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STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

INTRODUCTION: This experiment will investigate conditions required for a system, under the influence of external forces, to remain in static equilibrium. Two different situations will be examined. The first requires the balancing of forces only; the second also includes torques. When a body is in equilibrium, the net force on the body must equal zero. More specifically, the net force in magnitude and direction must equal zero. Since force is a vector quantity, this is most easily examined by resolving all forces into two mutually perpendicular forces and demonstrating that the sum in both of those directions does indeed add to zero.

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Since gravity is typically acting on a body in the downward vertical direction, forces are

Figure 6.1: Resolution of Forces into horizontal and vertical components and experiment diagram setup for resolution of forces experiment. conventionally resolved into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components. Up is + y and down is-y; to the right is + x and to the left is -x. See Figure 6.1 for resolution of forces and static equilibrium conditions for forces acting at a point. When forces act on an extended body, torques, or rotations about axes on the body, can result as well as motions in the direction of unbalanced forces. While forces and torques on extended bodies can become quite complicated, this exercise will examine the special case of parallel forces acting in just one plane. The equipment for studying equilibrium conditions for forces acting at a point are diagrammed in Figure 6.1. The tension on the strings pulling angularly upward will be provided by masses hung on the strings after they pass over "frictionless" pulleys. A third 28

force will be hung vertically downward from the common point of action of the first two forces. A loop on the two ends and one near the center of the string will facilitate hanging the masses. Be careful, however, that the resulting knots always hang free of the pulleys or they will provide an unmeasurable extra force. The string is fine enough that its mass can be ignored. In terms of the experiment, the force equations for the free body diagram become T1 sin 1 + T2 sin 2 T3 = 0
T1 cos 1 + T2 cos 2 = 0

T1 = m1 g T2 = m 2 g T3 = m 3 g For simplicity, divide out g, and the working equations become m1 sin 1 + m 2 sin 2 m 3 = 0 m1 cos 1 + m 2 cos 2 = 0 Several different force conditions will be examined, at equilibrium, to test the m 1 = m 2 = m3 m1 = 3m2

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PROCEDURE: 1. Weigh the 5 hangers used in the experiment on a digital scale and record the value. Determine the average weight of a hanger and use this value for all calculations requiring the mass of a hanger. 2. Weigh the meter stick you use at this time as well. Estimate the uncertainties in your masses. 3. Setup the equipment provided as shown in Figure 6.1. 4. Find equilibrium for each of the three situations requested above, recording angle and mass measurements for each case. Since the uncertainty in the manufactured masses is small, most uncertainty here results from angle measurements (make them as carefully as possible). Estimate uncertainties in both the masses and the angles and include them in your spreadsheet. The data may be tabulated on the sheets provided as raw data, a final spreadsheet should be created. The raw data tables should allow for quick analysis of the forces in both directions. It should also act as a guide in setting up the spreadsheet. 5. To investigate forces and torques on an extended body, set up equipment as diagrammed in Figure 6.2. A meter stick will be suspended from a beam via two force sensors that will also be used to determine the upward vertical forces at these positions. Five hanger supports should be slipped onto the meter stick, with the 2 for the balances inverted from 29

the other 3 that will support the hanging masses. Place the force sensors at 10cm and 90cm on the meterstick. 6. Since these supports and the hangers that will suspend from occupy the same point along the meterstick, subtract the downward force of the hanger from the force sensor reading. Note, we must now calculate the forces in Newton since this is the unit the force sensor will display the measurements in Data Studio.

Force Sensors

Figure 6.2: Diagram of Torque Experiment Setup 7. Attach the force sensor cords to the data acquisition box as you have done in previous labs. For today's lab you do not need to use a Graph to monitor the force 8. sensors, drag the Run icon to the Digits icon in Displays. This will give you a digital readout of the force sensors. Since you have two force sensors, create two Digit displays, one for each force sensor. 9. Now, hang the masses of the three remaining hangers and balance your system by moving the three weights and watching the Digits displays stopping when both displays read the same force value. All forces must be vertical to avoid difficulties, so do not hang the masses in "clumps" and be sure the force sensors are pulling straight upward. Since we placed the two force sensors symmetrically on the meterstick, both sensors should read the same when no torque is on the system and the meterstick is level. 10. Remember when recording the data on the masses that you must add the mass of the hangers to calculate the force at that position. Also, record the position on the meterstick for each mass. 11. Using the second data sheet to record the results, calculate the sum of the masses responsible for the positive forces and the sum of those responsible for the negative forces. Check if they are equal within calculated uncertainties. 12. Using the zero position (x = 0 m) of the meter stick as the axis and counterclockwise "torques" as positive determine the sum of the "torques" acting in both directions and record them on the data sheet. Since all lever arm lengths are positive here, the sign of 30

"force" determines the sign of the "torque" here. Check for equality between positive and negative results, within the calculated uncertainties. 13. Now, imagine the lever arm is located at the axis point in the middle of the meter stick (x = 0.50 m) and recalculate torques. Check for equality between positive and negative results, within the calculated uncertainties. NOTE: here the lever arm = (force position - axis position); if signs are carefully kept, the sign of the "force" times the lever arm sign will successfully give the sign of the resulting "torque". Sample Spreadsheet Layout for Static Equilibrium Raw Data Condition M1=M2=M
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M1

M2

M3

M3

M1=3M2 1270

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