Chapter 4A.

Translational
Equilibrium
AA PowerPoint
PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation by
by
Paul
Paul E.
E. Tippens,
Tippens, Professor
Professor of
of Physics
Physics
Southern
Southern Polytechnic
Polytechnic State
State University
University

2007
A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER exerts action forces on
crevices and ledges, which produce reaction forces
on the climber, allowing him to scale the cliffs.
Photo by Photo Disk Vol. 1/Getty
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
State and describe with examples Newtons
three laws of motion.
State and describe with examples your
understanding of the first condition for
equilibrium.
Draw free-body diagrams for objects in
translational equilibrium.
Write and apply the first condition for
equilibrium to the solution of problems
similar to those in this module.
 Newtons First Law
Newton
Newtons s First
First Law:
Law: AnAn object
object atat rest
rest oror an
an
object
object inin motion
motion at
at constant
constant speed
speed will
will remain
remain
at
at rest
rest or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed in
in the
the absence
absence of of aa
resultant
resultant force.
force.

AA glass
glass isis placed
placed on on aa board
board and
and the
the board
board isis
jerked
jerked quickly
quickly to to the
the right.
right. The
The glass
glass tends
tends
to
to remain
remain at at rest
rest while
while the
the board
board isis removed.
removed.
 Newtons First Law (Cont.)
Newton
Newtons s First
First Law:
Law: AnAn object
object atat rest
rest oror an
an
object
object inin motion
motion at
at constant
constant speed
speed will
will remain
remain
at
at rest
rest or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed in
in the
the absence
absence of of aa
resultant
resultant force.
force.

Assume
Assume glass
glass and
and board
board move
move together
together at
at
constant
constant speed.
speed. IfIf the
the board
board stops
stops suddenly,
suddenly,
the
the glass
glass tends
tends to
to maintain
maintain its
its constant
constant speed.
speed.
 Understanding the First Law:
Discuss what the driver
experiences when a car
accelerates from rest and
then applies the brakes.

(a) The driver is forced to move forward. An

object at rest tends to remain at rest.

(b) Driver must resist the forward motion as

brakes are applied. A moving object tends
to remain in motion.
 Newtons Second Law
Newtons
Newtons second
second law
law of
of motion
motion willwill be
be
discussed
discussed quantitatively
quantitatively in
in aa later
later chapter,
chapter,
after
after we
we have
have covered
covered acceleration.
acceleration.

Acceleration
Acceleration isis the
the rate
rate atat which
which the
the speed
speed
of
of an
an object
object changes.
changes. An An object
object with
with an
an
acceleration of 2 m/s 22, for example, is an
acceleration of 2 m/s , for example, is an
object
object whose
whose speed
speed increases
increases byby 22 m/s
m/s
every
every second
second itit travels.
travels.
 Newtons Second Law:
Second
Second Law:
Law: Whenever
Whenever aa resultant
resultant force
force
acts
acts on
on an
an object,
object, itit produces
produces an an
acceleration
acceleration -- an
an acceleration
acceleration that that isis
directly
directly proportional
proportional to to the
the force
force and
and
inversely
inversely proportional
proportional to to the
the mass.
mass.

F
a
m
 Acceleration and Force With
Zero Friction Forces

Pushing the cart with twice the force

produces twice the acceleration. Three
times the force triples the acceleration.
 Acceleration and Mass
Again With Zero Friction

F F

a/2
a

Pushing two carts with same force F produces

one-half the acceleration. The acceleration
varies inversely with the amount of material
(the mass).
 Newtons Third Law
To
To every
every action
action force
force there
there must
must be
be an
an
equal
equal and
and opposite
opposite reaction
reaction force.
force.

Force of Force of
Ceiling Man on Force of
on Man Floor Wall on
Force Hands
of Floor Force of
on Man Hands
on Wall
Force of Man
on Ceiling

Action and reaction forces act on different objects.

 Newtons Third Law
Two
Two More
More Examples:
Examples:

Action

Reaction Action
Reaction

Action and Reaction Forces Act on Different

Objects. They Do Not Cancel Each Other!
 Translational Equilibrium
An object is said to be in
Translational Equilibrium if A
B
and only if there is no
resultant force. C

This means that the sum

of all acting forces is zero.

In
In the
the example,
example, the
the resultant
resultant ofof the
the three
three forces
forces
A,
A, B,
B, and
and CC acting
acting onon the
the ring
ring must
must bebe zero.
zero.
 Visualization of Forces
Force diagrams are necessary for studying
objects in equilibrium. Dont confuse action
forces with reaction forces.

Equilibrium: The action forces are each

F 0 ON the ring.

A Force A: By ceiling on ring.

B
C Force B: By ceiling on ring.
Force C: By weight on ring.
 Visualization of Forces (Cont.)
Now lets look at the Reaction Forces for the
same arrangement. They will be equal, but
opposite, and they act on different objects.

Reaction Reaction forces are each

forces: exerted: BY the ring.

Br Ar Force Ar: By ring on ceiling.

Cr Force Br: By ring on ceiling.

Force Cr: By ring on weight.
 Vector Sum of Forces
An object is said to be in
Translational Equilibrium 400
if and only if there is no B
A
resultant force.
C
The vector sum of all W
forces acting on the ring
is zero in this case.

Vector sum: F = A + B + C = 0
 Vector Force Diagram
400
A
A Ay Ay
B B 400

C
C Ax
W
W

A free-body diagram is a force diagram

showing all the elements in this diagram:
axes, vectors, components, and angles.
 Free-body Diagrams:
Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
Isolate
Isolate aa common
common point
point where
where all
all forces
forces are
are
acting.
acting.
Construct
Construct force
force diagram
diagram at
at origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes.
Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy components
components
opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent toto angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all given
given information
information andand state
state what
what
forces
forces or
or angles
angles are
are to
to be
be found.
found.
 Look Again at Previous Arrangement
A
400
Ay
A Ay
B B 400

C Ax
C
W
W

1. Isolate point. 4. Label components.

2. Draw x,y axes. 5. Show all given
3. Draw vectors. information.
 Example 1. Draw a free-body diagram for the
arrangement shown on left. The pole is light
and of negligible weight.

Careful: A
On A Ay
The pole can
rope
B 300
only push or B 300
C B pull since it Ax
C
W has no weight.
700 N 700 N

The
The force
force BB isis the
the force
force exerted
exerted on
on the
the rope
rope
Isolate the rope at the end of the boom.
by
by the pole.
theAll
pole. Dont confuse itit with the reaction
forces must act ON the rope! reaction
Dont confuse with the
force
force exerted
exerted by by the
the rope
rope on
on the the pole.
pole.
 Translational Equilibrium
The First Condition for
Equilibrium is that there be
no resultant force.
This means that the sum of
all acting forces is zero.

Fx 0 Fy 0
 Example 2. Find the tensions in ropes A
and B for the arrangement shown.
A
400
A Ay Ay
B B 400

C C Ax
200 N
200 N

The Resultant Force Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx = 0

on the ring is zero:
Ry = Ay + By + Cy = 0
R = F = 0
Example 2. (Cont.) Finding components.

Recall A Opp = Hyp x sin

trigonometry Ay = A sin 400
to find Adj = Hyp x cos
components: Ax = A cos 400

A The components of
By = 0 Ay
the vectors are
B 400
found from the free-
Bx C Ax body diagram.
Cy Cx = 0
200 N Cy = -200 N
 Example 2. Continued . . .

Components A
Ax = A cos 400 Ay Ay
B 400
Ay = A sin 400 Ax
C
Bx = B; By = 0
W
Cx = 0; Cy = W

AA free-body
free-body diagram
diagram must
must represent
represent all
all
forces
forces as
as components
components along
along xx and
and y-axes.
y-axes.
It
It must
must also
also show
show all
all given
given information.
information.
 Example 2. Continued . . .
A Components
400
B A Ay Ay
B 400 Ax = A cos 400
C C Ax
200 N Ay = A sin 400
200 N
Bx = B; By = 0
Fx= 0 Fy= 0 Cx = 0; Cy = W

F Acos40
x
0
B 0; or B Acos40 0

F y A sin 40 200 N 0; or A sin 40 200 N

0 0
 Example 2. Continued . . .
A Two
Ay Ay equations;
A sin 40 200 N
0
B 400
C Ax two
unknowns
B A cos 40 0

200 N

Solve first 200 N Solve Next

A 311 N
for A sin 40 0
for B

B A cos 40 (311 N)cos 40 ; B =238 N

0 0

The tensions in
A and B are A = 311 N; B = 238 N
 Problem Solving Strategy
1. Draw a sketch and label all information.
2. Draw a free-body diagram.
3. Find components of all forces (+ and -).
4. Apply First Condition for Equilibrium:

Fx= 0 ; Fy= 0

5. Solve for unknown forces or angles.

Example 3. Find Tension in Ropes A and B.

300 600 B By
B A
A 300 600
Ay 600
300
Ax Bx
400 N 400 N

1. Draw free-body diagram.

Next
Next we
we will
will find
find
2. Determine angles. components
components of of
3. Draw/label components. each
each vector.
vector.
Example 3. Find the tension in ropes A and B.

First Condition for

Equilibrium: B By
Ay A
300 600

Fx= 0 ; Fy= 0 Ax Bx
W 400 N

4. Apply 1st Condition for Equilibrium:

Fx = Bx - Ax = 0 Bx = Ax
Fy = By + Ay - W = 0 By + Ay = W
 Example 3. Find the tension in ropes A and B.

