MECHANICAL

EQUILIBRIUM

MECHANICAL
EQUILIBRIUM

Objectives
Distinguish between force and
net force. (2.1)

..........

Describe the equilibrium rule

and give examples. (2.2)

THE BIG

Distinguish between support

force and weight. (2.3)
Give examples of moving
objects that are in equilibrium.
(2.4)
Determine the resultant of a
pair of parallel or non-parallel
vectors. (2.5)

Suggest to your students that

they read the chapters quickly,
but more than once. Physics is
learned by going over the same
material many times. Each time
it makes a little more sense.
(Thats also the best way to
learn a foreign language: total
immersion.) So dont worry
about understanding things
quickly. Just keep reading.
Understanding will come!

discover!
MATERIALS

ts good when your personal life is stablewhen

things important to you are in balance. Its also
nice when the needs of family and friends are in
harmony. Financially, we prefer our expenses to be
balanced by earnings. Economists are concerned
with the balance between the inflow and outflow of
goods. These examples illustrate the idea of equilibrium. In nature we see an energy equilibrium when
energy radiated away from Earth is balanced by the
input of solar energy from the sun. Whenever a glass
thermometer acquires the same temperature as the
object being measured, we have thermal equilibrium.
There are many forms of equilibrium. In this chapter
we will be concerned with mechanical equilibrium.
Things in mechanical equilibrium are stable, without
changes of motion. The rocks shown at right are in
mechanical equilibrium. An unbalanced external force
would be needed to change their resting state.

strong piece of rope

EXPECTED OUTCOME The two

people pulling the ends of
the rope will be unable to
straighten out the deflection
caused by the third persons
little finger.
ANALYZE AND CONCLUDE

1. No, it does not remain

straight.
2. Predictions will vary.
3. In order for an object to
be in equilibrium, the sum
of the forces on the object
must equal zero (SF 5 0).

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IDEA

An object in mechanical
equilibrium is stable, without
changes in motion.

discover!
How Do You Know When an Object
Is in Equilibrium?
1. Stretch a strong rope between another
student and yourself.
2. With the two of you pulling hard on the rope,
have a third person push down on the center
of the rope with his or her little finger.
3. Try to make the rope straight while the
person continues to push down on the
center of the rope.

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Analyze and Conclude

1. Observing Did the rope remain straight with
the application of the small downward force
on the center of the rope?
2. Predicting Is there any way to make the rope
straight as long as someone is pushing down
on the center of the rope?
3. Making Generalizations What do you think
are the conditions necessary for equilibrium?

2.1 Force

2.1 Force

Key Terms
force, net force, vector, vector
quantity, scalar quantity

A force is a push or a pull. A force of some kind is always required

to change the state of motion of an object. The state of motion may
be one of rest or of moving uniformly along a straight-line path. For
example, a hockey puck at rest on ice remains at rest until a force is
exerted on it. Once moving, a hockey puck sliding along the ice will
continue sliding until a force slows it down. A force is needed to
change an objects state of motion.
Net Force Most often, more than one force acts on an object. The
combination of all forces acting on an object is called the net force.
The net force on an object changes its motion.
For example, suppose you pull horizontally on an object with a
force of 10 pounds. If a friend assists you and also pulls in the same
direction with a force of 5 pounds, then the net force is the sum of
these forces, or 15 pounds. The object moves as if it were pulled with
a single 15-pound force. However, if your friend pulls with a force of
5 pounds in the opposite direction, then the net force is the difference of these forces, or 5 pounds toward you. The resulting motion of
the object is the same as if it were pulled with a single 5-pound force.
This is shown in Figure 2.1, where instead of pounds, the scientific
unit of force is usedthe newton, abbreviated N.2.1.1

We define force in this section

as a push or pull. In Chapter 7,
well extend this definition to
be an interaction between one
object and another. For now,
push or pull is sufficient.

FIGURE 2.1 
The net force depends on
the magnitudes and directions of the applied forces.

The superscript 2.1.1

refers to a note to the
text. Notes are listed in
Appendix G.

 FIGURE 2.2
When the girl holds the rock
with as much force upward as
gravity pulls downward, the
net force on the rock is zero.

 Teaching Tip Introduce the

idea of net force by placing an
object on your table and pushing
it. State that, neglecting friction,
if you push it to the right with
a force of 10 N, the net force
is 10 N. Ask what the net
force would be if a student
simultaneously pushed it to the
left with a force of 10 N. (Zero)
With a force of 4 N? (6 N to
the right) State that the block
would accelerate no differently
if pushed with two forces that
produce a 6-N net force, or
pushed with a single applied 6-N
force. The two are equivalent.
 Teaching Tip Distinguish
between net force and force with
Figure 2.1.

When you hold a rock at rest in your hand, you are pushing
upward on it with as much force as Earths gravity pulls down on
it. If you push harder, it will move upward; if you push with less
force, it will move downward. But just holding it at rest, as shown in
Figure 2.2, means the upward and downward forces on it add to zero.
The net force on the rock is zero.

CHAPTER 2

 Teaching Tip Without

excess explanation, go right
into newtons as a measure of
force (just as youll mention
meters rather than feet for a
unit of distance). If students have
trouble with newtons, just tell
them its scientific language for
what they call pounds. In fact,
10 N 5 2.2 pounds.

