NAMES: CHENG (Sy), David CHUA CHING, Justine CONTRERAS, Sushmita CORONEL, Kimbee CORTEZ, Kimberly DE JESUS, Karen

2A-MT Group #2

Date Submitted: Aug 6, 2013

Center of Gravity and Equilibrium EXPERIMENT 4 ABSTRACT This experiment aims to observe how the weight of the beam on which the forces act behaves like a force concentrated at the center of gravity of the beam. It also aims to determine the conditions of equilibrium for several parallel forces. For the first set-up, the meter sticks center of gravity was located and then it was supported at a location other than its center of gravity. Using the weight of a single mass, the meter stick was brought into equilibrium. For the second set-up, the meter stick was supported at the 30 cm mark. Weights of different masses were hung to their corresponding markings and the position of a 50g mass was determined, producing rotational equilibrium. The torque arm and percentage error were then computed. Questions and Problems

1. Define the following: a. The moment of a force The moment of force is also called torque, it is the turning effect of a force. The moment of a force about a point is the product of the force and the perpendicular distance of its line of action from the point. Units: newton-metres (Nm) b. The center of gravity The center of gravity is the point at which the entire weight of a body may be considered as concentrated so that if supported at this point the body would remain in equilibrium in any position. 2. Differentiate translational and rotational equilibrium. Under translational equilibrium no linear force act on a body and thus it possess no acceleration, it is moving with a constant velocity along a straight line. While in rotational

equilibrium no external torque acts on a body and it is thus neither rotating nor moving linearly. It position is fixed with respect to an external point.

3. A uniform rod 1m long weighs 150N and is supported on some fulcrum. Weights of 40N and 50N are suspended from the two ends of the rod. Find the position of the fulcrum if the system is equilibrium.

0.5 X

0.5

1m
40N 0.5+X (40N) (0.5+x) + (150N)x = (50N) (0.5-x) 20 + 40 + 150x = 25 50x 20 + 190x = 25 50x 190x + 50x = 25 20 240x = 5 240 240 X = 0.0208 m 4. A uniform rod 10m long and weighing 150N is supported horizontally by props P and R a distance of 2m and 8m from one end. Weights of 250 N, 100 N and 120 N are attached at distances of 1m, 7m and 10m respectively from the same end. Find the force on each prop. 250 150 100 120 150N d=? 0.5-X 50N

1m P (2m)

7m P (8m)

10m

P + R = F1l1 + F2l2 + F3l3 + F4l4 250 - 500 - 960 + R (6m) = 0 R (6m) = 960 + 500 250 FR (6m) = 1210 N 6m 6m FR = 201.67 N EF = 0 = P + 201.67 - 250n - 100 - 120 FP = 268.33 N