Ax = A cos 300; Ay = A sin 300

B By
Bx = B cos 600 Ay A
300 600
By = B sin 600 Ax Bx
Wx = 0; Wy = -400 N W 400 N

Using Trigonometry, the first condition yields:

Bx = Ax B cos 600 = A cos 300
By + Ay = W A sin 300 + B sin 600 = 400 N
Example 3 (Cont.) Find the tension in A and B.

B cos 600 = B cos 300

B By
Ay A A sin 300 + B sin 600 = 400 N
300 600
Ax Bx
We now solve for A and B: Two
W 400 N Equations and Two Unknowns.

We will first solve the horizontal equation for

B in terms of the unknown A:
0
A cos 30
B 0
1.73 A BB = 1.732 AA
= 1.732
cos 60
Example 3 (Cont.) Find Tensions in A and B.

B = 1.732 A
B By Now apply Trig to:
Ay A
300 600
Ax Bx Ay + By = 400 N
400 N A sin 600 + B sin 600 = 400 N

B = 1.732 A A sin 300 + B sin 600 = 400 N

A sin 300 + (1.732 A) sin 600 = 400 N

0.500 A + 1.50 A = 400 N AA == 200

200 NN
Example 3 (Cont.) Find B with A = 200 N.

A = 200 N
B By
Ay A B = 1.732 A
300 600
Ax Bx B = 1.732(400 N)
W 400 N B = 346 N

Rope tensions are: A = 200 N and B = 346 N

This problem is made much simpler if you notice
that the angle between vectors B and A is 900 and
rotate the x and y axes (Continued)
Example 4. Rotate axes for same example.

y x
300 600 B By
A B A
300 600
Ay
300 600

Ax Bx
400 N 400 N
W

We recognize that A and B are at right angles,

and choose the x-axis along B not horizontally.
The y-axis will then be along Awith W offset.
Since A and B are perpendicular, we can
find the new angle from geometry.

y x y x

B A B
A
300 600
600
300

400 N W =400 N

You should show that the angle will be 300.

We now only work with components of W.
 Recall W = 400 N. Then we have:

y x
Wx = (400 N) cos 300
B Wy = (400 N) sin 300
A
Wx Thus, the components of
300
the weight vector are:
Wy 400 N Wx = 346 N; Wy = 200 N

Apply the first condition for Equilibrium, and . . .

BB W
Wxx == 00 and
and AA W
Wyy == 00
Example 4 (Cont.) We Now Solve for A and B:

y x
Fx = B - Wx = 0
B
A B = Wx = (400 N) cos 300
Wx
300 BB == 346
346 NN
Wy 400 N
Fy = A - Wy = 0
Before working a A = Wy = (400 N) sin 300
problem, you might
see if rotation of the AA == 200
200 NN
axes helps.
 Summary

Newton s First
Newtons First Law:
Law: An
An object
object at
at rest
rest or
or an
an
object
object in
in motion
motion at at constant
constant speed
speed will
will
remain
remain at
at rest
rest oror at
at constant
constant speed
speed inin the
the
absence
absence ofof aa resultant
resultant force.
force.
 Summary
Second
Second Law:
Law: Whenever
Whenever aa resultant
resultant force
force
acts
acts on
on an
an object,
object, itit produces
produces an an
acceleration,
acceleration, an
an acceleration
acceleration that that isis
directly
directly proportional
proportional to to the
the force
force and
and
inversely
inversely proportional
proportional to to the
the mass.
mass.
 Summary
Third
Third Law:
Law: To
To every
every action
action force
force there
there must
must be
be
an
an equal
equal and
and opposite
opposite reaction
reaction force.
force.

Action

Reaction Action
Reaction
 Free-body Diagrams:
Read
Read problem;
problem; draw
draw and
and label
label sketch.
sketch.
Isolate
Isolate aa common
common point
point where
where all
all forces
forces are
are
acting.
acting.
Construct
Construct force
force diagram;
diagram; At
At origin
origin of
of x,y
x,y axes.
axes.
Dot
Dot in
in rectangles
rectangles and
and label
label xx and
and yy components
components
opposite
opposite and
and adjacent
adjacent toto angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all given
given information
information andand state
state what
what
forces
forces or
or angles
angles are
are to
to be
be found.
found.
 Translational Equilibrium
The First Condition for
Equilibrium is that there be
no resultant force.
This means that the sum
of all acting forces is zero.

Fx 0 Fy 0
 Problem Solving Strategy
1. Draw a sketch and label all information.
2. Draw a free-body diagram.
3. Find components of all forces (+ and -).
4. Apply First Condition for Equilibrium:

Fx= 0 ; Fy= 0

5. Solve for unknown forces or angles.

Conclusion: Chapter 4A
Translational Equilibrium