Experiment 2: Resultant and Equilibrant Forces

Demi Louise Go, Vheverli Whendel Go, Marc Lennard Ip, Daphne Sophia Javellana, Heather
Allison Lao, Ryan Christopher Laranang

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

Abstract performing together. the resultant pressure is

The purpose of doing this
Experiment is to lead-in into Force,
specifically into Resultant and Equilibrium
for which are vector quantity. In this
Experiment the force table is used to
demonstrate the interactions of Force. The
Method of this experiment the gold circular
ring is pulled by three strings with an
balanced weight of 100g each string and
must remain in the center of the Force table
assuming its in the Equilibrium state. The
student uses the analytical and graphical
method to determined the resultant of
several forces.
1. Introduction
On this lab, we are going to use the
first law of equilibrium forces which will
examine the approach of vector portions. A
good way to do this, we should understand
step one to measure the validity of this
regulation is to feature the vectors all of the
forces performing on the desk bound item,
after which recognise the amount of the
consequent pressure differs from the
anticipated value of pressure. the ensuing
force is that unrelated force which appearing
alone could have the equal impact in
magnitude and course as two or more forces
determined by the parallelogram law of
vectors. The equilibrant of two or more
forces is that unrelated force so that you can
balance all of the ​different forces taken
collectively. It's far identical in importance
but contrary in direction to the resultant
pressure.
2. Theory
This experiment is primarily about
forces. A force is a type of vector quantity
which contains a magnitude and direction.
There are several ways possible in obtaining
the sum of forces. When adding two or more
forces, the Graphical or Analytical method
may be utilised. The Graphical method may
be subdivided into two methods namely; the
Triangle Method of Addition or the
Parallelogram Method of Addition and the
Polygon Method. The Parallelogram Method
is used when adding two forces graphically
while the Polygon Method on the other hand
may be used in getting the sum of three or
more forces. By using the Graphical method,
we are acquiring the resultant (R) of these
forces.
The Analytical method is employed
in order to determine the vertical and
horizontal component vectors and the
magnitude and direction of a resultant
vector. It focuses on applying geometry and
simple trigonometry instead of rulers and
protractors. The Equilibrant of a ​force may
also be acquired since it has the same
magnitude but is in the opposite direction.
The following formulas listed below
are utilised in the experiment:
a. Resultant of two forces for Graphical
method
​R​ ​= F​1​ + F​2
b. Horizontal component
(Fx-component)
c. Vertical
component (Fy-component)
d. Pythagorean theorem
pulleys to weight holders. The direction of
each force is read on the circular scale of the
force table. Second, the group used the 3
forces that acted at different angles. Then
designated the resultant ​Fa ​of the two forces
F1 ​and ​F2​, ​Fb ​for resultant of ​F2 ​and ​F3​,
and ​Fc for the resultant of ​F3 ​and ​F1​. Next,
computed for the magnitudes of the
following. Then extend each resultant into
opposite direction. Using all three forces,
determine if they are in equilibrium by
checking if their resultant is zero. By using
component method, compute for the
resultant of the three forces. In the last step,
the group used graphical method to compute
for the resultant of the three forces and
different methods like polygon and
analytical method and calculated the
percentage error.

e. Direction

3. Methodology

To determine the resultant and

equilibrant, we used the force table, weights,
weight hangers, protractor and ruler. First,
the group mounted the force table such that
its surface is horizontal. As the ring served
as the object on which the forces acted upon.
A pin within the ring prevented the motion
of the ring before the equilibrium is
established. Forces are applied by strings
that start from the ring and passed over the
 F3 0.98 N 60​°Q3 -0.49 -0,85

