College of Applied Physics and Astronomy

Physics for Health Sciences Laboratory

Equilibrium of Forces at Body Joint
(static equilibrium)
Worksheet using https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html
interactive simulation

Name: ……………………………………. ID: …………………………..

OBJECTIVES:

1. Learn how to represent vectors in space.

2. Study the static equilibrium using vector analysis.
3. Determine the resultant vector of adding two and three vectors.

THEORY:
Any vector quantity can be represented as a line segment where its length represents the magnitude of the
vector, and the angle θ represent the direction of the vector as shown in figure (1). A vector can be resolved
into two components; x – component (ax) and y – components (ay), their magnitudes can be determined
using the equations:

ax = a cos θ ... (1)

ay = a sin θ ... (2)

Figure (1)

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 ⃗ and ϴ is the angle the vector a⃗ makes with the positive x – axis
Where a is the magnitude of vector a
counterclockwise. An object is at static equilibrium if the net force acting on it equal to zero. That means the
forces applied on the object is balanced.

∑ ⃗F =0... (3)
And the forces along x – axis and along the y – axis are balanced ∑ F x =0, and ∑ F y =0.
To determine the resultant force ⃗
F R for two or three forces when the object at static equilibrium, we can use
three different methods:

1- Experimental method using the force table.

The force table contains a black rod in the middle, a white ring as an object attached with four
massless strings, each string connected with a hanger so you can hang masses on it. And the surface
of the force table is a protractor, see figure (1).

Figure (2)

Adding a mass on one of the hangers creates a force on the ring. The magnitude of this force equal to the
weight of the added masses (F = mg), where m is the total mass hanged on the hanger and g is the
acceleration due to gravity (g = 10 m/s2), while the angle that the string points on it is the direction of the
force. If the ring touches the rod in the middle, that means the object is not at static equilibrium. For
example; if two forces acting on the ring F1 and F2 then the forces is not balanced and the system is not at
equilibrium. To satisfy the static equilibrium condition a balancing force (F B) should be added to the force
table as shown in figure (3).

Figure (3)

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 ⃗
F 1+ ⃗
F 2 +⃗
F B=0 ... (4)

The magnitude of the balancing force is equal to the magnitude of the resultant force:

|⃗
F R|=|⃗
F B| ... (5)

and in the opposite direction. θ B=θ R +180 ° ... (6)

where θ R is the angle (direction) of the resultant force with the positive x-axis counterclockwise, and θ B is
the angle (direction) of the balancing force with the positive x-axis counterclockwise. When using the force
table to find the resultant force, a balancing force need to be added to the force table to satisfy the static
equilibrium condition. Then the resultant force and the balancing force are equal in magnitude and opposite
in direction and can be calculated using equation 5 and 6.

2- Analytical method.
To determine the resultant vector, each added vector should be resolved into x and y components.
Then solving for the components of the resultant vector.
Rx = F1x + F2x ... (7)
Ry = F1y + F2y ... (8)

Where Rx is the x – component of the resultant force ⃗

F R , Ry is the y – component of the resultant force ⃗
FR ,
F1x and F2x are the x – components for the forces ⃗
F 1 and ⃗
F 2, F1y and F2y are the y – components for the forces
⃗
F 1 and ⃗
F 2 . The magnitude and direction of the resultant vector can be calculated using the formulas:

¿⃗ √ 2 2
R∨¿ ( R x ) + ( R y ) ... (9)

θ R=tan
−1
( )
Ry
Rx
... (10)

3- Graphical method.
In graphical method, the resultant vector is calculated using head to tail method. Starting with
drawing the first added vector, then draw the second added vector so that the tail of second added
vector is at the head of the preceding one. The resultant vector drawn from the tail of the first
vector added to the head of the last vector added. The magnitude of the resultant vector is
represented by the length of the line segment. While the direction is the angle the resultant vector
made with the positive x-axis counterclockwise. In figure (4), plot (a) shows three vectors using Phet
simulation, plot (b) shows the method of adding these vectors using head to tail method.

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Figure (4)

PROCEDURE
Before you start, visit the Phet interactive simulation using the link below to explore the uses of each part in
the simulation.

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html

PART I: THE RESULTANT OF ADDING TWO FORCES (VECTORS).

⃗ as force (⃗
In this activity consider vector a F 1), vector b⃗ as force (⃗
F 2), and vector c⃗ as the resultant vector (⃗
FR
).

1- Click on the link shown above and select equations option window at the bottom of the graph as
shown in figure (5).
2- Drag the origin of the graph paper to the middle of the graph.
3- Click on base vector and select ax = 6, ay = 7, bx = -3, by = 9. And fix the tail of the two forces ⃗
F1
⃗ ) and ⃗
(vector a F 2 (vector b⃗ ) at the origin as in figure (5).
4- Write the magnitude and
direction of the forces ⃗
F1
and ⃗
F2 in table (1).
5- Use head to tail method
to find the resultant force
FR (vector c). and take
a screen shot to your graph.
6- Write the magnitude and
direction of the resultant
force FR (vector c) in data
analysis step 1.
⃗ + ⃗b=⃗c ).
(Note the equation selected is a
7- Make the system at
static equilibrium by
selecting the equation
a⃗ + ⃗b+ c⃗ =0.

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 Figure (5)

8- Write the magnitude and the direction of the balancing force ⃗

F B (vector c⃗ ) in table (1).
9- Write the x and y components of ⃗
F 1 and ⃗
F 2 in table (2) using Phet simulation.

PART II: THE RESULTANT OF ADDING THREE FORCES(VECTORS).

⃗ as force (⃗
In this activity consider vector a F 1), vector b⃗ as force (⃗
F 2), and vector c⃗ as force (⃗
F 3). While vector
⃗s is the resultant vector (⃗
F R ).

1- Select “explore 2D” from the option window at the bottom of the graph.
2- Drag the origin of the graph paper to the middle as shown in figure (6).
⃗ , b⃗ , and c⃗ to the graph paper.
3- Drag vector a
4- Fix the magnitude and direction of each vector as selected in table (3).
Table (3)

Force Magnitude (N) Direction (degree)

F1 (vector a) 7.3 15.9˚
F2 (vector b) 9.2 77.5˚
F3 (vector c) 8.5 159.4˚
FR (vector s)

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 figure (6)
5- Use head to tail method to add the forces (vectors) graphically.
6- Select the sum option, then take a screen shot for your graph.
7- Write the magnitude and the direction of the resultant force ⃗
F R (vector ⃗s).
8- Find the magnitude and direction of the balancing force ⃗
F B , then write your result in table (3).

DATA ANALYSIS:

PART I: THE RESULTANT

VECTOR OF ADDING TWO FORCES
(VECTORS).
1- Write the resultant vector
using head to tail method
(graphical method).
FR = ...................... θR
= ..........................
2- Write your results in table (1) using the Phet simulation.
⃗ + ⃗b+ c⃗ =0.
When a
Table (1)

Force (N) Magnitude (N) Direction (degree)

F1 (vector a)
F2(vector b)
FB (vector c)

3- What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant force (⃗

F1 + ⃗
F2 + ⃗
F B ) in step (6).

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 4- Calculate the resultant force of adding the two forces ⃗
F1 + ⃗
F 2 using the data from phet simulation,
then write your results in table (2).
Table (2): analytical method

Force Magnitude (N) Direction (degree) X - component Y – component

F1
F2
FR

5- What is the relation between the resultant force ⃗

F R (⃗
FR = ⃗
F1 + ⃗
F 2) and the balancing force ⃗
F B?

6- Calculate the percentage difference for the resultant force ⃗

F R between the results from analytical
and graphical methods.

7- Attach your graph paper from step 4.

PART II: THE RESULTANT OF ADDING THREE FORCES(VECTORS).

1- Write the resultant vector from graphical method in magnitude and direction.
FR = ....................... θR = ..........................
2- Find the magnitude and the direction of the balancing force⃗
F B when the system at static
equilibrium ((⃗
F1 + ⃗
F 2 +⃗
F3 + ⃗
F B = 0). Using equations 5 and 6, then write your result in table (3).
Table (3)

Force Magnitude (N) Direction (degree)

F1 (vector a) 7.3 15.9˚
F2 (vector b) 9.2 77.5˚
F3 (vector c) 8.5 159.4˚
FB

3- Use the analytical method to find the resultant force ⃗

F R , where ⃗
FR = ⃗
F1 + ⃗
F 2 +⃗
F 3 . Then write
your answers in table (4).

Force Magnitude (N) Direction (degree) X - component Y – component

F1 7.3 15.9˚
F2 9.2 77.5˚
F3 8.5 159.4˚
FR

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 4- Calculate the percentage difference for the resultant force ⃗
F R between the results from
analytical and graphical methods.

5- Attach your graph paper from step 6.

QUESTIONS:

1- What is the difference between vector and scalar quantity? Give examples on both.

2- What are the equilibrium conditions for an object of mass m?

3- Two vectors quantities are said to be equal if ..........................

4- Two forces applied on the ring of the force table, ⃗ F 1 by adding a mass 1.5 kg at 30˚, ⃗
F 2 by adding a
mass 2.0 kg at angle 180˚.
a- Use the analytical method to calculate the resultant force ⃗ F R.

Force Mass (kg) Direction (degree) X - component Y – component

F1 1.5 30˚
F2 2.0 180˚
FR

b- Find the magnitude and direction of the balancing force ⃗

F B needed to keep the object at rest
(static equilibrium).

c- Use Phet interactive simulation to find the resultant force ⃗

F R in graphical method. Take a screen
shot and attach it with the answer.