Chapter 12 : Static

Equilibrium and Elasticity

12.1 The Conditions for Equilibrium
The resultant external force must equal zero:

The resultant external torque about any axis must be zero:

a). The unbalanced torques due to the
forces in Figure 12.2 cause an angular
acceleration even though the linear
acceleration is zero.
(b). Notice that the lines of action of all the forces
in Figure 12.3 intersect at a common point. Thus,
the net torque about this point is zero.
12.3 Examples of Rigid Objects in Static Equilibrium

Example 12.1 The Seesaw Revisited

A seesaw consisting of a uniform board of mass M and length L supports a father and
daughter with masses mf and md, respectively. The support is under the center of gravity
of the board, the father is a distance d from the center, and the daughter is a distance L/2
from the center.
(A) Determine the magnitude of the upward force n exerted by the support on the board.
(B) Determine where the father should sit to balance the system.
 Example 12.2 A Weighted Hand

A person holds a 50 N sphere in his hand. The forearm is horizontal. The

biceps muscle is attached 3 cm from the joint, and the sphere is 35 cm from
the joint. Find the upward force exerted by the biceps on the forearm and
the downward force exerted by the upper arm on the forearm and acting at
the joint. Neglect the weight of the forearm.
Example 12.3 Standing on a Horizontal Beam
A uniform horizontal beam with a length of 8 m and a weight of 200 N is
attached to a wall by a pin connection. Its far end is supported by a cable
that makes an angle of 53° with the beam. If a 600-N person stands 2 m
from the wall, find the tension in the cable as well as the magnitude and
direction of the force exerted by the wall on the beam.
Example 12.4 The Leaning Ladder

A uniform ladder of length L rests against a smooth, vertical wall. If the

mass of the ladder is m and the coefficient of static friction between the
ladder and the ground is µs = 0.4, find the minimum angle θmin at which
the ladder does not slip.
12.4 Elastic Properties of Solids

1. Young’s modulus, which measures the resistance of a solid to a

change in its length
2. Shear modulus, which measures the resistance to motion of the
planes within a solid parallel to each other
3. Bulk modulus, which measures the resistance of solids or liquids
to changes in their volume

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Deformation in wires
Example 12.6 Stage Design

Suppose that the tension in the cable is

940 N as the actor reaches the lowest
point. What diameter should a 10-m-long
steel wire have if we do not want it to
stretch more than 0.5 cm under these
conditions?