 Teaching Tip Explain that

the term net force is the same
as resultant force and is also the
same as vector sum of all forces.

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

13

13

Vector quantities are

introduced in terms of force.
Velocity vectors are postponed
until Chapter 4. (One step at
a time!) We begin with parallel
force vectors, the easiest to
understand. Vectors at an angle
are discussed in Section 2.5.

FIGURE 2.3 
a. The upward tension in
the string has the same
magnitude as the weight of
the bag, so the net force
on the bag is zero. b. Burl
Grey, who first introduced
the author to the concept
of tension, shows a 2-lb
bag producing a tension of
9 newtons. (The weight is
actually slightly more than
2 lb, and the tension slightly
more than 9 N.)

......

A force is needed to
change an objects
state of motion.
CONCEPT

CHECK

Teaching Resources
Reading and Study
Workbook
Transparency 1

FIGURE 2.4 
This vector, scaled so that
1 cm = 20 N, represents a
force of 60 N to the right.

PresentationEXPRESS
Interactive Textbook

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Tension and Weight If you tie a string around a 2-pound bag

of sugar and suspend it from a scale, a spring in the scale stretches
until the scale reads 2 pounds, as shown in Figure 2.3. The stretched
spring is under a stretching force called tension. A scale in a science
lab is likely calibrated to read this 2-pound force as 9 newtons. Both
pounds and newtons are units of weight, which, in turn, are units of
force. The bag of sugar is attracted to Earth with a gravitational force
of 2 poundsor, equivalently, 9 newtons. Suspend twice as much
sugar from the scale and the reading will be 18 newtons.
There are two forces acting on the bag of sugartension force
acting upward and weight acting downward. The two forces on the
bag are equal and opposite, and they cancel to zero. The net force on
the bag is zero, and it remains at rest.
Force Vectors In Figures 2.1 and 2.2, forces are represented by
arrows. When the length of the arrow is scaled to represent the
amount (magnitude) of the force and the direction of the arrow
points in the direction of the force, we refer to the arrow as a vector.2.1.2 A vector is an arrow that represents the magnitude and
direction of a quantity. A vector quantity is a quantity that needs
both magnitude and direction for a complete description. Force is
an example of a vector quantity. By contrast, a scalar quantity is a
quantity that can be described by magnitude only and has no direction. Time, area, and volume are scalar quantities. (Well return to
vectors in Chapter 5.)

......

Scalars can be added,

subtracted, multiplied,
and divided like ordinary numbers. When
2 liters of water are
added to 3 liters of
water, the result is
5 liters. But when something is pulled by two
forces, one 2 N and the
other 3 N, the result
may or may not be 5 N.
With vector quantities,
direction matters.

CONCEPT

CHECK

How can you change an objects state of motion?

Personal Essay
When I was in high school, my counselor advised
me not to enroll in science and math classes, but to
instead focus on what seemed to be my gift for art.
I took this advice. I was then interested in drawing
comic strips and in boxing, neither of which earned
me much success. After a stint in the U.S. Army, I tried
my luck at sign painting, and the cold Boston winters
drove me south to Miami, Florida. There, at age 26,
I got a job painting billboards and met a new friend,
Burl Grey, a sign painter with an active intellect. Burl,
like me, had never studied physics in high school. But
he was passionate about science in general. He shared
that passion with me by asking many fascinating
science questions as we painted together.
I remember Burl asking me questions about the
tensions in the ropes that held up the scaffold we
stood on. The scaffold was simply a heavy horizontal
plank suspended by a pair of ropes at each end.
Burl twanged the rope nearest his end of the
scaffold and asked me to do the same with mine. He
was comparing the tensions in the two ropesto
determine which was greater. Burl was heavier than I
was, and he guessed that the tension in his rope was
greater. Like a more tightly stretched guitar string, the
rope with greater tension twangs at a higher pitch.
That Burls rope had a higher pitch seemed reasonable
because his rope supported more of the load.

When I walked toward Burl to borrow one of his

brushes, he asked if tensions in the ropes had
changed. Did tension in his rope increase as I moved
closer? We agreed that it should have because even
more of the load was then supported by Burls rope.
How about my rope? Would its tension decrease? We
agreed that it would, for it would be supporting less
of the total load. I was unaware at the time that we
were discussing physics.
Burl and I used exaggeration to bolster our reasoning
(just as physicists do). If we both stood at an extreme
end of the scaffold and leaned outward, it was easy
to imagine the opposite end of the staging rising like
the end of a seesaw, with the opposite rope going
limp. Then there would be no tension in that rope.
We then reasoned the tension in my rope would

gradually decrease as I walked toward Burl. It was fun

posing such questions and seeing if we could answer
them.

Of particular interest to me
in Chapter 2 is this Personal
Essay, which relates to events
that inspired me to pursue a
life in physicsmy meeting with
influential Burl Grey on the
sign-painting stages of Miami,
Florida (and Jacque Fresco, also
in Miami). Relative tensions in
supporting cables is what first
caught my interest in physics,
and I hope to instill the same
interest in your students.

