Grade 12 Worksheet

Lesson 8.3 Equilibrium

1. The horizontal uniform rod shown below has length 0.60 m and mass 2.0 kg. The
left end of the rod is attached to a vertical support by a frictionless hinge that
allows the rod to swing up or down. The right end of the rod is supported by a
cord that makes an angle of 30° with the rod. A spring scale of negligible mass
measures the tension in the cord. A 0.50 kg block is also attached to the right
end of the rod.

a. On the diagram below, draw and label vectors to represent all the forces
acting on the rod. Show each force vector originating at its point of
application.
 b. Calculate the reading on the spring scale.

c. Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted by the hinge on the rod

2. A student stands on a uniform 25 kg beam. The scale on the right end reads 350
N. What is the mass of the student?
3. The diagram below shows a beam of length 20.0 m and mass 40.0 kg resting on
two supports placed at 5.0 m from each end. A person of mass 50.0 kg stands on
the beam 2 m from the right side support. The reaction forces at the supports
are shown.

a. State the value of N1 + N2

b. Calculate the values of N1 and N2?

c. The person now moves toward the X end of the beam to the position
where the beam just begins to tip and reaction force N1 becomes zero as
the beam starts to leave the left support. Determine the distance of the
girl from the end X when the beam is about to tip
 Refer to the given below to answer the NEXT TWO questions.
A horizontal, uniform board of weight 125 N and length 4 m is supported by
vertical chains at each end. A person weighing 500 N is sitting on the board. The
tension in the right chain is 250 N. Sketch the problem in the space below.

4. What is the tension in the left chain?

a. 250 N
b. 375 N
c. 500 N
d. 625 N
e. 875 N

5. How far from the left end of the board is the person sitting?
a. 0.4 m
b. 1.5 m
c. 2 m
d. 2.5 m
e. 3 m

6. A uniform rigid bar of weight W is supported in a horizontal orientation as

shown by a rope that makes a 30° angle with the horizontal. The force exerted
on the bar at point O, where it is pivoted, is best represented by a vector whose
direction is which of the following?
 Refer to the given below to answer the NEXT THREE questions.

A circus performer on a unicycle of total mass of 55 kg rides across a uniform 30

kg beam as shown below. The supports are placed at equal distances from both
ends of the beam.

7. When the performer is in the position on the beam as shown above, determine
the magnitudes of the forces exerted by the supports on the beam.
8. As the performer moves towards support B, the magnitude of the force exerted
by support B on the beam will:
a. remain the same
b. increase
c. decrease

9. As the performer moves towards support B, the sum of the magnitudes of the
forces exerted by supports A and B on the beam will:
a. remain the same
b. increase
c. decrease

10. A meter stick is supported at each side by a spring scale. A heavy mass is
then hung on the meterstick so that the spring scale on the left hand side reads
four times the value of the spring scale on the right hand side. If the mass of the
meterstick is negligible compared to the hanging mass, how far from the right
hand side is the large mass hanging. Sketch the problem to easily answer the
question.
a. 25 cm
b. 50 cm
c. 67 cm
d. 75 cm
e. 80 cm