FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM (FCE)

FORCE (F)

Described as either push or pull that can cause

a mass to accelerate
A vector quantity that is the product of mass (m)
& acceleration (a).

F=ma
In MKS it is in unit : Newtons (N) , 1 N = 1 kg-m/s2
In CGS it is in unit : dynes , 1 dyne = 1 g-cm/s2
In English Units : Pound (₤ or lbs) , Pound-force (lbf)
 FORCES

CONVERSION :

1 dyne = 1x10-5 N = 10-5 N

1 lbs = 4.448 N
COMPONENTS

Fy = 5 N sin θ
F=5N
θ θ

m = m Fx = 5 N cos θ
 FORCES

RESOLUTION OF FORCES USING SIGN CONVENTION

Given : 3 Concurrent forces , Find the resultant
(forces acting on the same point, Pt. A)
F2 F1y F2y
F1
θ1 θ2 θ1 θ2
A A
F1x F2x

F3 F3

1st step : Get the components of ALL vectors that are ANGLED
 FORCES
2nd step : Set up a sign convention : In this example let all ↑ (+) and → (+)

F1y F2y 3rd step : Get the algebraic sum of each

component as :
Rx = ΣFx & Ry = ΣFy
θ1 θ2
Where
A
F1x F2x ΣFx – Summation of forces along x-axis
ΣFy – Summation of forces along y-axis

F3 ΣFx = - F1x + F2x = - F1cos θ1 + F2cos θ2

ΣFy = + F1y + F2y – F3 = + F1 sin θ1 + F2sin θ2 – F3

IMPORTANT NOTES : For the COMPONENTS : Use the value of the angle AS IS
when using sign convention. DO NOT CHANGE IT!

For PURELY HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL vectors (ex: F3 ). NO NEED TO USE cos 0°
or cos 90° in the equation above. JUST place the magnitude WITH the
APPROPRIATE SIGN CONVENTION.
 FORCES

F1y F2y 4th step : Once the values of ΣFx & ΣFy
are known get the Resultant or Net Force
using :
θ1 θ2 R = ΣFx2 + ΣFy2
A
F1x F2x θ = tan-1 (ΣFy / ΣFx)
The quadrant the angle goes to
F3 depends on the signs of ΣFx & ΣFy
FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM (FCE)

NEWTON’S FIRST LAW OF MOTION

“A body acted on by NO net force moves with
constant velocity ( this includes zero velocity)
and zero acceleration”
FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM (FCE)

NEWTON’S THIRD LAW OF MOTION

“To every action there is always opposed an
equal reaction, same in magnitude but
opposite in direction.”

T
W = mg
m
N
W = mg
 FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM (FCE)

EQUILIBRIUM – The effects of all forces acting on the body

cancel one another. There is no change in motion

Two possible conditions of Equilibrium :

(1)The body stays at rest
(2)The body moves in a straight line but in constant or
uniform velocity (No acceleration)

In BOTH cases :
ΣFx = 0 & ΣFy = 0
Therefore : R = 0
FCE is an application of Newton’s First Law of Motion :
 KINDS OF FORCES
1. Force due to Gravity / Weight
FGRAV = W = mg, where g = 9.8 m/s2 or 32 ft/s2

m
m

W = mg W = mg
θ

Weight is ALWAYS directed TOWARDS (attractive to) the

earth, even if the surface is at an angle.
Weight is ALWAYS acting on the body
 KINDS OF FORCES
2. Contact Forces
Forces due to interaction between different surfaces
FRICTIONAL FORCE / FRICTION (f)

m f
Force that oppose motion of an
object. N W = mg
Always parallel to the contact
surface & directed opposite the
motion of the object
NORMAL FORCE (Ŋ or N)
m
Reaction Force due to Weight of the
object(s) in contact f
θ N
Always Perpendicular to the contact W = mg
surface
 KINDS OF FORCES
2. Contact Forces

fαN
f=μN
μ – Coefficient of Friction
μS – Coefficient of Static Friction
μK – Coefficient of Kinetic Friction
 KINDS OF FORCES
3. Longitudinal Forces
Forces acting along the length of an object
Common in ropes, cables, solid cylinders

TENSION (T) T T

Pull Force on an object. Its end

effect is to STRETCH an object. Length (L)
COMPRESSION (C)
Push Force on an object. Its end
effect is to FLATEN an object. C C

- Compression usually is due to

normal forces between two objects
Length (L)
in contact
 FREE BODY DIAGRAM (FBD)

Used to analyze forces acting on a body by isolating

the body with all forces acting on it.

