Level 3 Diploma/Extended Diploma in Advanced

Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge)

Unit 311 Handout 4

Unit 311: Mechanical principles of engineering systems

Handout 4: Forces in equilibrium

Conditions for static equilibrium

• Ʃ 𝐹𝐹𝑉𝑉 = 0
• Ʃ 𝐹𝐹𝐻𝐻 = 0
• Ʃ 𝑀𝑀 = 0

Formulae
For a system with two forces, it is in equilibrium when 𝐹𝐹1 + 𝐹𝐹2 = 0, i.e. 𝐹𝐹1 = − 𝐹𝐹2 .
For a system with 3 forces, it is in equilibrium when 𝐹𝐹1 + 𝐹𝐹2 + 𝐹𝐹3 = 0, i.e. 𝐹𝐹1 = − (𝐹𝐹2 + 𝐹𝐹3 ).

Vector addition: (𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐) + (𝑑𝑑, 𝑒𝑒, 𝑓𝑓) = (𝑎𝑎 + 𝑑𝑑, 𝑏𝑏 + 𝑒𝑒, 𝑐𝑐 + 𝑓𝑓)

Trigonometry may be required to calculate the angles

between force vectors. H
O
For a right-angled triangle, the angle 𝜃𝜃 is related to the
hypotenuse (H), opposite (O), and adjacent (A) by the θ
equations for the tangent (tan), sine (sin) and cosine
(cos). For a force vector: A

𝑂𝑂 𝑂𝑂
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝜃𝜃 = 𝐴𝐴
, rearranging 𝜃𝜃 = tan−1 𝐴𝐴

Pythagoras theorem can be used to find the modulus (or magnitude) of a vector: 𝑟𝑟 = √(𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑦𝑦 2 )

Example of calculation
A point in the structure of a bridge is in equilibrium when three forces are acting upon it:

• 𝑊𝑊 N
• (−3 𝑖𝑖 + 4 𝑗𝑗 – 5 𝑘𝑘) N
• and (−2 𝑖𝑖 – 3 𝑗𝑗 – 3 𝑘𝑘).

a) Determine the value of 𝑊𝑊 in component form.

b) Calculate the angles that 𝑊𝑊 makes relative to 𝑖𝑖, 𝑗𝑗 and 𝑘𝑘.

Answer: a) Rearranging 𝑄𝑄 + 𝐹𝐹1 + 𝐹𝐹2 = 0, 𝑄𝑄 = − (𝐹𝐹1 + 𝐹𝐹2 )

therefore 𝑄𝑄 = − ((−3𝑖𝑖 + 4𝑗𝑗 – 5𝑘𝑘) + (−2𝑖𝑖 – 3𝑗𝑗 – 3𝑘𝑘)) = (5𝑖𝑖 − 1𝑗𝑗 + 8𝑘𝑘) N
1
b) relative to 𝑖𝑖 = tan−1 �− � = tan−1 −0.2 = −11.3∘ (or 348.7°)
5
relative to 𝑗𝑗 = (11.3 + 90)° = 101.3° (or 258.7°)
1
relative to 𝑘𝑘 = tan−1 �− � = tan−1 −0.125 = −7.125° (or 352.875°)
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