country such as elections; so, in line with this, we
experience thus we have difficulties in managing our time because of stress, and physical/mental exhaustion.
In addition to that, some difficulties are unexpected to happen since one of our members is involved in a
car accident, so as a concern group mates, we have decided to let him rest until he recovers. However,
despite all these circumstances we still manage to finish the task.
In terms of doing the activity, we must first focus on our objective which is to confirm the first
condition of equilibrium. So, for us to do this task, we must first watch the video for us to conduct the data
that we need to help in calculating forces and work. Moreover, as we finished analyzing the data, we
gathered based on the value visible on the protractors, we've now obtained the magnitude of forces in the
left, right, and center of the tension protractors. Also, we observed the angles from the x-axis of each tension
chord.
It is also required to draw the vector diagram of the tension protractor, as it presents the different
directions and angles of the force, this will also help in portraying the resultant force. Following, use the
data in calculating the different components along the x and y-axis. So, in calculating we use the formula
for the left, right, and center cord; First, in the left cord we use "T1Cos(x)" for the x-axis and T1sin(y) for
the y-axis"; Second, for the right cord we use the formula for the x-axis "T2cos(x)" and "T2sin(y)" for yaxis;
last, is center which is the tension and since it is in Y-axis we compute is using the formula "TcCos(y)".
To conclude, after calculating the different components, we add all the total force in x and y-axis,
then take its square root and the result is equal to zero. In line with this statement, we can now state that we
confirm our objective because it satisfies the first condition of equilibrium.

COMPUTATIONS: