Chapter Three Equilibrium

Concurrent Force System (Equilibrium of Particles)

Recall that the resultant of a concurrent force system is a force FR that passes
through the point of concurrency, which we label as point O. The moment
equation, 6MO= 0 now is satisfied trivially, so that the number of independent
equilibrium equations is reduced from three to two.

B
A

i) Two force equations

6Fx = 0, 6Fy = 0, …(3-2)

where x and y are any two non-parallel directions in the xy-plane.

ii) Two moment equations.

6MA = 0, 6MB = 0, …(3-3)

where A and B are any two points in the xy-plane (except point O) provided
that A, B, and O do not lie on a straight line.

iii) One force equation and one moment equation.

6Fx = 0, 6MA = 0, …(3-4)

where A is any point in the xy-plane (except point O) and x is any direction
that is not perpendicular to the line OA.

Note: For a collinear force system Eq.(3-2) reduces to one equation,

6Fx = 0, …(3-5)
where the x-axis is parallel to the forces. It is A
also can be use the equation
6MA = 0, …(3-6)
instead of Eq.(3-5), where A is not on the action line of the forces, of the
collinear system. Consequently, only one unknown can be determined when a
collinear force system in equilibrium.

.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 9039 Mechanic\Static\1st Class

Chapter Three Equilibrium

Example 1: Determine the tension in cables BA and BC necessary to support the

60-kg cylinder in Figure (a).

Solution: Free-Body Diagram:

TBD = the weight of the cylinder = 60(9.82) N

Equations of Equilibrium: Applying the equations of equilibrium

along the x and y axes, we have

+ §4·
™Fx = 0; TC cos45o - ¨ ¸ TA = 0 (1)
©5¹
+ ™F = 0; §3·
y TC sin45o + ¨ ¸ TA – 60(9.81) = 0 (2)
©5¹
Eq.(1) can be written as TA= 0.8839TC. Substituting this
into Eq.(2) yields

§3·
TC sin45o + ¨ ¸ (0.8839TC) – 60(9.81) = 0
©5¹

So that TC = 475.66 N = 466 N

Substituting this result into either Eq.(1) or Eq.(2), we get

TA = 420 N

.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 9140 Mechanic\Static\1st Class

Chapter Three Equilibrium

Example 2: The 200-kg crate in Figure (a) is suspended

using ropes AB and AC. Each rope can withstand a
maximum force of 10 kN before it breaks. If AB always
remains horizontal, determine the smallest T to which the
crate can be suspended before one of the ropes breaks.

Solution: Free-Body Diagram: FD is equal to the weight

of the crate, i.e.,

FD = 200(9.81)N = 1962 N= 1.962 kN< 10 kN

Equations of Equilibrium:

+ FB
™Fx = 0; -FC cosT + FB = 0; FC (1)
cos T

+ ™F = 0; FC sinT - 1962 = 0 (2)

y

From Eq.(1), FC is always greater than FB since cosT ”1. Therefore, rope AC will
reach the maximum tensile force of 10 kN before rope AB. Substituting FC =10 kN
into Eq.(2), we get

[10×103] sinT -1962 = 0

T = sin-1 (0.1962) = 11.31o = 11.3o

The force developed in rope AB can be obtained by substituting the value of T

and FC into Eq.(1).

FB
10 u 10 3 FB = 9.81 kN < 10 kN o.k.
cos 11.31o

.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 41

92 Mechanic\Static\1st Class
Chapter Three Equilibrium

Example 4: The 1200-kg car is being

lowered slowly onto the dock the hoist A
and winch C. Determine the forces in cables
BA and BC for the position shown.

Solution: Draw FBD of the problem.

Weight of the car W = mg = 1200 × 9.81 =11772 N

§ 2.4 · § 2.2 ·
T tan 1 ¨ ¸ 23.2o , and E tan 1 ¨ ¸ 21.45o
© 5.6 ¹ © 5.6 ¹

Note: To find T1 and T2 we can use the Cartesian components along x and y
directions, but this yields two simultaneous equations. So to avoid this we can
rotate the coordinate system such that on the directions (x or y) will be along
one of the unknown forces (T1 or T2). y y`

Thus we will use the x`y`- coordinate system.

J
J TE   R T1

T
E
+
6Fy` = 0 Ÿ T1 cosJW cosT = 0
x
T
W cosT 11772 cos 23.2
? T1 15209.25 N T T2
cos J cos 44.65 x`
W=11772N
+
6Fx` = 0 Ÿ T2 - T1 sinJW sinT = 0

Ÿ T2 T1 sinJ - WsinT   sin  sin32

T2 = 6051.17 N

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.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 94 Mechanic\Static\1st Class
Chapter Three Equilibrium

Example 5: Two smooth pipes, each having a mass of 300 kg, are supported by
the forked tines of the tractor in Figure a, below. Draw the free-body diagrams
for each pipe and both pipes together, and then determine the reactions on the
forked tines.

Solutions: Weight of each pipe W = mg = 300 *9.81 =2943 N

From the FBD of Pipe B

6Fx` = 0 Ÿ W cosP = 0 Ÿ P = 2943cos30 = 2548.7 N

6Fy` = 0 Ÿ R - W sin = 0 Ÿ R = 2943sin30 = 1471.5 N

From the FBD of Pipe A

6Fx` = 0 Ÿ FW cos = 0 Ÿ F = 2943cos30 = 2548.7 N

6Fy` = 0 Ÿ T - W sin R = 0 Ÿ T = 2943sin30 + 1471.5 = 2943 N

y`

y` x`

x`

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.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 95 Mechanic\Static\1st Class
Chapter Three Equilibrium

.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 44

96 Mechanic\Static\1st Class
Chapter Three Equilibrium

Parallel Force System

Assume that all the forces lying in the xy-plane are parallel to the x-axis. The
equation 6Fy = 0 is automatically satisfied, and the number of independent
equilibrium equations is again reduced from three to two.

B
A

i) One force equation and one moment equation.

6Fx = 0, 6MA = 0, …(3-7)

where x is any direction in the xy-plane except the y-direction, and A is

any point in the xy-plane.

ii) Two moment equations.

6MA = 0, 6MB = 0, …(3-8)

where A and B are any two points in the xy-plane, provided that the line
AB is not parallel to the x-axis.

The force system that holds a body in equilibrium is said to be statically

determinate if the number of independent equilibrium equations equals the
number of unknowns that appear on its free-body diagram. Statically
determinate problems can therefore be solved by equilibrium analysis alone. If
the number of unknowns exceeds the number of independent equilibrium
equations, the problem is called statically indeterminate. The solution of
statically indeterminate problems requires the use of additional principles that
are beyond the scope of this text.

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.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 97 Mechanic\Static\1st Class
Chapter Three Equilibrium

General Case:

Example 6: The weight W is attached to one end of a rope

that passes over a pulley that is free to rotate about the pin
at A. The weight is held at rest by the force T applied to the
other end of the rope. Using the given FBD, show that T =
W and compute the pin reactions at A.

Solution: From the FBD

6MA = 0 + Wr í Tr = 0 T = W.

Note: This result is significant because it shows that the

tension in a rope does not change when the rope passes over
a pulley that is supported by a frictionless pin.

6Fx = 0 + Ax + T sin 30ƕ = 0

6Fy = 0 + Ay íW íT cos 30ƕ = 0

With T = W, the last two equations yield

Ax í.5W Ay = 1.866W

The minus sign indicates that Ax acts to the left; that is, in the direction opposite
to what is shown on the FED.

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.University of 4DGLVL\DK\Faculty of Eng.\Civil Dept 98 Mechanic\Static\1st Class