A question that we couldnt answer was whether

or not the decrease of tension in my rope when I
walked away from it would be exactly compensated
by a tension increase in Burls rope. For example,
if the tension in my rope underwent a decrease of
50 newtons, would Burls rope gain 50 newtons?
(We talked pounds back then, but here we use the
scientific unit of force, the newtonabbreviated N.)
Would the gain be exactly 50 N? And if so, would this
be a grand coincidence? I didnt know the answers
until more than a year later, when Burls stimulation
resulted in my leaving full-time painting and going to
college to learn more about science.2.1.3
At college I learned that any object at rest, such as the
sign-painting scaffold that supported us, experiences
no net force. It is said to be in equilibrium. That is, all
the forces that act on it balance to zero (F  0).
So the sum of the upward forces supplied by the
supporting ropes do indeed add up to the downward
forces of our weights plus the weight of the scaffold.
A 50-N loss in one would be accompanied by a 50-N
gain in the other.

I tell this true story to make the point that ones

thinking is very different when there is a rule to guide
it. Now when I look at any motionless object, I know
immediately that all the forces acting on it cancel
out. We view nature differently when we know its
rules. It makes nature seem simpler and easier to
understand. Without the rules of physics, we tend to
be superstitious and see magic where there is none.
Quite wonderfully, everything is beautifully connected
to everything else by a surprisingly small number of
rules. The rules of nature are what the study of physics
is about.

CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

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2.2 Mechanical
Equilibrium
Key Terms
mechanical equilibrium,
equilibrium rule

You can find more on the

equilibrium rule in the
Concept-Development Practice
Book. (Not using the Practice
Book is like teaching swimming
away from water. This is an
important bookmy most
imaginative and pedagogically
useful tool for student
learning!)

think!

2.2 Mechanical Equilibrium

Mechanical equilibrium is a state wherein no physical changes
occur; it is a state of steadiness. Whenever the net force on an object
is zero, the object is said to be in mechanical equilibriumthis is
known as the equilibrium rule.2.2 You can express the equilibrium rule mathematically as
QF  0

Consider the gymnast

above hanging from the
rings. If she hangs with
her weight evenly divided
between the two rings,
how would scale readings
in both supporting ropes
compare with her weight?
Suppose she hangs with
slightly more of her
weight supported by the
left ring. How would a
scale on the right read?
Answer: 2.2

The symbol  stands for the sum of and F stands for forces.
(Please dont be intimidated by the expression F  0, which is physics shorthand that says a lot in so little spacethat all the forces acting
on something add vectorially to zero.) For a suspended object at rest,
like the bag of sugar mentioned earlier, the rule states that the forces
acting upward on the object must be balanced by other forces acting
downward to make the vector sum equal zero. (Vector quantities take
direction into account, so if upward forces are positive, downward
ones are negative, and when summed they equal zero.)

FIGURE 2.5 
The sum of the upward vectors equals the
sum of the downward vectors. F  0, and
the scaffold is in equilibrium.

......

You can express the

equilibrium rule
mathematically as SF = 0.
CONCEPT

CHECK

Teaching Resources
Reading and Study
Workbook
Concept-Development
Practice Book 2-1

If you look carefully at

bridges and other structures around you, youll
see evidence of QF  0.

Laboratory Manual 2

......

CONCEPT How can you express the equilibrium rule

PresentationEXPRESS

CHECK

Interactive Textbook
Next-Time Question 2-1

16

In Figure 2.5 we see the forces of interest to Burl and Paul on

their sign-painting scaffold. The sum of the upward tensions is equal
to the sum of their weights plus the weight of the scaffold. Note how
the magnitudes of the two upward vectors equal the magnitude of
the three downward vectors. Net force on the scaffold is zero, so we
say it is in mechanical equilibrium.

16

mathematically?

2.3 Support Force

2.3 Support Force

Consider a book lying at rest on a table, as shown in Figure 2.6a. The
book is in equilibrium. What forces act on the book? One is the force
due to gravitythe weight of the book. Since the book is in equilibrium, there must be another force acting on it to produce a net force
of zeroan upward force opposite to the force of gravity.
Where is the upward force coming from? It is coming from the
table that supports the book. We call this the support force the
upward force that balances the weight of an object on a surface. A
support force is often called the normal force.2.3.1 For an object
at rest on a horizontal surface, the support force must equal the
objects weight. So in this case, the support force must equal the
weight of the book. We say the upward support force is positive and
the downward weight is negative. The two forces add mathematically
to zero. So the net force on the book is zero. Another way to say the
same thing is F  0.
To better understand that the table pushes up on the book, compare the case of compressing a spring, shown in Figure 2.6b. If you
push the spring down, you can feel the spring pushing up on your
hand. Similarly, the book lying on the table compresses atoms in the
table, which behave like microscopic springs. The weight of the book
squeezes downward on the atoms, and they squeeze upward on the
book. The compressed atoms produce the support force.
When you step on a bathroom scale, two forces act on the scale,
as shown in Figure 2.7. One force is the downward pull of gravity,
your weight, and the other is the upward support force of the floor.
These forces compress a mechanism (in effect, a spring) that is calibrated to show your weight. So the scale shows the support force.
When youre standing on a bathroom scale at rest, the support force
and your weight have the same magnitude.2.3.2

......

CONCEPT For an object at rest on a horizontal surface, what is

CHECK

the support force equal to?

Key Term
support force

FIGURE 2.6 
a. The table pushes up on
the book with as much force
as the downward weight
of the book. b. The spring
pushes up on your hand
with as much force as you
push down on the spring.

