EQUILIBRIUM OF A PARTICLE, THE FREE-BODY

DIAGRAM & COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEMS

Today’s Objectives:
Today will be able to :
a) Draw a free body diagram (FBD), and,
b) Apply equations of equilibrium to solve a 2-D problem.
 READING QUIZ

1) When a particle is in equilibrium, the sum of forces acting

on it equals ___ . (Choose the most appropriate answer)
A) A constant B) A positive number C) Zero
D) A negative number E) An integer

2) For a frictionless pulley and cable, tensions in the cable

(T1 and T2) are related as _____ .
A) T1 > T2
B) T1 = T2
C) T1 < T2
D) T1 = T2 sin 
APPLICATIONS

The crane is lifting a load. To

decide if the straps holding the
load to the crane hook will fail,
you need to know forces in the
straps. How could you find those
forces?

Straps
APPLICATIONS (continued)

For a spool of given

weight, how would you
Spreader bar
find the forces in cables
AB and AC? If designing
a spreader bar like the one
being used here, you need
to know the forces to make
sure the rigging doesn’t
Spool
fail.
 APPLICATIONS (continued)

For a given force exerted on the boat’s towing pendant, what are
the forces in the bridle cables? What size of cable must you use?
COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEMS (Section 3.3)

This is an example of a 2-D or

coplanar force system.
If the whole assembly is in
equilibrium, then particle A is
also in equilibrium.

To determine the tensions in

the cables for a given weight
of cylinder, you need to learn
how to draw a free-body
diagram and apply the
equations of equilibrium.
 THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW
OF A FREE BODY DIAGRAM (FBD)

Free-body diagrams are one of the most important things for

you to know how to draw and use for statics and other subjects!

What? - It is a drawing that shows all external forces acting

on the particle.

Why? - It is key to being able to write the equations of

equilibrium—which are used to solve for the unknowns
(usually forces or angles).
How?
1. Imagine the particle to be isolated or cut free from its
surroundings.
2. Show all the forces that act on the particle.
Active forces: They want to move the particle.
Reactive forces: They tend to resist the motion.
3. Identify each force and show all known magnitudes and
directions. Show all unknown magnitudes and / or directions
as variables. y

FBD at A FB
30˚
FD A A x

FC = 392.4 N (What is this?)

Note : Cylinder mass = 40 Kg
 EQUATIONS OF 2-D EQUILIBRIUM
y
FBD at A Since particle A is in equilibrium, the
FB net force at A is zero.
30˚
FD A A x So FB + FC + FD = 0
A
FC = 392.4 N or F = 0
FBD at A
In general, for a particle in equilibrium,
 F = 0 or
 Fx i +  Fy j = 0 = 0 i + 0 j (a vector equation)
Or, written in a scalar form,
Fx = 0 and  Fy = 0
These are two scalar equations of equilibrium (E-of-E).
They can be used to solve for up to two unknowns.
 EQUATIONS OF 2-D EQUILIBRIUM (continued)
y
FBD at A
FB
30˚
A x
FD A

FC = 392.4 N

Note : Cylinder mass = 40 Kg

Write the scalar E-of-E:

+ →  Fx = FB cos 30º – FD = 0
+   Fy = FB sin 30º – 392.4 N = 0
Solving the second equation gives: FB = 785 N →
From the first equation, we get: FD = 680 N ←
 SIMPLE SPRINGS

Spring Force = spring constant * deformation of spring

or F=k*s
 CABLES AND PULLEYS

With a frictionless pulley and cable

T1 = T2.

T1 Cable can support only a tension or

T2 “pulling” force, and this force always
acts in the direction of the cable.
 SMOOTH CONTACT

If an object rests on a smooth surface, then

the surface will exert a force on the object
that is normal to the surface at the point of
contact.

In addition to this normal force N, the

cylinder is also subjected to its weight W
and the force T of the cord.

Since these three forces are concurrent at the

center of the cylinder, we can apply the
equation of equilibrium to this “particle,” which
is the same as applying it to the cylinder.
 EXAMPLE I

Given: The box weighs 550 lb and

geometry is as shown.
Find: The forces in the ropes AB
and AC.

Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for point A.
2. Apply the E-of-E to solve for the forces in ropes AB
and AC.
 EXAMPLE I (continued)

FBD at point A
y FC
FB
5 3
30˚ 4
A x

FD = 550 lb

Applying the scalar E-of-E at A, we get;

+ →  F x = – FB cos 30° + FC (4/5) = 0
+   F y = FB sin 30° + FC (3/5) - 550 lb = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FB = 478 lb and FC = 518 lb
 EXAMPLE II

Given: The mass of cylinder C is

40 kg and geometry is as
shown.
Find: The tensions in cables DE,
EA, and EB.

Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for point E.
2. Apply the E-of-E to solve for the forces in cables
DE, EA, and EB.
 EXAMPLE II (continued)

FBD at point E
y
TEB = 40*9.81 N
TED 30˚
E x

TEA

Applying the scalar E-of-E at E, we get;

+ →  F x = − TED + (40*9.81) cos 30° = 0
+   F y = (40*9.81) sin 30° − TEA = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
TED = 340 N  and TEA = 196 N 
 CONCEPT QUIZ

1000 lb
1000 lb 1000 lb
(A) (B) (C)

1) Assuming you know the geometry of the ropes, in which

system above can you NOT determine forces in the cables?
2) Why?
A) The weight is too heavy.
B) The cables are too thin.
C) There are more unknowns than equations.
D) There are too few cables for a 1000 lb
weight.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: The mass of lamp is 20 kg

and geometry is as shown.
Find: The force in each cable.

Plan:

1. Draw a FBD for Point D.

2. Apply E-of-E at Point D to solve for the unknowns (FCD &
FDE).
3. Knowing FCD, repeat this process at point C.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBD at point D
y FDE

FCD 30˚
D x

W = 20 (9.81) N

Applying the scalar E-of-E at D, we get;

+  Fy = FDE sin 30° – 20 (9.81) = 0
+→  Fx = FDE cos 30° – FCD = 0
Solving the above equations, we get:
FDE = 392 N and FCD = 340 N
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBD at point C
FAC y
5
4
3 FCD =340 N
C x
FBC
45˚

Applying the scalar E-of-E at C, we get;

+→  Fx = 340 – FBC sin 45° – FAC (3/5) = 0
+   Fy = FAC (4/5) – FBC cos 45° = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FBC = 275 N and FAC = 243 N
 ATTENTION QUIZ

1. Select the correct FBD of particle A.

30 A 40

100 lb

F1 F2
A
A) B)
30 40°
100 lb
A
F F1 F2
C) 30° D) 30° 40°
A
A
100 lb 100 lb
 ATTENTION QUIZ

2. Using this FBD of Point C, the sum of F2

forces in the x-direction ( FX) is ___ .
20 lb 50°
Use a sign convention of + → . C

A) F2 sin 50° – 20 = 0 F1

B) F2 cos 50° – 20 = 0
C) F2 sin 50° – F1 = 0
D) F2 cos 50° + 20 = 0