Static Equilibrium Concept Tests

CTSE-1 A mass m is hung from a clothesline stretched between two poles. As a result,
the clothesline sags slightly as shown.

The tension T in the clothesline has magnitude..

A) mg B) mg/2 C) slightly greater than mg/2
D) considerably greater than mg/2 E) considerably less than mg/2

Answer: the tension T in each half of the top cord is considerably greater than mg/2.
The y-component of each tension vector must be Ty = mg/2 , since the upward forces
(2Ty) must cancel the downward force (mg). If the angle of the clothesline is nearly
horizontal, the T-vector must be very long in order for its y-component to be big enough
to equal mg/2.

T T
Ty
Tx
mg

CTSE-2 A door is pushed on by two forces, a smaller force at the door knob AND a
larger force nearer the hinge as shown. The door does not move.

Big force
y hinge

x Small force.
The force exerted on the door by the hinge....
A) is zero B) points  (along +y) C) points (along -y) D)
points lower right E) points upper right
Answer: The hinge must exert a force to the lower right. This must be so in order to have
 Fx  0 and  Fy  0

hinge
force

CTSE-3 A bar has four forces, all of the same magnitude, exerted on it, as shown. What
is the sign of the net torque about the axis of rotation? Use the sign convention shown.

+ –
F F axis F

d d d d
A) torque is zero B) positive (+) C) negative (–)

Answer: The net torque causes a CCW rotation, so the net torque is positive. The two
forces on the ends (far right and far left) cause torques that exactly cancel. The two
forces near the axis both cause torques that produce CCW rotation, both positive torques.

CTSE-4 A color TV of mass M is placed on a very light board supported at the ends, as
shown. The free-body diagram shows directions of the forces, but not their correct
relative sizes.

FL FR
M

Mg
(2/3)L L/3
 FR
What is the ratio ?
FL
(Hint: consider the torque about the mass M).

A) 2/3 B) 1/3 C) 1/2 D) 2 E) some other color.

FR
Answer:  2 If the object is not moving, we can pretend it is able to rotate about any
FL
point we choose. If we choose the axis of rotation to be the point where mass M rests,
then the torque due to the force Mg is zero (since the lever arm is zero). This leaves the
torques due to forces FL and FR.

axis FR
FL

2r r

The torques due to FL and FR must cancel or else the bar will rotate. So..
FR
R  L  r FR  2r FL  FR  2FL  2
FL
Notice that this answer makes sense: the mass M is closer to the right support, so the right
support is holding most of the weight.

Suppose now the board has mass m, so the free-body diagram is now as shown. (Notice
big M for the mass of the TV, little m for the mass of the board.)

Compared to when the board had no mass, the force FR is

FL FR now ..
A) greater B) less C) the same.

mg Mg

Answer: Greater. (When the board has mass, the torque due to the weight of the board is
the same as if all the mass of the board were concentrated at its center of mass.) To see
that the force FR increases when the board mass is increased (from zero to m), let us put
the axis of rotation at the left end (where FL is applied). The forces Mg and mg are both
causing negative torques (CW rotation) about the left end. FR is causing a positive
torque (CCW rotation). If we increase mg (thus increasing the negative torque), then FR
must increase to compensate with a greater positive torque.

CTSE-5 A sign of mass ms is hung from a uniform horizontal bar of mass mB as shown.

T
x

mS g
mB g
What is the sign of the x-component of the force exerted on the bar by the wall?
A) Positive B) Negative C) FWx = 0.

What is the sign of the y-component of the force exerted on the bar by the wall?
A) Positive B) Negative C) FWy = 0.
(HINT: consider the torques about the right end of the bar.)

Answers: Using  Fx  0 , the hinge Fhinge,y FT

force must have a positive x-component,
in order to cancel the negative x-
component of the tension force. hinge F
hinge, x
force
mBg
Using  i  0 , with the axis at the right mSg
end (where FT is applied), the y-
component of the hinge force must be positive. The two weight forces (mBg and mSg) are
both producing positive torques (CCW rotation) about the right end of the beam. So the
hinge force must produce a negative torque (CW rotation) in order for the net torque to be
zero.
CTSE-6 A box of mass M is sitting at the edge of a diving board of the same mass M,
total length L. The board has two supports: one in the middle, one on the end, as shown.
What is the y-component of the force on the board Fy from the right support? (Hint:
consider the torque about the C.M. of the board.)

y
M
M
x

L/2 L/2

A) Mg B) –Mg C) 2Mg D) –2Mg E) None of these

Answer: –Mg, magnitude Mg in the

downward (negative) direction. The FCenter
forces on the board are as shown here.
With the axes at the center, the torques
due to the forces on the two ends of the Mg FRight
board must cancel exactly. Mg