Equilibrium

● Concurrent forces are forces whose line of

action all pass through a common point.

Common Point
● For Non-Concurrent Forces you get a
rotation.
How will you describe the diagram?
KEY CONCEPT
● If an object is at equilibrium, then the forces
are balanced.
● Thus, the net force is zero and the
acceleration is 0 m/s2.
● Objects at equilibrium must have an
acceleration of 0 m/s2.
KEY CONCEPT
● But having an acceleration of 0 m/s2 does
not mean the object is at rest.
● An object at equilibrium is either ...
– at rest and staying at rest, or
– in motion and continuing in motion with the
same speed and direction.
Equilibrium means that...
● …there is no rotation.
● …there is no acceleration.
● …there is no net force acting on the object.
Forces
● Gravitational Force (or Weight)
• W = mg
● Tension
•T
● Friction Force
• f = μsFN
Forces
● Normal Force
•N
● Applied Force
•F
The Conditions for Equilibrium
First Condition for Equilibrium
∙ The term equilibrium implies either that the object is
at rest or that its center of mass moves with constant
velocity
∙ The object is at rest : It is described as being in static
equilibrium.
∙ A particle is in equilibrium-that is, the particle does not
accelerate-in an inertial frame of reference if the vector sum of
all the forces acting on the particle is zero:
What is the difference between the two figure?

A B
Suppose the tension in both of the cables is measured to be 50
N and that the angle that each cable makes with the horizontal
is known to be 30 degrees. What is the weight of the sign? 
After its most recent delivery, the infamous stork announces
the good news. If the sign has a mass of 10 kg, then what is the
tensional force in each cable?

A B
10kg
 In each case, two wires are used to support the
picture; each wire must support one-half of the sign's
weight (5 N). The angle that the wires make with the
horizontal is varied from 60 degrees to 15 degrees.
Use this information and the diagram below to
determine the tension in the wire for each orientation. 
● A 100N weight is suspended at the
center of a clothesline causing it to sag
10o from the horizontal. Find the tension
in the line.

● A girl weighing 620N sits in the middle

of 2.8 meter long hammock which sags
1.2m below the point of support. What
force is exerted by each of the two
ropes supporting the hammock?
 Equilibrium.
• An object is in equilibrium is the following
conditions are met:

Net force = 0 N (first condition for equilibrium)

and

Net torque = 0 N (second condition for

equilibrium)

• Note: both conditions must be satisfied.

Even if the net force is ZERO, the system
can start to rotate if the net torque is not
equal to ZERO.