Equilibrium of a particle

If all the forces acting on a particle cancel each other out, so that
nothing happens at all, the forces are said to be in equilibrium.
The algebraic sum of the horizontal components is zero.
The algebraic sum of the vertical components is zero.
Example 1
Find the value of P and Q if the following system of forces is in equilibrium.
Solution
Components diagram
Horizontal component: : 8 cos 3 ! Q cos " P = #$%
&ertical component: : 8 sin 3 ' Q sin " = #'%
Q sin " = 8 sin 3 '
Q = 3($$$")
*ub Q into #$%: 8 cos 3 ! 3($$" cos " P =
P = 8 cos 3 ! 3($$" cos " = +(3$
Force P is 9.31 N and force Q is 3.11 N
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. $ .
8 /
Q /
' /
P /
3
"
8 cos 3
Q cos "
8 sin 3
' / Q sin "
P
Equilibrium of a particle
*Example 2
Find the value of P and Q if the following system of forces is in equilibrium.
Solution
Components diagram
Horizontal component: : 8 cos 3 ! Q cos " P cos 3 =
(800'1 P = 0(+'8'3 ! (200"" Q
P = 8 ! (88"11' Q #$%
&ertical component: : 8 sin 3 ! P sin 3 Q sin " =
Q sin " = 8 sin 3 ! P sin 3
(0"'288 Q = " ! (1 P #'%
*ub P into #'%: (0"'288 Q = " ! (1 38 ! (88"11' Q4
(0"'288 Q = " ! ' ! (""''20 Q
('1$' Q = 0
Q = '+(+'3"
*ub Q into #$%: P = 8 ! (88"11' '+(+'3" = 3"(1
Force P is 34.5 N and force Q is 29.9 N
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. ' .
8 /
Q /
P /
3
"
3
8 cos 3
Q cos "
8 sin 3
Q sin "
P cos 3
P sin 3
Equilibrium of a particle
Example
5he following diagram shows a system of forces acting on a particle in a plane( 6
third force is added so that the particle rests in equilibrium( Find the magnitude of this
force and the angle that ma7e with the horizontal(
Solution
Components diagram
Horizontal component: : 1 cos 3 ! F cos 0 =
F cos = 0 1 cos 3 #$%
&ertical component: : 1 sin 3 F sin =
F sin = 1 sin 3 #'%
8ivide #'% by #$%:
1 3
0 1 3
F sin sin
F cos cos

' 1
$ "+2$'
$ 00+82
.
tan .
.
= =

= 10('1+$
*ub into #'%: F sin 10('1+$ = '(1
F = 3(
Added force is 3.00 N, acin! a an an!le of 5".3 #elo$ %e %ori&onal.
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. 3 .
3
1 /
0 /
1 cos 3
F cos
1 sin 3
F sin
0
Equilibrium of a particle
Exercise
$( 9iven that the following system of forces is in equilibrium: find the un7nown force
P and Q(
'( 6 particle is in equilibrium under the action of three coplanar forces shown in the
diagram(
3i4 *how that = 0
3ii4 Find the value of '(
3(
5hree forces: of magnitude ' /: $' / and P /: act at a point in the direction shown
in the diagram( 5he forces are in equilibrium( Find
3i4 5he value of :
3ii4 5he value of P(
5he force of magnitude $' / is now removed(
3iii4 Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the two remaining
forces(
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. " .
" /
0 /
P /
'
1 38
Q

'; /
; /
$1 /

' /
$' /
P /
$( P = +($8 / and Q = +(00 / '( = 0 and ; = 8(00 / 3( 3i4 13($ 3ii4 $0 / 3iii4 $' / to right(
Equilibrium of a particle
Types of force
Weight (W)
Tension (T)
5he force acts along a string: wire or rope.
The normal reaction (R
n
)
Friction (F
f
)
Forces on an inclined plane
Forces are resolved parallel and perpendicular to plane(
omponents of the !eight
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. 1 .
w = mg /