Weight

If you have a pair of bathroom

scales, a student standing with
one foot on each will confirm
that the two weight readings
add up to the students weight.
Do not ask a student who may
be self-conscious about his or
her weight to try this! (During
my elementary school years, the
most stressful day of the year
was the day the school nurse
had us stand on a scale while
she called out the weight to the
teacher. This fear continued
until I reached 100 lb. in high
school. I overcame it at the
age of 16 by winning the New
England Amateur Athletic
Association silver medal for
boxing in the 112-lb. class. A
long reach for a tall skinny body
turned out to be an advantage!)

 Teaching Tip The normal

force on an object on an inclined
plane is perpendicular to the
plane, but not opposite the
vertical force of gravity.

Support
Force
FIGURE 2.7 
The upward support force
is as much as the downward
pull of gravity.

think!

......

For an object at rest

on a horizontal
surface, the support force must
equal the objects weight.
CONCEPT

CHECK

What is the net force on a bathroom scale when a 110-pound person stands
on it? Answer: 2.3.1
Suppose you stand on two bathroom scales with
your weight evenly distributed between the two
scales. What is the reading on each of the scales?
What happens when you stand with more of your
weight on one foot than the other?
Answer: 2.3.2

Teaching Resources
Reading and Study
Workbook
PresentationEXPRESS
Interactive Textbook
CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

17

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2.4 Equilibrium for

Moving Objects
 Teaching Tip Mention that
if youre in the car of a smoothly
moving train and you balance
a deck of cards on a table, they
are in equilibrium whether the
train is in motion or not. If there
is no change in motion (i.e.,
acceleration), the cards dont
know the difference.
 Teaching Tip Drag a block
at constant velocity across your
lecture table. Acknowledge the
force of friction, and how it must
exactly counter your pulling
force. Show the pulling force
with a spring balance. Now,
since the block moves without
changing speed, ask for the
magnitude of the friction force.
It must be equal and opposite to
the force indicated by the scale
reading. So the net force is zero.
While sliding, the block is in
dynamic equilibrium. That is,
SF 5 0.

think!
An airplane flies horizontally at constant speed
in a straight-line direction. Its state of motion
is unchanging. In other
words, it is in equilibrium.
Two horizontal forces act
on the plane. One is the
thrust of the propeller
that pulls it forward. The
other is the force of air
resistance (air friction)
that acts in the opposite
direction. Which force is
greater? Answer: 2.4

2.4 Equilibrium for Moving Objects

When an object isnt moving, its in equilibrium. The forces on it
add up to zero. But the state of rest is only one form of equilibrium.
An object moving at constant speed in a straight-line path is also
in a state of equilibrium. Once in motion, if there is no net force to
change the state of motion, its in equilibrium.
Equilibrium is a state of no change. A hockey puck sliding along
slippery ice or a bowling ball rolling at constant velocity is in equilibriumuntil either experiences a non-zero net force. Whether at rest
or steadily moving in a straight-line path, the sum of the forces on
both is zero: F  0.
Interestingly, an object under the influence of only one force cannot be in equilibrium. Net force in that case is not zero. Only when
there is no force at all, or when two or more forces combine to zero,
can an object be in equilibrium. We can test whether or not something
is in equilibrium by noting whether or not it undergoes changes in
motion.
Figure 2.8 shows a desk being pushed horizontally across a factory floor. If the desk moves steadily at constant speed, without
change in its motion, it is in equilibrium. This tells us that more than
one horizontal force acts on the desklikely the force of friction
between the bottom of the desk and the floor. Friction is a contact
force between objects that slide or tend to slide against each other
(more about friction in Chapter 6). The fact that the net force on the
desk equals zero means that the force of friction must be equal in
magnitude and opposite in direction to our pushing force.
FIGURE 2.8 
When the push on the desk is
as much as the force of friction
between the desk and the floor,
the net force is zero and the desk
slides at an unchanging speed.

Types of equilibrium
include static (at rest)
and dynamic (moving
at constant speed in a
straight-line path).

18

18

Objects at rest are said to be in static equilibrium; objects

moving at constant speed in a straight-line path are said to be
in dynamic equilibrium. Both of these situations are examples of
mechanical equilibrium. As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, there are other types of equilibrium. In Chapter 11 well discuss
another type of mechanical equilibriumrotational equilibrium.
Then in Chapter 21 when we study heat, well discuss thermal equilibrium, where temperature doesnt change.

......

Objects at rest are

said to be in static
equilibrium; objects moving at
constant speed in a straight-line
path are said to be in dynamic
equilibrium.
CONCEPT

CHECK

......

The equilibrium rule, F  0, provides a reasoned way to view

all things at restbalanced rocks, objects in your room, or the steel
beams in bridges. Whatever their configuration, if at rest, all acting
forces always balance to zero. The same is true of objects that move
steadily, not speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. For
such moving things, all acting forces also balance to zero. The equilibrium rule is one that allows you to see more than meets the eye
of the casual observer. Its good to know the rule for the stability of
things in our everyday world. Physics is everywhere.
CONCEPT

CHECK

Teaching Resources
Reading and Study
Workbook
PresentationEXPRESS
Interactive Textbook

How are static and dynamic equilibrium different?

