MM103 Engineering Mechanics

The University of the South Pacific

School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics
MM103 Engineering Mechanics

Lab 4: Equilibrium of Forces

Lab Session Day & Time: Thursday 9am

Student Names & ID#: Emmanuel Dutt S11222968, Ilisabeta Masikau S11221480, Salome Wye
S11230044, Rowena Kenieroa S11200089.

AIM
To be able to showcase the principle of Force equilibrium and components of Forces, and for students to be
able to understand this concept and its application to reality.

INTRODUCTION
When a system is in equilibrium, it is stable and won’t change further on its own unless it experiences
external forces. A Static equilibrium is where a system is fixed or stable whereas, dynamics equilibrium
involve motion. We will be concentrating on static equilibrium in this lab and how Principle of equilibrium
and components of forces is applied in real life situation. The system is at rest when it is in static
equilibrium. In any equilibrium state, a system is not exerted by external force as a result. Every force has an
algebraic total of zero. This fact is a result from Newton’s first law and makes it simple to analyze an
equilibrium system. Newton first state “an object at rest will remain at rest until acted upon by an unbalance
force”. In any equilibrium state, the components (in 3 dimensional), of the forces acting on that object is
equal to zero. The
sum of moment about that particular point is also equal to zero.
“In fact, our theory contends that when people see a static image, an underlying dynamic tension
caused by the depiction of forces in balance lurks beneath the conscious level of awareness”, (Freyd, et
al.,1988).
In order to remain stationary, the total effect of the load and reactions provided by the support
must be in equilibrium. This applies to the full structure and also to its different parts. (Krenk, S.,
2013).

By knowing that all forces acting on an object, and the moment on any point O is zero, we will
able to determine any unknown using these equations, mathematically as:

∑Fₓ = 0; ∑Fy = 0; ∑Fz = 0; ∑Mo = 0

Another equation would need to be created in order to balance the number of unknowns if the number of
unknown forces increased. This shows the relationship between to be proportional. The equations are always
enough for statically determinate systems.

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EQUIPMENT
 1 x wooden block
 100g masses and hanger
 10g masses and hanger
 String
 2 x spring scales
 Vernier Caliper

METHODOLOGY
Part 1
1. The components of each force were determined and was recorded under table 1 in the results section.
2. Vector addition of the forces was performed and the resultant forces were obtained.
3. To find moment of forces about point O, the positional vectors of each force were being identified
first before vector cross product was performed.
Part 2
1. With the help of a grid board, two spring scales were setup to help support the wooden block.
2. Beneath the wooden block a 200g mass was hung with the use of a mass hanger.
3. A free-body diagram was drawn to better understand the problem.
4. The distance from point A to B were assumed to be a and was determined to be 0.56m.
5. The distance from point B to the mass(m) was found to be 0.24m.
6. For the springs it was found that the tension readings were 1.81N.
7. Both the Tensions were resolved into components, and summation of Forces in the y-direction was
performed to find the actual mass of the wooden mass.
8. For the 300g mass, calculations were performed backwards to determine the Tensions in the string,
and to verify whether the it actually matches the readings in the spring, and also to find out whether
the mass of the wooden calculated previously was correct.
9. With the use of a vernier caliper the length, width and height of the wood was measured, and its
density was calculated.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Finding the components each
FA= 10N FC= 30.2N FD= 23.8N
100m FCx 80m FDx
FAy θ θ
120m 20m
10N 120m 23.8N FDy
θ 30.2N FCy
100m FAx
θ = tan-1(120/100) = 50.19° θ = tan-1(20/80) = 14.04°
θ = tan-1(120/100) = 50.19° FCx = 30.2cos50.19° = (19.33i) FDx = 23.8cos14.04° = (23.09i) N
FAx= 10cos50.19° = (6.40i) N N FDy = -23.8sin14.04° = (-5.77j)N
FAy = 10sin50.19° = (7.68j) N °
FCy = -30.2sin50.19 = (-23.2j)N

force:

