PHYSICS

Static Equilibrium
• Equilibrium and static
equilibrium
• Static equilibrium conditions
• Net external force must equal
zero
• Net external torque must equal
zero
• Center of gravity
• Solving static equilibrium
problems

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 Static and Dynamic Equilibrium
• Equilibrium implies the object is at rest (static) or its
center of mass moves with a constant velocity
(dynamic)
• We will consider only with the case in which linear
and angular velocities are equal to zero, called “static
equilibrium” : vCM = 0 and w = 0
• Examples
• Book on table
• Hanging sign
• Ceiling fan – off
• Ceiling fan – on
• Ladder leaning against wall

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Conditions for Equilibrium
• The first condition of equilibrium
is a statement of translational
equilibrium
• The net external force on the
object must equal zero
  
Fnet   Fext  ma  0
• It states that the translational
acceleration of the object’s
center of mass must be zero

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Conditions for Equilibrium
• If the object is modeled as a
particle, then this is the only
condition that must be satisfied
 
  Fext
Fnet object
• For an extended to 
be0in
equilibrium, a second condition
must be satisfied
• This second condition involves the
rotational motion of the extended
object
Conditions for Equilibrium
• The second condition of
equilibrium is a statement of
rotational equilibrium
• The net external torque on the
object must equal zero
  
 net   ext  I  0
• It states the angular acceleration
of the object to be zero
• This must be true for any axis of
rotation

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Conditions for Equilibrium

• The net force equals zero

F  0
• If the object is modeled as a particle, then this is the only condition that must
be satisfied
• The net torque equals zero
• This is needed if the object cannot be modeled as a particle

  0 analysis
• These conditions describe the rigid objects in the equilibrium
model

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Static Equilibrium
• Consider a light rod subject to the two
forces of equal magnitude as shown in
figure. Choose the correct statement with
regard to this situation:
(A) The object is in force equilibrium but not
torque equilibrium.
(B) The object is in torque equilibrium but not
force equilibrium
(C) The object is in both force equilibrium and
torque equilibrium
(D) The object is in neither force equilibrium
nor torque equilibrium

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Equilibrium Equations
• For simplicity, We will restrict the applications to
situations in which all the forces lie in the xy plane.
• Equation 1:
 
• Equation 2: Fnet   Fext  0 : Fnet , x  0 Fnet , y  0 Fnet , z  0
• There are three resulting
net  

 equations
ext  0 :  net , x  0  net , y  0  net , z  0

Fnet , x   Fext , x  0
Fnet , y   Fext , y  0
 net , z    ext , z  0

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• A seesaw consisting of a uniform board of mass mpl and length L
supports at rest a father and daughter with masses M and m,
respectively. The support is under the center of gravity of the
board, the father is a distance d from the center, and the
daughter is a distance 2.00 m from the center.
• A) Find the magnitude of the upward force n exerted by the
support on the board.
• B) Find where the father should sit to balance the system at rest.

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A) Find the magnitude of Fnet , y  n  mg  Mg  m pl g  0
the upward force n exerted n  mg  Mg  m pl g
by the support on the
board.  net , z   d   f   pl   n
B) Find where the father  mgd  Mgx  0  0  0
should sit to balance the
mgd  Mgx
system at rest.
m 2m
x   d   2.00 m
M  M

Fnet , x   Fext , x  0
Fnet , y   Fext , y  0
 net , z    ext , z  0

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Axis of Rotation
• The net torque is about an axis through any point in
the xy plane
• Does it matter which axis you choose for calculating
torques?
• NO. The choice of an axis is arbitrary
• If an object is in translational equilibrium and the net
torque is zero about one axis, then the net torque
must be zero about any other axis
• We should be smart to choose a rotation axis to
simplify problems

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 B) Find where the father should sit to balance the system at rest.
Rotation axis O Rotation axis P
 net , z   d   f   pl   n  net , z   d   f   pl   n
 mgd  Mgx  0  0  0  0  Mg (d  x)  m pl gd  nd  0
mgd  Mgx  Mgd  Mgx  m pl gd  ( Mg  mg  m pl g )d  0
m 2m mgd  Mgx
x   d 
M  M m  2m
x  d 
M  M

P O
Fnet , x   Fext , x  0
Fnet , y   Fext , y  0
 net , z    ext , z  0

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Center of Gravity

• The torque due to the gravitational force on an

object of mass M is the force Mg acting at the
center of gravity of the object
• If g is uniform over the object, then the center of
gravity of the object coincides with its center of
mass
• If the object is homogeneous and symmetrical, the
center of gravity coincides with its geometric center

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Where is the Center of Mass ?
• Assume m1 = 1 kg, m2 = 3 kg, and x1 = 1 m, x2 = 5 m, where is the
center of mass of these two objects?
A) xCM = 1 m
B) xCM = 2 m m1 x1  m2 x2
xCM 
C) xCM = 3 m m1  m2
D) xCM = 4 m
E) xCM = 5 m

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Center of Mass (CM)
• An object can be divided into
many small particles
• Each particle will have a specific
mass and specific coordinates
• The x coordinate of the center of
mass will be

m x i i
xCM  i

m i
i

• Similar expressions can be found

for the y coordinates

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Center of Gravity (CG)
• All the various gravitational forces acting on all the various
mass elements are equivalent to a single gravitational force
acting through a single point called the center of gravity (CG)