2.5 Vectors

2.5 Vectors

Look at Figure 2.9. When gymnast Nellie Newton is suspended by a

single vertical strand of rope (Figure 2.9a), the tension in the rope
is 300 N, her weight. If she hangs by two vertical strands of rope
(Figure 2.9b), the tension in each is 150 N, half her weight. Rope tensions pull her upward and gravity pulls her downward. In the figures,
we see that the vectors representing rope tensions and weight balance
out. F  0, and she is in equilibrium.

Key Term
resultant

I was only a scalar until

you came along and
gave me direction!

This is the most challenging

part of the chapter. Take your
time with the parallelogram
rule. When you draw the
parallelograms, take care to
draw opposite sides parallel.
Graphic art types will learn
this easily, but those without
an eye for graphics may be
seriously challenged. Again, the
Concept-Development Practice
Book offers several ramps to
understanding.

 FIGURE 2.9
a. The tension in the rope is

300 N, equal to Nellies weight.

b. The tension in each rope
is now 150 N, half of Nellies
weight. In each case, F  0.

CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

19

19

If you want to cover vectors

extensively, continue to
Appendix D and demonstrate
a sailboat sailing into the
wind. This is a fascinating and
powerful demonstration of
vector resolution. Do this with a
sailcart, preferably
on an air track.

Combining vectors is quite simple when they are parallel. If they

are in the same direction, they add. If they are in opposite directions,
they subtract. The sum of two or more vectors is called their resultant.
But what about vectors that act at an angle to each other? Consider
Nellie hanging by a pair of ropes, as shown in Figure 2.10. To find the
resultant of nonparallel vectors, we use the parallelogram rule.2.5

FIGURE 2.10 
When the ropes are at an
angle to each other, you
need to use the parallelogram rule to determine
their tension.

The Parallelogram Rule

To find the resultant of two nonparallel vectors, construct a parallelogram wherein the two vectors are adjacent sides. The diagonal of the parallelogram shows
the resultant. Consider two vectors at right angles to each other, as
shown below. The constructed parallelogram in this special case is a
rectangle. The diagonal is the resultant R.

In the special case of two perpendicular vectors that are equal

in magnitude, the parallelogram is a square. Since for any square the
length of a diagonal is p 2, or 1.414, times one of the sides, the resultant is p 2 times one of the vectors. For example, the resultant of two
equal vectors of magnitude 100 acting at a right angle to each other
is 141.4.

Now consider the vectors shown below, which represent the tensions of the ropes in Figure 2.10. Notice that the tension vectors form
a parallelogram in which the resultant R is vertical.

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Demonstration
Set up a pair of scales that
support a heavy weight as
shown (a 1-kg mass is fine).
Show that as the supporting
angle increases, the tension
also increases.

Applying the Parallelogram Rule When Nellie Newton is

suspended at rest from the two non-vertical ropes shown in Figure
2.10, is the rope tension greater or less than tension in the vertical ropes? Note there are three forces acting on Nellie: a tension in
the left rope, a tension in the right rope, and her weight. Figure 2.11
shows a step-by-step solution. Because Nellie is suspended in equilibrium, the resultant of rope tensions must have the same magnitude as
her weight. Using the parallelogram rule, we find that the tension in
each rope is more than half her weight.
In Figure 2.12, the ropes are at a greater angle from the vertical. Note that the tensions in both ropes are appreciably greater.
As the angle between the supporting ropes increases, the tension
increases. In terms of the parallelogram, as the angle increases, the
vector lengths increase in order for the diagonal to remain the same.
Remember, the upward diagonal must be equal and opposite to
Nellies weight. If it isnt, she wont be in equilibrium. By measuring
the vectors, youll see that for this particular angle the tension in each
rope is twice her weight.

FIGURE 2.11 
a. Nellies weight is
shown by the downward
vertical vector. An equal
and opposite vector is
needed for equilibrium,
shown by the dashed
vector. b. This dashed
vector is the diagonal
of the parallelogram
defined by the dotted
lines. c. Both rope tensions are shown by the
constructed vectors.

 Teaching Tip Explain why the

tension increases with increasing
anglethat the resultant of
tensions in each strand must
combine to a vector equal and
opposite of the weight vector.

 FIGURE 2.12
As the angle between the ropes
increases, tension increases so that the
resultant (dashed-line vector) remains
at 300 N upward, which is required to
support 300-N Nellie.

CHAPTER 2

 Teaching Tip If you dont

use a pair of scales, have some
students tie a string to each of
their forefingers and suspend a
weight from the middle. When
the strings are vertical, half the
weight is felt in each finger.
String tension is then half mg.
Ask how the tension varies as
fingers are brought apart so a
greater angle exists between
each string.

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

21

 Teaching Tip Revisit the

Discover! activity on page 12.
Point out that it is impossible to
make a rope perfectly straight by
pulling on its ends. Since all ropes
have weight, it is necessary that
there be an upward component
of the tension to balance the
downward pull of gravity.

21

 Teaching Tip Heres a nice

example to pose to students:
Nobody can break a guitar string
by pulling on its ends. But if it is
strung tightly on a guitar, a slight
force to the side easily snaps it.
 Teaching Tip The
parallelogram rule is useful
knowledge for pre-trig or posttrig students.

FIGURE 2.13 
Here the ropes supporting
Nellie have different angles.
Note that tension is unequal
in the two ropes.

