EQUILIBRIUM OF

PARTICLES
Introduction
• For a rigid body in static equilibrium, the external forces and
moments are balanced and will impart no translational or
rotational motion to the body.

• The necessary and sufficient condition for the static equilibrium of a

body are that the resultant force and couple from all external forces
form a system equivalent to zero,
   
 F  0  M O   r  F   0

• Resolving each force and moment into its rectangular components

leads to 6 scalar equations which also express the conditions for
static equilibrium,
 Fx  0  Fy  0  Fz  0
Mx  0 My  0 Mz  0
Equilibrium of Force System
Free-Body Diagram
First step in the static equilibrium analysis of a
rigid body is identification of all forces acting on
the body with a free-body diagram.

• Select the extent of the free-body and detach it

from the ground and all other bodies.

• Indicate point of application, magnitude, and

direction of external forces, including the rigid
body weight.

• Indicate point of application and assumed

direction of unknown applied forces. These
usually consist of reactions through which the
ground and other bodies oppose the possible
motion of the rigid body.

• Include the dimensions necessary to compute

the moments of the forces.
Reactions at Supports and Connections for a Two-
Dimensional Structure
• Reactions equivalent to a
force with known line of
action.
Reactions at Supports and Connections for a Two-
Dimensional Structure

• Reactions equivalent to a
force of unknown direction
and magnitude.

• Reactions equivalent to a
force of unknown
direction and magnitude
and a couple.of unknown
magnitude
Problem # 1. A fixed crane has a mass of 1000 kg and is used to lift a 2400 kg crate.
It is held in place by a pin at A and a rocker at B. The center of gravity of the crane
is located at G.
Determine the components of the reactions at A and B.

SOLUTION:
• Create a free-body diagram for the crane.

2 3.54 kN

= 9.81 kN

= 23.54 kN
 Determine the components of the reactions at A
and B.

0 +¿
Σ F y=¿
A −9.81kN
y −23.54kN ¿0

=0 +

(9.81kNx2m) − B( 1.5 ¿
m)0
+(23.54kNx6m)
19.62 kN −+141.24
m kN −−mB( 1.5 ¿
m)0
𝐁=¿107.24
kN

0 +¿
Σ Fx=¿
A+ x B¿ 0
A +107.24kN
x ¿0
Problem # 2. A loading car is at rest on an inclined track. The gross weight of the
car and its load is 5500 lb, and it is applied at at G. The cart is held in position by
the cable.
Determine the tension in the cable and the reaction at each pair of wheels.

SOLUTION:
• Create a free-body diagram.
T

23
24
25°

.40
lb
y
4984.69 lb
A

R1 4984.69 lb

B
2324.40 lb

R2
x
 •Determine the reactions at the wheels.

=0 +

¿ +¿
−R2¿¿
0
𝐑 𝟐=𝟏𝟕𝟔𝟎.𝟑𝟔 𝐥𝐛

=0 +

¿ +¿
+R 1¿ ¿
0
+
𝐑 𝟏=𝟓𝟔𝟒.𝟎𝟒 𝐥𝐛

•Determine the cable tension.

0 +¿
Σ Fx=¿
− T¿ 0
4984.69lb
Problem # 3. The frame SOLUTION:
supports part of the roof of a • Create a free-body diagram.
small building. The tension in
the cable is 150 kN.
Determine the reaction at the
fixed end E.

EX M E
EY 1 50 kN
 h=√ (6 m)2 +(4.5 m)2
6 m 7 .5 m h=7.5 m

4 .5 m

0+¿
Σ F y=¿
6m
E −(4x20kN)
Y − (150kN) ¿0
7.5 m
Determine the reaction at the fixed end E. E −Y80kN −120kN ¿0
0 +¿
Σ Fx=¿
+4.5 m
− E X (150kN) ¿0
7.5 m
=0 +

−20 kN (7.2m) −20 kN (5.4 −20

m) kN (3.6 m)
+6m
−20 kN (1.8 m)
7.5 m
(150kN)(4.5 m) ¿0
𝐌𝐄 =−𝟏𝟖𝟎 𝐤𝐍 − 𝐦
Problem # 4. Determine the tension in
cables BA and BC necessary to support the 𝑦
60-kg cylinder shown in the figure. TC
TA
35 45°
4 𝑥

= 588.6 N

0 +¿
Σ Fx=¿ 0+¿
Σ F y=¿
4 +3
T C cos45 − TA
5
¿ 0 T C sin45 T −588.6N ¿0
5 A
0.707T C −0.8T A ¿ 0
0.707T C + 0.6 T A¿588.6N
𝐓𝐂 =𝟏.𝟏𝟑𝟏 𝐓 𝐀 𝐸 𝑞.1
SOLUTION: 𝐸 𝑞.2
= 588.6 N
Substituting eq. 1 to 2 Substitute to Eq. 1
0.707 (1.131 T ¿ ¿ + )¿ T A¿588.6N
A 0.6 T C =1.131(420.43 N )
1.4 T A¿588.6N 𝐓𝐂 =𝟒𝟕𝟓. 𝟓𝟏 𝐍
m
6 0 kg x 9.81 =588.6 N
s2