FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Subject: ENGINEERING MECHANICS 1

Subject code : MECH1O1

Semester 2, 2023

Title: S1 LABORATOR EXPERIMENTS

PRACT GROUP 18

SURNAME & INITIALS STUDENT NO.

1. MASIKO L A 22121004
2. NYAWUZA N P 22144588
3. NKALA S S 22336184
4. CELE S 22358503
5. MSOMI A 22364739

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Contents
1.Introduction........................................................................................................................................3
2.Aim.....................................................................................................................................................4
3.Objective............................................................................................................................................4
4.Method...............................................................................................................................................4
4.1Equipment........................................................................................................................................4
4.2Practical method..............................................................................................................................4
5.Results................................................................................................................................................5
5.Tabulation..........................................................................................................................................8
6. Specimen calculation (S)....................................................................................................................8
7.Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................9
8. Discussion..........................................................................................................................................9

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Experiment 1

1.Introduction
In this laboratory experiment we are looking into the determining two unknown forces in a
system of co-planar concurrent forces and finding the equilibrium point which will be equal
to zero in any direction

The method used to determining two unknown forces in a system of co-planar concurrent is
the Baseline method.

Method: Baseline method

 Selecting the line of the unknown force (A-A) as the baseline and indicate the
direction for the other unknown forces.

 The sum of the forces acting perpendicularly to the baseline (A-A) equal to zero and
calculate the magnitude of the unknown force.

 Repeat the method described using the second unknown forces line as the baseline
and calculate the magnitude of the unknown forces

Determining the magnitude and the direction of the resultant of a system of co-planar
concurrent :

 The sum of the horizontal forces and components(assuming direction to the right is +
and to the left -).

 The sum of the vertical forces and components(assuming direction upwards is + and
downwards -).

 The resultant is R=√Σx^2+Σy^2

 The formular for tanθ=Efy/Efx

In a system of co-planar concurrent the equilibrium is equal to zero in any direction.

2.Aim
The aim of this laboratory experiment is calculating the magnitude of two unknown forces in
a system of co-planar concurrent forces and finding if the equilibrium which is algebraic
sum of the forces will equal to zero

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3.Objective
The objective of the experiment is to test the method of calculation used when determining
the magnitude of two unknown forces in a system of co-planar concurrent force which are
in equilibrium.

4.Method

4.1Equipment
 A vertical wooden board

 4 friction-free pulleys

 Light inelastic string

 Brass mass hangers and elotted masses

 Paper and writing equipment

4.2Practical method
 First gather all the required equipment, aline the string to the pulleys

 Attach each brass mass hanger at each end of the string

 Ellote masses on the brass mass hangers until the system reaches a point of
equilibrium

 Fix a sheet of paper on the wooden board and mark the point on the ring as point P
and draw the direction of each string on the paper.

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5.Results

Mass 1

F =mg

0,6N=m(9.81)

M=0,06kg

Mass 2

F=mg

O,7N=m(9.81)

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M=0,07kg

Mass 3

F =mg

0,9N=m(9.81)

M=0,09kg

Mass 4

F =mg

0,5N=m(9.81)

M=0,05kg

Mass 5

F =mg

0,7N=m(9.81)

M=0,07kg

Table 1

FORCE (N) MASS (KG)

1. 0,6 0,06
2. 0,7 0,07
3. 0,9 0,09
4. 0,5 0,05
5 0,7 0,07

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Baseline B-B

A + 0,6sin51°-0,7sin44°-0,5sin67°=0

A-0,4802=0

A=0,6N

Baseline A-A

-B + 0,7sin46°+0,5sin23°+0,6sin39°=0

-B+1,0765=0

-B=-1,0765

B=1,08N

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5.Tabulation
Forces Experimental Value Calculated Value %error
Gram(g) Newton(N) Gram(g) Newton(N
)
A 70 0,7 60 0,6 0,7-0,6=0,1
B 90 0,9 108 1,08 0,9-1,08=-0,18

6. Specimen calculation (S)

Force(N) X Y
0,6 O,6cos39° O,6sin39°
0,7 0,7cos46° 0,7sin46°
0,5 0,5cos23° 0,4sin23°
0,5 0,5
1,08 1,08
Sum of all horizontal forces

Fx=0

=0,5+ 0,6cos39°-0,7cos46°-0,5cos23°

=0,01977N

Sum of vertical forces

Fy=0

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=0,6sin39°+0,7sin46°+0,5sin23°-1,08

=-0,003N

=0,02N

R=

√Σfx^2+Σfy^2

R=√(0,01977)^2+(-0,003)^2

R=0,02N

tanθ= -0,003÷0,01977

Θ=-8,63°

7.Conclusion
The objective of the experiments was achieved as we were able to find the two unknown
forces which were force A & B .The equilibrium theory was proven as the resultant of all the
forces and their components was equal to zero in any direction.

8. Discussion
Factors that may affected the experimental readings:

 The masses on the hangers were uneven ,one mass was heavy then other masses
and the ring of the string did not line at the center of the vertical board.

 The resultant was not equal to zero which means the equilibrium wasn’t reached.