Engineering Mechanics-I:

Statics
By: Engr. Ahmed Zaheer

Mechanical Engineering Department

University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila, Pakistan
 Lecture-3:

Equilibrium of Particle
Contents
Contents
• 1st Condition of Equilibrium

• Free Body Diagram

• Examples
1st
Condition of
Equilibrium
Particle Equilibrium
• When a particle is at rest or moves with constant velocity, it is in
constant motion.
• This requires that all forces actin on a particle form a zero Resultant
Force.
2D Equilibrium
• When a particle is at rest or moves with constant velocity, it is in
constant motion.
• This requires that all forces actin on a particle form a zero Resultant
Force.
3D Equilibrium
• When a particle is at rest or moves with constant velocity, it is in
constant motion.
• This requires that all forces actin on a particle form a zero Resultant
Force.
Concurrent Forces
• Two or more forces are concurrent at
a point if their lines of action intersect
at the same point.
• Forces lie in the same plane but applied
at different points
(using Transmissibility principle).

• Equilibrium is applied to a system

of Concurrent Forces.
Transmissibility
A force may be applied at any point on its given line of
action without altering the resultant effects of the force external to
the rigid body on which it acts

The force P acting on the rigid plate may be applied at A

or at B or at any other point on its line of action, and the
net external effects of P on the bracket will not change
Free Body Diagram
Free Body Diagram
• To apply the equation of equilibrium, we must account for all the
known and unknown forces which act on the particle.
• A drawing that shows the particle with all the forces that act on it is
called a free-body diagram (FBD).
Free Body Diagram (contd.)
• Springs
• If a linearly elastic spring of un-deformed
length 𝑙0 is used to support a particle, the length of the
spring will change in direct proportion to the force F
acting on it.

• A characteristic that defines the “elasticity” of a spring

is the spring constant or stiffness k.
Free Body Diagram (contd.)
• Cables & Pulleys

• A cable can support only a tension or pulling force,

and this force always acts in the direction of the cable.

• Cables will be assumed to have:

• Negligible weight
• It cannot stretch
Free Body Diagram (contd.)
• Smooth Surface 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.
FBD:
Example-1
• Whole System

• Cyclist & Bicycle

are modelled
as one particle,
in order to analyze
the whole system.

• If forces need to be
analyzed on a single tire,
then FBD would need to
be broken down further.
FBD:
Example-2
• Concurrent Forces

• A 5-kg plate is suspended by

two straps A and B.

• To find the force in each strap

we should consider the
free-body diagram
of the plate.

• The three forces

acting on it are concurrent
at the center of the plate.
FBD:
Example-3
• 2D System
FBD:
Example-3: Normal Force against a Flat Surface
• 2D System
FBD:
Example-3: Weight
• 2D System
FBD:
Example-3: Forces acting on a Point
• 2D System
FBD:
Example-3: Force acting in a Spring
• Assumptions:
• Spring Force is a Pulling Force
• Spring is linearly deforming i.e.
it follows Hooke’s Law:

• Lengths:
• Un-stretched Length: 𝒍𝟎
• Stretched Length: 𝒍
• Stretch / Deformation in Spring: 𝒔
FBD:
Example-3: Forces acting around a Pulley
• 2D System

• Further FBDs can also be

drawn for points B, A & D.

• Point B: 𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 𝐹𝐵𝐴

FBD:
Example-3: Forces acting around a Pulley (contd.)
• Assumptions:
• Tension Force is a Pulling Force
• Tension in both ends of the cable
is assumed to be equal

• Weight & Size of Pulley is ignored

• Weight of Cable is ignored
• Cable is assumed to be taut
(completely tight, wit no sag)
FBD:
Example-3: Reactive Forces on Supports
• 2D System

• Point A:
• Active Force: 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐹𝐵𝐴
• Reactive Forces:
• Horizontal Force: 𝐹𝐴𝑥
• Vertical Force: 𝐹𝐴𝑦

• Point D:
• Active Force: 𝐹𝐷𝐶 = 𝐹𝐶𝐷
• Reactive Forces:
• Horizontal Force: 𝐹𝐷𝑥
• Vertical Force: 𝐹𝐷𝑦 = 0
FBD:
Example-4 (contd.)
• 3D System
Examples
Analysis Procedure
1. Draw simple outline of system / part to be analyzed.