In Figure 2.13, we see Nellie hanging by ropes at different angles

from the vertical. Which rope has the greater tension? By the parallelogram rule, we see that the right rope bears most of the load and
has the greater tension.

FIGURE 2.14 
You can safely hang from a
clothesline hanging vertically,
but youll break the clothesline
if it is strung horizontally.

If you understand this physics, you will understand why a vertical clothesline can support your weight while a horizontal clothesline
cannot. The tension in the horizontal clothesline is much greater
than the tension in the vertical clothesline, and so the horizontal
one breaks.

......

To find the resultant

CHECK of two vectors,
construct a parallelogram
wherein the two vectors are
adjacent sides. The diagonal of
the parallelogram shows the
resultant.

......

CONCEPT

CONCEPT

CHECK

How can you find the resultant of two vectors?

Teaching Resources
Reading and Study
Workbook

think!

Concept-Development
Practice Book 2-2

Two sets of swings are shown at

right. If the children on the swings
are of equal weights, the ropes of
which swing are more likely
to break?
Answer: 2.5.1

Problem-Solving Exercises
in Physics 1-1
Laboratory Manual 3, 4, 5
Transparency 2

Consider what would happen if you suspended a 10-N object midway along
a very tight, horizontally stretched guitar string. Is it possible for the string to
remain horizontal without a slight sag at the point of suspension?
Answer: 2.5.2

PresentationEXPRESS
Interactive Textbook
Next-Time Question 2-2

22

22

REVIEW
For: Self-Assessment
Visit: PHSchool.com
Web Code: csa 0200

REVIEW
Concept Summary

A force is needed to change an objects

state of motion.
You can express the equilibrium rule
mathematically as F  0.
For an object at rest on a horizontal
surface, the support force must equal the
objects weight.
Objects at rest are said to be in static
equilibrium; objects moving at constant
speed in a straight-line path are said to be
in dynamic equilibrium.
To find the resultant of two nonparallel
vectors, construct a parallelogram wherein the two vectors are adjacent sides. The
diagonal of the parallelogram shows the
resultant.

Key Terms

force (p. 13)

net force (p. 13)
vector (p. 14)
vector quantity
(p. 14)
scalar quantity (p. 14)

mechanical
equilibrium (p. 16)
equilibrium rule
(p.16)
support force (p. 17)
resultant (p. 20)

 Teaching Tip How much

work to assign to your students?
At least enough to keep them
engaged. But not so much as
to overload them and make
your course a chore. The Check
Concepts problems are a review
of student reading, and answers
can be picked from the chapter.
All students should be successful
with Check Concepts. Critical
thinking, rather than recall, is
called for in the Think and Rank
problems (a new feature in this
edition). Likewise with the Think
and Explain and Think and Solve
problems.

think! Answers
2.2

In the first case, the reading on each scale

will be half her weight. In the second case,
when more of her weight is supported
by the left ring, the reading on the right
reduces to less than half her weight. But in
both cases, the sum of the scale readings
equals her weight.

2.3.1

Zero, as the scale is at rest. The scale reads

the support force (which has the same
magnitude as weight), not the net force.

2.3.2

In the first case, the reading on each scale

is half your weight. (The sum of the scale
readings balances your weight, and the net
force on you is zero.) In the second case, if
you lean more on one scale than the other,
more than half your weight will be read on
that scale but less than half on the other. In
this way they add up to your weight.

2.4

Neither, for both forces have the same strength.

Call the thrust positive. Then the air resistance
is negative. Since the plane is in equilibrium,
the two forces combine to equal zero.

2.5.1

The tension is greater in the ropes hanging at an angle. The angled ropes are more
likely to break than the vertical ropes.

2.5.2

No way! If the 10-N load is to hang in

equilibrium, there must be a supporting
10-N upward resultant. The tension in
each half of the guitar string must form
a parallelogram with a vertically upward
10-N resultant. For a slight sag, the sides of
the parallelogram are very, very long and
the tension force is very large. To approach
no sag is to approach an infinite tension.

Teaching Resources
TeacherEXPRESS
Virtual Physics Lab 1

CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

23

23

ASSESS
Check Concepts

ASSESS

1. Force is a push or a pull;

net force is the combination
of all acting forces.
2. Net force is 10 N to the
right.
3. Tension
4. Magnitude and direction
5. Vector quantity needs
both magnitude and direction
for its description. Scalar
quantity is described by
magnitude only, a number.
6. Force is a vector quantity;
time, area, and volume are
scalar quantities.
7. 20 N
8. It means that the vector
sum of all the forces that act
on an object in equilibrium
equal zero.
9. Zero, as the rule SF 5 0
states
10. Each arm supports half
your weight.
11. 90; support force is
perpendicular (normal) to the
surface.
12. Your downward push due
to gravity and the upward
force of the floor
13. The sum of the readings
will equal your weight when
you are at rest
14. Yesif it moves at
constant speed in a straight
line. Then SF 5 0.
15. Both forces are equal in
magnitude, but in opposite
directions. Thus, the net force
is zero.
16. Objects at rest are in static
equilibrium; objects moving at
constant speed in a straightline path are in dynamic
equilibrium.

