Static Equilibrium
Group - 6
Static Equilibrium
The static equilibrium is a physical
state in which an object is at rest with
no net force and no net torque acting
on it. Thus for static equilibrium, the
object must be in translational
equilibrium as well as in rotational
equilibrium and another vital condition
is that the object must be at rest.
Conditions for
Static Equilibrium
We say that a rigid body is in equilibrium when both its linear and
angular acceleration are zero relative to an inertial frame of reference.
This means that a body in equilibrium can be moving, but if so, its linear
and angular velocities must be constant. We say that a rigid body is in
static equilibrium when it is at rest in our selected frame of reference.
According to Newton’s second law of motion, the linear acceleration of a
rigid body is caused by a net force acting on it, or
First Equilibrium Condition
The object must be in translational equilibrium:
It means that the net force acting on an object must be equal to
zero.
Where is the vector summation of all the forces acting onto the
object.
In scalar form, the condition becomes,
Each of the above equations indicates that the sum of the forces in
each of the three directions must be equal to zero.
Second Equilibrium Condition
The object must be in rotational equilibrium:
It means that the net torque acting on the object must be
equal to zero.
Where is the vector summation of the torques acting onto the object.
In scalar form, the condition becomes,
Each of the above equations indicates that the sum of the torques
in each of the three directions must be equal to zero.
(a) This body is in static equilibrium.
Equilibrium conditions:
First condition satisfied:
Net force = 0, so body at rest
has no tendency to start
moving as a whole.
Second condition satisfied:
Net torque about the axis = 0,
so body at rest has no
tendency to start rotating.
Axis of rotation (perpendicular to figure)
(b) This body has no tendency to accelerate as
a whole, but it has a tendency to start rotating.
First condition satisfied:
Net force = 0, so body at rest
has no tendency to start
moving as a whole.
Second condition NOT
satisfied: There is a net
clockwise torque about the
axis, so body at rest will start
rotating clockwise.
(c) This body has a tendency to accelerate as a
whole but no tendency to start rotating.
First condition NOT
satisfied: There is a net
upward force, so body at rest
will start moving upward.
Second condition satisfied:
Net torque about the axis = 0,
so body at rest has no
tendency to start rotating.
Center of Gravity
11.2 The center of gravity (cg) and
center of mass (cm) of an extended
body.
First let’s review the definition of the center of mass. For a
collection of particles with masses and coordinates the coordinates and
of the center of mass are given by
Now consider the gravitational torque on a body of arbitrary shape (Fig.
11.2). We assume that the acceleration due to gravity is the same at every point
in the body. Every particle in the body experiences a gravitational force, and the
total weight of the body is the vector sum of a large number of parallel forces. A
typical particle has mass and weight If is the position vector of this particle with
respect to an arbitrary origin O, then the torque vector of the weight with respect
to O is, from Eq. (10.3),
The total torque due to the gravitational forces on all the particles is
11.4 Finding the center of gravity of an irregularly
shaped body—in this case, a coffee mug.
What is the center of gravity of this mug?
11.5 In (a) the center of gravity is within the area bounded by the
supports, and the caris in equilibrium. The car in (b) and the truck
i n (c) will tip over because their centers of gravity lie outside the
area of support.
Example 11.1 Walking the plank
A uniform plank of length L = 6.0 m and
Example mass m = 90 kg rests on sawhorses separated
by D = 1.5 m and equidistant from the center
of the plank. Cousin Throckmorton wants to
stand on the right-hand end of the plank. If the
plank is to remain at rest, how massive can
Throckmorton be?
11.7 At what point will the meter stick with
rock attached be in balance?