F1 0.98 N 14​°Q1 0.95 0.24

0.76 52.98​°
F3 0.98 N 60​°Q3 -0.49 -0.85

Table 2. Resultant Forces

From the experiment, the group was

able to calculate the equilibrant forces as
well as the resultant forces of F​1​, F​2​, and F​3
which were placed on a ring with weights
applied. When the three forces were at
equilibrium, one of them would be the
4. ​Results and Discussion equilibrant force. The two other forces
would then have the same magnitude with
Table 1 illustrates the values of x and the equilibrant forces but in an opposite
direction resulting to a different quadrant.
y of F​1 with F​2​, F​2 with F​3​, and F​1 with F​3
using the component method. It also shows 5. Conclusion
the resultant theorem obtained by the
Pythagorean theorem. Table 2 illustrates the Resultant is the force that causes the
experimental equilibrant, experimental movement or displacement of a body, while
resultant and computed resultant of the an equilibrant is the force that cancels out
forces. The results have been gathered and the resultant forces, keeping the body at rest.
Using the force table setup with three strings
shown through the graphs. that has weights tied at its ends attached
around a ring stabilized at the center of the
Table 1. Resultant Forces table, the researchers obtained a specific
Magnitude Direction x y R θ magnitude of 0.98N for Forces 1, 2 and 3
with directions of 14° angle in Quadrant I,
F1 0.98 N 14​°,Q1 0.95 0.24
1.04 72.09​°
50° angle in Quadrant II and 60° angle in
F2 0.98 N 50​°Q2 -0.63 0.75 Quadrant III, respectively. The experimental
equilibrants are then determined as having
F2 0.98 N 50​°Q2 -0.63 0.75 the same magnitude of 0.98N for all three
1.12 5.10​°
forces with F​1 having a 14° angle in
Quadrant I, F​2 a 50° angle in Quadrant II
and F​3 a 60° angle in Quadrant III. On the
other hand, the experimental resultants still
has 0.98N magnitude with F​1​, a 14° angle in
Quadrant III; F​2​, a 50° angle in Quadrant IV
and F​3​, ​a 60° angle in Quadrant I.
By using the component method, the
researchers determined the resultant forces
and their corresponding directions. The
computed values of magnitude and direction
are as follows for F​1​, F​2 and F​3​: 1.12N with
5.10° angle in Quadrant III, 0.76N with
52.98° angle in Quadrant IV and 72.09° in
Quadrant I.
It can be concluded from the
experiment that the experimental and
calculated values of the resultant and
equilibrant forces are accurate as the values
are not far from each other. Any
discrepancies may be due to certain
systematic errors regarding the set-up, such
as the surface of the objects placed under the
strings of the weights on the force table may
not have been smooth or slippery enough,
causing the weights to appear balanced
because of friction.
6. Applications
1) Differentiate the resultant and
equilibrant of two forces.
A resultant force of two forces is a
single force which can produce the same
effect on the body as it is produced by all the
forces acting together. It causes the
displacement of a body (i.e. body moves).
The sets of forces which causes the
displacement of a body are called as
components of resultant or component
forces. On the other hand, an equilibrant of
two forces acting on a body is a single force
which cancels the effect of the resultant
force or which brings the system and the
body to equilibrium. It keeps the body at rest
(i.e. in equilibrium); The set of forces which
keeps the body at rest is known as
equilibrium forces or components of
equilibrant.
2) If three concurrent forces are in
equilibrium, what is the relation between
any one of the three forces and the resultant
of the other two forces?
The concurrent forces are the
resultant forces of the possible combinations
of any two forces. Any one that is not added
to the other two will be the equilibrant force.
Since the equilibrant force makes the forces
go under the state of equilibrium, the sum of
the equilibrant force and the resultant force
is zero. That means that they have the same
magnitude but different direction.
3) If two forces with the same
magnitude were exactly in opposite
directions, what is the magnitude and
direction of their resultant? What is the
magnitude and direction of their equilibrant?
Since the two forces have the same
magnitude but opposite directions, they will
just cancel out. The resultant will have a
magnitude of 0 N and there will be no
direction. Since the two forces have a
magnitude of 0 N, the equilibrant will also
have a magnitude of 0 N and there will be
also no direction.
4) Use the component method to find
the magnitude and direction of the resultant
of the following forces:
A = 2000.0 N at 0˚
B = 1500.0 N at 60˚
C = 1000.0 N at 150˚
D = 3800.0 N at 225˚
 x y

2000 N (cos
2000 N (sin 0˚)
A 0˚)
=0N
= ​2000 N

1500 N (cos 1500 N (sin

B 60˚) 60˚)
= 750 N = 1299 N
In order to offset the weight of the body,
1000 N (cos 1000 N (sin T 1y must be equal to it.
C 150˚) 150˚)
= − 866 N = 500 N T 1y = 100.0 N
3800 N (cos 3800 N (sin T 1 (sin 60˚) = 100.0 N
D 225˚) 225˚) T 1 = 115.5 N
= − 2687 N = − 2687 N
Since the body is not moving, there is
R − 803 N − 888 N equilibrium between T 2 and T1x.

2 2
T 1x = 115.5 N (cos 60˚)
R=
√( ∑Fx ) ( )+ ∑Fy T 1x = 57.75 N

T 2 = T 1x
T 2 = 57.75 N
R= √(− 803) 2
+ (− 888) 2

7. References
Magnitude of R = 1197.23 N
[1]Barwad, R. (2014, August 16).
∑ Fy
Difference between Resultant and
θ = tan−1 + 180˚
∑ Fx
Equilibrants. Retrieved September 6,
2018, from
https://www.polytechnichub.com/dif
θ = tan−1 ( −888 N
−803 N )
+ 180˚ ference-between-resultant-and-equili
brants/
θ = 47.88˚ + 180˚

Direction of R = 227.88˚

5) A body weighing 100.0 N is

suspended by a rope. A second rope attached
to the body is drawn aside horizontally until
the suspended rope makes an angle of 30˚
with vertical. Find the tension in each rope.