mg cos /
mg sin /
< = mg
5
<hen an ob=ect is in contact with a surface:
there is a force on the ob=ect at right angles to
the surfaces in contact( 5his is called the
normal reacion ()
n
*.
>
<
5his force acts due to roughness between an ob=ect and a
surface( ?t always acts against motion 3or li7ely motion4(
@n a smoo% surface the friction is zero(
>
<
P F
r
5he $ei!% of a body is the force with which the earth
attracts it(
< A mg: <eight always acts downwards(
5he value of g is +(8
< = mg
Equilibrium of a particle
Example
Resolve: 12 F
f
! F
f
12 "
Resolve: R
n
2g ! R
n
2 #.$ 1#.% "
+%e fricion force is 12 N and %e normal reacion is 19." N.
Example
Solution

omponents diagram
E"ample
Solution
omponents diagram
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. 0 .
$ cos 0 F
f
>
n
$ sin 0
0g /
F
f
>
n
0g $ sin 0
$ cos 0
5he system is in equilibrium: find >
n
and F
f
(
2 &g
R
n
12 "
F
f
'g /
5he forces acing are in equilibrium: find the
reaction >
n
and the friction force F
f
(
% &g
R
n
1! "
F
f
0
>esolve: $ cos0 F
n
A
F
f
A $ cos0 A 1 /(
>esolve: >
n
! $ sin0 0g A
>
n
! 8(00 18(8 A
>
n
A 1($ /(
The forces acing are in e'uilibrium,
find the reaction R and the friction
force F.
% &g
R
1! "
F
0
>esolve: F
f
$ cos0 A
F
f
A $ cos0 A 1 /(
>esolve: >
n
$ sin0 0g A
>
n
8(00 18(8 A
>
n
A 02(1 /(
Equilibrium of a particle
E"ample
Solution
omponents diagram
Example
,ass of 8 7g is suspended: in
equilibrium: by two light
ineBtensible strings which ma7e
angles of 3 and "1 with the
horizontal( Calculate the tension in
the strings(
Solution
omponent diagram
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. 2 .
$cos0
1 cos3
F
f
>
n
$sin0
1 sin3 0g
"1
3
* 5
8g /
5he forces acing are in equilibrium: find the
reaction > and the friction force F(
( "
% &g
R
1! "
F
0 3
>esolve: $ cos0 ! 1 cos3 F A
F A $ cos0 ! 1 cos3 A +(33 /(
>esolve: > ! $ sin0 1 sin3 0g A
> ! 8(00 '(1 18(8 A
> A 1'(0 /(
3 '
' '
"1 3 Re s : S cos T cos S T = = #$%
' $
' '
"1 3 8 28 " Re s : S sin T sin g S T . + = + = #'%
#'% #$%: " ( 28
'
3 $
=
+
T 5 A 12(" / and * A 2(3 /
Equilibrium of a particle
#nclined plane
Force acting parallel to the plane
Example
6 particle of mass 1 7g rests on a smooth plane inclined at 3 to the horizontal( 6
Force P / acts on the particle up the plane along the line of greatest slope( Find the
magnitude of the normal reaction force and the magnitude of the force P(
Solution
Parallel the plane to the plane: P "g sin3 = P = '"(1 /
Perpendicular to the plane: >
n
1g cos3 = >
n
= "'(" /
+%e reacion force %as ma!ni,de 42.4 N and %e force P %as ma!ni,de 24.5 N.
$orizontal force
Example
6 particle of mass $ 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at an
angle of 3 to the horizontal by means of a horizontal force P(
Find P and >
n
(
Solution