2. Show & label all forces (known or unknown) acting on the system / part
(both active & reactive).
• Assume the direction of unknown forces.
• Cables / Cords exert a Tension i.e. Pulling force.
• Springs’ force can be calculated using Hooke’s Law (F = k.s)
• Smooth surfaces exert a Normal Force on the system, perpendicular to the surface.
• Reactive forces act on supports, having X, Y Z components.

3. Apply 1st Condition of Equilibrium (2D or 3D).

• Resultant force is considered zero.
• Calculate the unknowns.
Example-1
• Determine the tension in cables
BA and BC necessary to support
the 60-kg cylinder in the figure.
Example-1 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-1 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑇𝐴 = 420 𝑁
• 𝑇𝐶 = 476 𝑁
Example-2
• Determine the required length of cord AC in the figure so that the 8-
kg lamp can be suspended in the position shown. The undeformed
length of Spring AB is 0.4 m, and the spring has a stiffness of 300
N/m.
Example-2 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-2 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑙𝐴𝐶 = 1.32 𝑚
Example-3
• The lift sling is used to hoist a container having a mass of 500 kg.
• Determine the force in each of the cables AB and AC.
• If the maximum tension allowed in each cable is 5 kN, determine the shortest length of
cables AB and AC that can be used for the lift. The center of gravity of the container is located
at G.
Example-3 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-3 (contd.)
• Solution
• θ = 29°
• 𝑙 = 1.72 𝑚
• 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 2137.28 𝑁
Example-4
• The gusset plate is subjected to the forces of three members.
Determine the tension force in member C and its angle θ for
equilibrium. The forces are concurrent at point O. Take F = 8 kN.
Example-4 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-4 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑇 = 7.7 𝑁
• θ = 70°
Example-5
• The cords 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.
Example-5 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-5 (contd.)
• Solution:
• 𝑊 = 51 𝑁
• θ = 79°
Example-6
• Determine the stretch in each spring for equilibrium of the 2-kg block.
The springs are shown in the equilibrium position.
Example-6 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-6 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑥𝐴𝐵 = 0.467 𝑚 = 467 𝑚𝑚
• 𝑥𝐴𝐶 = 0.793 𝑚 = 793 𝑚𝑚
• 𝑥𝐴𝐷 = 0.49 𝑚 = 490 𝑚𝑚
Example-7
• Each cord can sustain a maximum tension of 500 N.
Determine the largest mass of pipe that can be supported.
Example-7 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-7 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑚 = 27 𝑘𝑔

• Hint:
Determine which cable carries
the maximum load in terms of
mass (m)
Example-8
• The three cables are used to support the 40-kg flowerpot.
Determine the force developed in each cable for equilibrium.
Example-8 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-8 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 523 𝑁
• 𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 392 𝑁
• 𝐹𝐴𝐷 = 763 𝑁

• Hint:
Find Position Vectors & Unit Vectors
of each Force
Example-9
• If the tension developed in each cable cannot exceed 300 lb,
determine the largest weight of the crate that can be supported. Also,
what is the force developed along strut AD?
Example-9 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-9 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝑊 = 407 𝑙𝑏
• 𝐹𝐴𝐷 = 557 𝑙𝑏
Example-10
• If cable AD is tightened by a turnbuckle and develops a tension of
1300 lb, determine the tension developed in cables AB and AC and
the force developed along the antenna tower AE at point A.
Example-10 (contd.)

Figure FBD
Example-10 (contd.)
• Solution
• 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 808 𝑙𝑏
• 𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 538 𝑙𝑏
• 𝐹𝐴𝐸 = 2354 𝑙𝑏
Conclusion
Summary
• When a particle is at rest or moves with constant velocity, it is in constant motion; this
requires that all forces actin on a particle form a zero Resultant Force.

• Equilibrium is applied to a system of Concurrent Forces.

• Free Body Diagram is a method of representing real-world system on paper to carry out
analysis.

• Analysis Procedure:
• Draw simple outline of system / part to be analyzed.
• Show & label all forces (known or unknown) acting on the system / part (both active & reactive).
• Apply 1st Condition of Equilibrium (2D or 3D).
Conclusion

• The End

• Thank You!

• Any Questions?