Since FC is acting down in the y-direction it will only have a vertical component and it will be negative.
∴FCx= (0i) N and FCy= (-12j) N

Table 1: Forces and its Components

Force θ x-components y-components Positional vector(r)
(N) (° ) (N) (N) (m)
FA= 10 50.19 6.40 7.68 rOA= -60i +20j
FB= 12 0 0 -12 rOB= 0i- 80j
FC= 30.2 50.19 19.33 -23.2 rOC= -120i+0j
FD= 23.8 14.04 23.09 -5.77 rOD= 80i-60j

Calculations:
1. A+B
= (6.40i + 7.68j) + (0i -12j) = (6.40+ 0) i + (7.68- 12) j= (6.40i – 4.32j) N

2. B +D
= (0i -12j) + (23.09i -5.77j) = (0 + 23.09) i + (-12 - 5.77) j = (23.09i – 17.77j) N

3. C – A
= (19.33i – 23.2j) - (6.40i + 7.68j) = (19.33 – 6.40) i + (-23.2 – 7.68) j = (19.93i – 30.88j) N

4. A + B – C
= (6.40i + 7.68j) + (0i -12j) - (19.33i – 23.2j)
= (6.40 + 0 – 19.33) i + (7.68 – 12 + 23.2) j
= (-12.93i + 18.88j) N
5. Moment of A about point O

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MOA = rOA × FA

i j
= = -588.8Nm = 5.88Nm (counter-clockwise)
-60 20

6.40 7.68

6. Moment about point O due to all forces

i. MOB= rOB × FB

= i j

0 80 = -960Nm = 960Nm (counter-clockwise)

0 -12

ii. MOC= rOC × FC

i j
=
-120 0 = 2784Nm

19.33 -23.3

iii. MOD= rOD × FD

i j

= 80 -60 = 923.8Nm

23.09 -5.77

MO(Total) = -588.8 + -960 + 2784 + 923.8 = 2159Nm

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Part 2

m =200g
Free-body Diagram a = 0.56m
A B

T1 T2

d= 0.2m

m=?

W(200g) = 1.962N

Finding the component of tension in the string:

0.28m
T1x T1y Finding θ:
θ= tan-1(0.28/ 0.2) = 54.46°
T1= 1.81N
0.2m

T1x = -1.81sin54.46 = -1.47N

T1y = 1.81cos54.46 = 1.05N
Since we have a symmetrical system, we know that the components for Tension 1 will be the same as
Tension 2, however, the horizontal of Tension 2 will have a positive value since it is acting towards the
positive x-direction.
∴ T2x = 1.47N
T2y = 1.05N

Now finding the value of m using sum of forces in the y- direction:

+↑∑Fy= 0 = 1.05 + 1.05 – 1.962 – m (9.81)
m = 0.014kg= 14g

m =300g
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a= 0.56m

T1 T2

d= 0.24m

W= 2.943+0.14= 3.08N

Splitting the triangle into half and finding the components of each Tension

T1x 0.28m T1y 0.28m T1x

T1
0.24m T2y T2

0.24m

θ = tan-1(0.28/0.24) = 49.39° θ = tan-1(0.24/0.28) = 40.60°

T1x= -T1sin49.39° T2x= T2 cos40.60°
T1y= T1cos49.39° T2y= T2sin40.60°

+→∑Fx= 0 = -T1sin49.39° + T2 cos40.60° (making T1 subject of the formula)

T 2 cos 40.60 °
T1= -------------------------------------------------------equation (1)
sin 49.39 °

+↑∑Fy= 0 = T1cos49.39° + T2sin40.60° - 3.08

3.08= T1cos49.39° + T2sin40.60° --------------------------------equation (2)

Substituting equation (1) into equation (2) to solve for T2 which will be the same as T1