,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. 8 .
5 cos3
5 sin3 * sin"1
8g
* cos "1
1g /
3
>
n
/
P /
3
>
n
1g cos3
1g sin3
P
Force dia!ram Parallel and Perpendic,lar componens
Force diagram omponents diagram
>esolving parallel to the plane: P cos3 D $g sin3 A
Pcos3 = $gsin3 p = $ +(8 tan3 A 10(18
>esolving perpendicular to the plane: >
n
$g cos3 P sin3 =
>
n
= $gcos3 ! Psin3 = $$3
+%e reacion force %as ma!ni,de 113 N and %e force P %as ma!ni,de 5"." N.
Equilibrium of a particle
Force acting at an angle to the plane
Example
6 particle of mass $ 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at an
angle of 3 to the horizontal by means of a force P which is acting at angle of "1 to
the plane(
Find P and >
n
(
Force diagram omponents diagram
>esolving parallel to the plane: P cos"1D $g sin3 A
Pcos"1 = $gsin3 p = $ +(8 sin3 cos"1 A 0+('+0
>esolving perpendicular to the plane: >
n
! P sin"1 $g cos 3 =
>
n
= $gcos3 P sin"1= 31(+
+%e reacion force %as ma!ni,de 35.9 N and %e force P %as ma!ni,de "9.3 N.
Example
6 particle of mass $ 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at an
angle of 3 to the horizontal( <hen a force P acting up the plane and a horizontal
force of $03 / are applied to the particle: it rests in equilibrium(
Find P and >
n
(

Force diagram omponents diagram
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. + .
3
P cos 3
$g cos3 P sin 3
P /
$g sin 3
$g /
>
n
3
P cos "1
$g cos3
P /
$g sin 3
$g /
>
n
"1
P sin "1 >
n
>
n
>esolving parallel to the plane: P ! $03 cos3 $g sin3 =
P = $g sin3 $03 cos3 A '1
>esolving perpendicular to the plane: >
n
$03 sin3 $g cos 3 =
>
n
= $03 sin3 ! $g cos 3 = +8(2
+%e reacion force %as ma!ni,de 9-.. N and %e force P %as ma!ni,de 25 N.
Exercise
1.
'(
3( ,ass of 1 7g is suspended: in equilibrium: by two light ineBtensible strings which
ma7e angles of 3 and "1 with the horizontal( Calculate the tension in the strings(
"( 6 particle of mass " 7g is attached to the lower end of an ineBtensible string( 5he
upper end of the string is fiBed( 6 horizontal force '1 / and upward vertical force of
$ / acts upon the particle: which is in equilibrium with the string ma7ing an angle
with the vertical( Calculate the tension in the string and the angle (
1(6 particle of mass 8 7g rests on a smooth plane inclined at 3 to the horizontal( 6
Force P / acts on the particle up the plane along the line of greatest slope( Find the
magnitude of the normal reaction force and the magnitude of the force P(
0(6 particle of mass 1 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at an
angle of 3 to the horizontal by means of a horizontal force P(
Find P and >
n
(
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. $ .
3
P
$g cos3 $03 sin3
P /
$g sin 3
$g /
>
n
$03 /

>
n
$03 cos3
5he forces acing are in equilibrium: find the
reaction >
n
and the friction force F(
% &g
R
n
( "
F
0
5he forces acing are in equilibrium: find the
reaction > and the friction force F(
% "
% &g
R
( "
F
0 3
2(6 particle of mass $ 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at
an angle of 3 to the horizontal by means of a force P which is acting at angle of "1
to the plane(
Find P and >
n
(
8( 6 particle of mass 0 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at
an angle of 3 to the horizontal( <hen a force P acting up the plane and a horizontal
force of $' / are applied to the particle: it rests in equilibrium(
Find P and >
n
(
+( 6 particle of mass 0 7g rests on the surface of a smooth plane which is inclined at
an angle of 3 to the horizontal( <hen a force P acting at an angle " to the plane
and a horizontal force of $' / are applied to the particle: it rests in equilibrium(
Find P and >
n
(
$( F = '(1 / >n = 03($ / '( 2(2 / >n = 12(1 / 3( * =31(+ / 5 = "3(+ /
"( = "$ 5 = 38.4 N 1( P = 3+(' / >n = 02(+ / 0( P = '8(3 / >n = 10(0 /
2( P = 0+(3 / >n = $3" / 8( P = $+( / >n = 10(+ / +( P = 2($8 / >n = 52.4 N
,athematics made simple ,$ -quilibrium
. $$ .