Steps
1. Represent the object as a point mass.
2. Draw ALL forces ACTING ON the body

Internal – Weight
External – Applied Force,
Friction
Normal Force (Coming from Other Body in contact),
Tension (Always away from the body)
3. Don’t forget to show also the angle of the force (if angled).
 TIPS ON FBD
DON’T Draw Vectors GOING towards the point mass (even though it may
show in the figure) draw it away from the point mass, it does the same
thing.

EXAMPLE 1 WRONG FBD CORRECT FBD

F

F
θ N
m f θ f f
θ
N W = mg N
F

W = mg W = mg
 TIPS ON FBD
EXAMPLE 2
WRONG FBD * CORRECT FBD *

m
N
f
θ N
f f
W = mg
N
θ θ

W = mg W = mg

* Using the inclined surface as the x-axis

 TIPS ON FBD
PULLEYS & Weights
Pulleys are analyzed as frictionless & of negligible weight.
For FCE : Tension of rope or cable passing through the pulley is equal to
the weights HANGING from them.

T=W T=W

T = W1
θ T = W1
T=W

T = W1
T=W T = W1
2 kg
2 kg

8 kg

W1 = mg
W = mg
 TIPS ON FBD

Using the inclined surface as the x-axis (rotate of axis)

Must have at least 1 pair of perpendicular forces
and 90° angle is visible.

45°
m O
f 60°
θ N
W = mg
ALLOWED since f & N are Perpendicular
1000 lbs

NOT ALLOWED :No perpendicular forces

or angles with respect to point O, thus not
practical to use any inclined as x-axis.
 TIPS ON FBD

If a system consists of two or more objects. Multiple FBD’s may

be required :

A
P=? A

B
B
 FCE Sample Problems :

1. Given :
Required :
Coefficient of sliding friction on ALL surfaces :
Force P such that block B
μ = 0.25
will move at constant
A
mA = 4kg speed to the right
P=?
B
mB = 8kg

Solution: This follows FCE, since B will move at CONSTANT SPEED

FBD on Block B
N Hence ΣFx = 0 & ΣFy = 0
ΣFx = 0 → (+) ΣFy = 0 ↑ (+)
f P=?
-f+P=0 + N – W A – WB = 0
P = f - (eq.1) N = WA + WB - (eq.2)

WB = mBg WA = mAg N = mA g + mB g P = f , but f = μN

N = (9.8 m/s2)(4 kg + 8 kg) P = μN = (0.25)(117.6 N)
N = 117.6 N P = 29.4 N
FCE Sample Problem # 3a :
FBD at Point O Ty
T=? T
30° C=? 30° C
30° Tx
O

W = 1000 lbs W = 1000 lbs

FCE : ΣFx = 0 & ΣFy = 0
1000 lbs ΣFx = 0 → (+) ΣFy = 0 ↑ (+)
From (eq.2)
- Tx + C = 0 + Ty - W = 0
1000 lbs = T sin 30°
C = Tx W = Ty
T = (1000 lbs) /(sin 30°) C = T cos 30° - (eq.1) W = T sin 30° - (eq.2)
From (eq.1)
T = 2000 lbs
C = T cos 30°
C = (2000 lbs)cos 30°
C = 1732 lbs
FCE Sample Problem # 3a : FBD at Point O Ty
T Cy
C=?
b)
T=? C

45° 45° 30° 45° 30°

O Tx Cx

60°

W = 1000 lbs W = 1000 lbs

1000 lbs FCE : ΣFx = 0 & ΣFy = 0

ΣFx = 0 → (+) ΣFy = 0 ↑ (+)

+ Cx – Tx = 0 + Cy + Ty – W = 0
C cos 30° − T cos 45° = 0 - (eq.1) C sin 30° +T sin 45° − 1000 = 0
C sin 30° +T sin 45° = 1000 lbs - (eq.2)
FCE Sample Problem # 3b : FBD at Point O Ty
T Cy
C=?
b)
T=? C

45° 45° 30° 45° 30°

O Tx Cx

60°

W = 1000 lbs W = 1000 lbs

Adding (eq.1) & (eq.2)
1000 lbs C cos 30° − T cos 45° = 0
C sin 30° + T sin 45° = 1000 lbs

C cos 30° + C sin 30° = 1000 lbs - (eq.3)

Solving ( eq.3)

C (cos 30° + sin 30°) = 1000 lbs Subs. C to (eq.1)

C (1.366) = 1000 lbs C cos 30° − T cos 45° = 0
C = 1000 lbs/ (1.366) T = C (cos 30°/ cos 45°)
C = 732 lbs T = 897 lbs