24

Check Concepts

Section 2.1

1. What is the difference between force and

net force on an object?
2. What is the net force on a box that is being pulled to the right with a force of 40 N
and pulled to the left with a force of 30 N?
3. What name is given to the stretching
force that occurs in a spring or rope
being pulled?

12. What two forces compress a spring inside a

weighing scale when you weigh yourself?
13. When you are at rest and supported by a
pair of weighing scales, how does the sum
of the scale readings compare with your
weight?
Section 2.4

14. Can an object be moving and still be in

equilibrium? Defend your answer.

4. What two quantities are necessary to

determine a vector quantity?

15. If you push a crate across a factory floor at

constant speed in a constant direction, what
is the magnitude of the force of friction on
the crate compared with your push?

5. How does a vector quantity differ from a

scalar quantity?

16. Distinguish between static equilibrium and

dynamic equilibrium.

6. Give an example of a vector quantity.

Give an example of a scalar quantity.

Section 2.5

Section 2.2

7. How much tension is in a rope that

holds up a 20-N bag of apples at rest?
8. What does F  0 mean?
9. What is the net force on an object
at rest?
10. When you do pull-ups and you hang at rest,
how much of your weight is supported by
each arm?
Section 2.3

11. What is the angle between a support force

and the surface on object rests upon?

24

17. According to the parallelogram rule for two

vectors, what does the diagonal of a constructed parallelogram represent?
18. Consider the suspension of Nellie in Figure
2.11. Name the three forces that act on her.
What is your evidence that they cancel to
zero?
19. Consider Nellie in Figure 2.12. What changes in rope tension occur when the ropes
make a greater angle with the vertical?
20. When Nellie hangs from ropes at different
angles, as shown in Figure 2.13, how does
the vector resultant of the two rope tensions
compare with her weight?

Think and Rank

Rank each of the following sets of scenarios in

order of the quantity or property involved. List
them from left to right. If scenarios have equal
rankings, then separate them with an equal sign.
(e.g., A = B)

ASSESS

24. Percy does gymnastics, suspended by one

rope in A and by two ropes in positions B,
C, and D. Rank the tensions in the ropes
from greatest to least.

17. The diagonal is the

resultant, or the sum of the
two vectors.
18. Downward force is
weight. Two upward forces
are tensions in ropes. Being
at rest (in equilibrium) is
evidence that SF 5 0.
19. Rope tensions increase.
20. Resultant of both rope
tensions is equal in magnitude
and opposite in direction to
the vector representing her
weight.

21. Blocks A and

B are supported
by the table.
Concept
Summary

Block C is partly supported by the table and

partly by the rope. Rank the support forces
provided by the table from greatest to least.

Think and Rank

21. A 5 B 5 C
22. B 5 D, C, A
23. C, D, A 5 B
24. D, A, C, B

22. In the diagram below, identical blocks are

suspended by ropes, each rope having a
scale to measure the tension (stretching
force) in the rope. Rank the scale readings
from greatest to least.

Think and Explain

25. A cat lies on the floor. Can you say that no

force acts on the cat? Or is it correct to say
that no net force acts on the cat? Explain.
26. Consider two forces, one having a magnitude of 20 N and the other a magnitude of
12 N. What is the maximum net force possible for these two forces? The minimum ?

23. Burl and Paul stand on their sign-painting

scaffold. Tension in the left rope is measured
by a scale. Rank the tensions in that rope
from greatest to least.

27. When a box of chocolate bars is in mechanical equilibrium, what can be correctly said
about all the forces that act on it? Must the
net force necessarily be zero?
28. Faina says that an object cannot be in
mechanical equilibrium when only a single
force acts on it. Do you agree or disagree?
29. Phyllis Physics hangs at rest
from the ends of the rope, as
shown at right. How does the
reading on the scale compare
to her weight?

CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

Think and Explain

25. Correct to say no net
force, as both gravity and
support of the floor act on
cat.
26. Maximum resultant
occurs when forces are
parallel in same direction:
32 N. The minimum occurs
when they oppose each
other: 8 N.
27. The sum of all forces (i.e.,
the net force) must equal
zero. Yes; in mechanical
equilibrium, SF 5 0.
28. Agree; if only a single
nonzero force acts on an
object, it will not be in
mechanical equilibrium.
There must be one or more
additional forces to produce
zero net force for equilibrium.
29. Scale reads half her
weight. So, SF 5 upward pull
of left rope 1 upward pull of
right rope 2 weight 5 0.

25

25

30. At left, Harry is supported

by two strands of rope that
share his weight (like Phyllis
in Question 29). So each
strand supports 250 N, below
the breaking point. At right,
Harry is supported by just one
strand, which requires tension
of 500 N. This is above the
breaking point of the rope,
which breaks and changes his
vacation plans.

ASSESS

(continued)

30. Harry the painter

swings year
after year
Concept
Summary

from his bosuns chair. His weight is 500 N

and the rope, unknown to him, has a breaking point of 300 N. Why doesnt the rope
break when he is supported as shown at the
left? One day Harry is painting near a flagpole, and, for a change, he ties the free end
of the rope to the flagpole instead of to his
chair as shown at the right. Why did Harry
end up taking his vacation early?