Mg CG xCG  (m1  m2  m3  ) g CG xCG

m1 g1 x1  m 2 g 2 x2  m3 g 3 x3  
• If
g1  g 2  g3  

• then

m1 x1  m 2 x2  m 3 x3    mi xi
xCG  
m1  m2  m3    mi

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CG of a Ladder
• A uniform ladder of length E
l rests against a smooth,
vertical wall. When you
calculate the torque due
to the gravitational force, D
you have to find center of
gravity of the ladder. The
center of gravity should be C
located at
B

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Ladder Example
• A uniform ladder of length l
rests against a smooth,
vertical wall. The mass of the
ladder is m, and the
coefficient of static friction
between the ladder and the
ground is s = 0.40. Find the
minimum angle  at which the
ladder does not slip.

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Problem-Solving Strategy 1
• Draw sketch, decide what is in or out the system
• Draw a free body diagram (FBD)
• Show and label all external forces acting on the object
• Indicate the locations of all the forces
• Establish a convenient coordinate system
• Find the components of the forces along the two axes
• Apply the first condition for equilibrium
• Be careful of signs
Fnet , x   Fext , x  0
Fnet , y   Fext , y  0

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Which free-body diagram is correct?
• A uniform ladder of length l rests against a smooth,
vertical wall. The mass of the ladder is m, and the
coefficient of static friction between the ladder and the
ground is s = 0.40. gravity: blue, friction: orange,
normal: green

A B C D

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• A uniform ladder of length l rests against a smooth, vertical wall.
The mass of the ladder is m, and the coefficient of static friction
between the ladder and the ground is s = 0.40. Find the
minimum angle  at which the ladder does not slip.

 Fx  f x  P  0
 Fy  n  mg  0
P  fx
n  mg
P  f x ,max   s n   s mg
mg

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Problem-Solving Strategy 2
• Choose a convenient axis for calculating the net torque on the
object
• Remember the choice of the axis is arbitrary
• Choose an origin that simplifies the calculations as much as
possible
• A force that acts along a line passing through the origin produces a zero
torque
 net , z   ext , z  0
• Be careful of sign with respect to rotational axis
• positive if force tends to rotate object in CCW
• negative if force tends to rotate object in CW
• zero if force is on the rotational axis
• Apply the second condition for equilibrium

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 Choose an origin O that simplifies the
calculations as much as possible ?
• A uniform ladder of length l rests against a smooth, vertical wall.
The mass of the ladder is m, and the coefficient of static friction
between the ladder and the ground is s = 0.40. Find the minimum
angle.

A) B) C) O D)

O
O

mg mg mg mg

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• A uniform ladder of length l rests against a smooth, vertical wall.
The mass of the ladder is m, and the coefficient of static friction
between the ladder and the ground is s = 0.40. Find the
minimum angle  at which the ladder does not slip.

 O   n  f  g  P
l
 0  0  Pl sin  min  mg cos min  0
2
sin  min mg mg 1
 tan  min   
cos min 2 P 2  s mg 2  s
1 1
 min  tan 1 ( )  tan 1[ ]  51
2 s 2 ( 0 .4) mg

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Problem-Solving Strategy 3
• The two conditions of equilibrium will give a system of
equations
• Solve the equations simultaneously
• Make sure your results are consistent with your free body
diagram
• If the solution gives a negative for a force, it is in the
opposite direction to what you drew in the free body
diagram
• Check your results to confirm F  F 0
net , x ext , x

Fnet , y   Fext , y  0
 net , z    ext , z  0

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Horizontal Beam Example
• A uniform horizontal beam with a
length of l = 8.00 m and a weight of Wb
= 200 N is attached to a wall by a pin
connection. Its far end is supported by
a cable that makes an angle of  = 53
with the beam. A person of weight Wp
= 600 N stands a distance d = 2.00 m
from the wall. Find the tension in the
cable as well as the magnitude and
direction of the force exerted by the
wall on the beam.

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Horizontal Beam Example
• The beam is uniform
• So the center of gravity is at
the geometric center of the
beam
• The person is standing on the
beam
• What are the tension in the
cable and the force exerted
by the wall on the beam?

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Horizontal Beam Example, 2
• Analyze
• Draw a free body diagram
• Use the pivot in the
problem (at the wall) as
the pivot
• This will generally be easiest
• Note there are three
unknowns (T, R, )

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Horizontal Beam Example, 3
• The forces can be
resolved into
components in the free
body diagram
• Apply the two conditions
of equilibrium to obtain
three equations
• Solve for the unknowns

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Horizontal Beam Example, 3
l
 z  (T sin  )(l )  W p d  Wb ( )  0
2
l
W p d  Wb ( )
T 2  (600N )(2m)  (200N )(4m)  313N
l sin  (8m) sin 53

 Fx  R cos  T cos  0
 Fy  R sin   T sin   W p  Wb  0

R sin  W p  Wb  T sin 
 tan  
R cos T sin 
 W p  Wb  T sin  
  tan 1    71.7 
 T sin  
T cos (313N ) cos 53
R   581N
cos cos 71.7 

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