T 2 cos 40.60 °
3.08= ( ¿ cos49.39° + T2sin40.60°
sin 49.39 °
T2= 2.40N

∴T1= 2.40N

Calculating the Density of the Wood:

ρ wood = m/V= 0.014kg/ (0.08m)(0.01m)(0.02m) = 795.45kg/m3

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DISCUSSION

As the aim of this experiment have stated, this experiment was conducted due to the knowledge of
equilibrium. It has helped us understand the importance of resolving forces into vector components, and this
can be seen in part 1 of our experiment, where we have first found the components of the Forces given,
before actually solving the questions that were given. In the case of adding and subtracting Forces, we have
simply added or subtracted the component of the Forces with similar components. This means, that the x-
components of the forces are added or subtracted together, while the y-components are also been added or
subtracted together. Addition and subtraction of vector components is essential when it comes to adding or
subtracting vectors, as we know that vectors consist of both magnitude and direction, and adding the
components of vectors will help us attain this. Also, with vector components it was easier for us to calculate
the moment caused by each Forces about point O, by simply performing a cross product between the
positional vector of the Forces with the components of the Forces. Positional vectors are always taken from
the point you are taking moment about to the point where the forces are acting, and is an essential
component for determining moment in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional system. Another thing we
have learned from resolving vectors into components is that it helps us understand the directions in which
each of the forces in a system or body are acting, for instance for the Force FB=12N, it is acting down and it
will have a negative y- component, since it is acting towards the negative y-direction. This knowledge and
application of Equilibrium and vector components were further carried forward to help determine the mass
of the wooden block. It can be clearly seen in our workings that Tension 1 was resolved into the x and y-
components with the help of the free-body diagram, before the equilibrium of forces in the y-direction
equation was used to actually determine the unknown mass of the wood, which was found to be 14g. To
further understand the principle of equilibrium, we have performed the same experiment with a 300g mass,
but this time around we have to do a backward calculation to find the tension in the string and to compare
the value to the actual reading on the string and see if it matches. The reading in the string was 245g which
is equivalent to 2.40N and after performing the calculation we have obtained the same value, which gets to
show the validity of the concept of equilibrium and also an indication that our experiment was conducted
successfully. For further work, the density of the wood was determined to be 795.45kg/m3.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, using equilibrium of forces to find the mass of the wooden block indulges balancing all the forces
acting on the object. By knowing the sum of the forces, such as, gravitational force, tension, and applied force in all
directions equals to zero and in that manner our group were able to find the unknown mass of the wooden block and
also the density of the wood. There were some errors that the group faced such as, Human Error, mistakes in recording
error, Measurement Error, incorrect measured forces such as tension and applied force nevertheless all the errors were
corrected. However, the principle of Force of equilibrium and components of Forces was fully understood, but it made
all sensible to the group members when mass and the density of the wooden block was calculated. This experiment
suggests that equilibrium principles is highly practicable and applicable in real life. It is a basic and educational
experiment that helps people better understand how things work in the physical world. To conclude the main
aim of understanding equilibrium of forces was achieved.

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REFERENCE

‌ reyd, J. J., Pantzer, T. M. & Cheng, J. L., 1988. Representing Statics as Forces In
F
Equilibrium. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 11 May, 117(4, 395), p. 407.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Representing+statics+as+forces+i
n+equilibrium.&btnG =(Accessed: 30 August 2024).

Krenk, S., Høgsberg, J., Krenk, S. and Høgsberg, J., 2013. Equilibrium and
Reactions. Statics and Mechanics of Structures, pp.1-38.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Krenk%2C+S.%2C+H%C
3%B8gsberg%2C+J.%2C+Krenk%2C+S.+and+H%C3%B8gsberg%2C+J.%2C+2013.+E
quilibrium+and+Reactions.+Statics+and+Mechanics+of+Structures%2C+pp.1-38.&btnG
= (Accessed: 31 August 2024).

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