31. Two forcesweight and

support force
32. The book doesnt rise
because the net force on it
is zero: weight 2 support
force 5 0.
33. No; the reading is the
same. Pressure against the
scale is less on one foot, but
not the weight.
34. Yes, it is in dynamic
equilibrium; it is not
undergoing a change in its
motion.
35. 200 N; constant speed in
a straight line, so SF 5 0 5
force of pulling 2 friction.
36. Support force on the
refrigerator decreases as its
lifted. When entirely lifted
from the floor, the support
force provided by the floor is
zero, and the support force
on the mens feet increases
as the load transfers from the
floor to them.
37. If perfectly vertical, then
tension in each wire is half
of Sneezlees weight. But the
wires are only nearly vertical,
so tension in each is greater
than half the weight.
38. Greater tension, as a
parallelogram would show.
(Interestingly, a 60 angle
results in tension equal to the
weight. If angle exceeds 60,
tension in the wire exceeds
the weight.)

31. How many significant forces act on a your

physics book when it is at rest on a table?
Identify the forces.
32. Why doesnt the support force that acts on
a book resting on a table cause the book to
rise from the table?
33. Nicole stands on a bathroom scale and
reads her weight. Does the reading change if
she stands on one foot instead of both feet?
Defend your answer.
34. Justin sets a hockey puck sliding across the
ice at a constant speed. Is the puck in equilibrium? Why or why not?

39. Tension in each wire is

greater than half the weight
of the picture.

35. Alyssa pulls horizontally on a crate with a

force of 200 N, and it slides across the floor
at a constant speed in a straight line. How
much friction is acting on the crate?

26

26

36. Consider a heavy refrigerator at rest on a

kitchen floor. When Anthony and Daniel
start to lift it, does the support force on the
refrigerator provided by the floor increase,
decrease, or remain unchanged? What happens to the support force on Anthonys and
Daniels feet?
37. Sneezlee is supported by
two thin wires. Is the tension in each wire less than,
equal to, or more than half
his weight? Use the parallelogram rule to defend
your answer.
38. Sneezlees wire
supports are repositioned as shown.
How does the tension in each wire
compare with the
tension of the previous question?
39. If a picture frame were supported by a pair
of vertical wires, tension in each wire would
be half the weight of the frame. When the
frame is supported by wires at an angle, as
shown below, how does the tension in each
wire compare with that of vertical wires?

40. A monkey hangs by a strand of rope and

45. The sketch shows a painters staging in
holds onto the zoo cage as shown. Since her
mechanical equilibrium. The person in the
arm holding the cage is horizontal, only the
middle weighs 250 N, and the tensions in
rope supports her weight. How does the tenboth ropes are 200 N. What is the weight of
sion in the rope compare with her weight?
the staging?

ASSESS

Concept Summary

200 N

200 N

250 N

47. A staging that weighs 300 N supports two

painters, one 250 N and the other 300 N. The
41. Why cant the strong man pull hard enough
reading in the left scale is 400 N. What is the
to make the chain perfectly straight?
reading in the right scale?

42. Two vertical chains are used to hold up

a 1000-N log. One chain has a tension of
400 N. Find the tension in the other chain.

300 N

47. Two children push on a heavy crate that

rests on a basement floor. One pushes horizontally with a force of 150 N and the other
pushes in the same direction with a force of
180 N. The crate remains stationary. Show
that the force of friction between the crate
and the floor is 330 N.

48. Two children push on a crate. They find that

when they push together horizontally with
forces of 155 N and 187 N, respectively, the
crate slides across the floor at a constant
43. Lucy Lightweight stands with one foot on
speed. Show that the force of friction beone bathroom scale and her other foot on a
tween the crate and the floor is 342 N.
second bathroom scale. Each scale reads
300 N. What is Lucys weight?
44. Harry Heavyweight, who weighs 1200 N,
stands on a pair of bathroom scales so that
one scale reads twice as much as the other.
What are the scale readings?

43. If each scale reads 300 N,

Lucys total weight 5 600 N.

45. SF 5 0, upward forces are

400 N, and downward forces
are 250 N 1 weight of staging.
So staging weighs 150 N.

300 N

Think and Solve

42. From SF 5 0, total upward

tensions 5 weight of log.
400 N 1 tension in other
chain 5 1000 N. Tension in
other chain 5 1000 N 2
400 N 5 600 N.

44. 800 N on one, 400 N on

the other

250 N

41. Chain tensions on both

sides of the book must form a
parallelogram with a resultant
that equals the weight of the
book. This can only occur if
each side of the chain makes
an angle to the horizontal.

Think and Solve

W=?

400 N

40. Tension in the rope is

greater than her weight.

46. SF 5 0, upward forces are

400 N 1 tension in right scale,
and downward forces are
250 N 1 300 N 1 300 N 5
850 N. Reading on the right
scale is 450 N.
47. From SF 5 0, Sforces in
one direction 5 Sforces in
opposite direction. So,
150 N 1 180 N 5 force of
friction 5 330 N in opposite
direction to the childrens
pushes.
48. Crate moves at constant
speed in a straight line, so
SF 5 0. Sforces in one
direction 5 Sforces in opposite
direction. So, 155 N 1 187 N 5
force of friction 5 342 N in
opposite direction to the
childrens pushes.

Teaching Resources
More Problem-Solving Practice
Appendix F
CHAPTER 2

MECHANICAL EQUILIBRIUM

27

Computer Test Bank

Chapter and Unit Tests

27