Chapter 4A.

Translational
Equilibrium
A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of
Physics
Southern Polytechnic State
2007
University

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
State
able
to:
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

Newtons
Newtons First
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 or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed in
in the
the
absence
absence of
of aa resultant
resultant force.
force.

AA glass
glass is
is placed
placed on
on aa board
board and
and the
the
board
board is
is 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 is
is removed.
removed.

Newtons First Law (Cont.)

Newtons
Newtons First
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 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 will
will 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 is
is the
the rate
rate at
at which
which the
the
speed
speed of
of an
an object
object changes.
changes. An
An object
object
with
with an
an acceleration
acceleration of
of 22 m/s
m/s22,, for
for
example,
example, is
is an
an object
object whose
whose speed
speed
increases
increases by
by 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 is
is
directly
directly proportional
proportional to
to the
the force
force and
and
inversely
inversely proportional
proportional to
to the
the mass.
mass.

FF
aa

m
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

a/2

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
Ceiling
on Man

Force of
Man on
Ceiling

Force
of
Floor
on
Man

Force of
Man on
Floor

Force
of Wall
on
Hands

Force
of
Hands
on
Wall

Action and reaction forces act on different

objects.

Newtons Third Law

Two
Two More
More Examples:
Examples:
Actio
n

Reaction

Action

Reactio
n

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 and
only if there is no resultant force.
This means that the sum of all
acting forces is zero.

In
In the
the example,
example, the
the resultant
resultant of
of the
the three
three
forces
forces A,
A, B,
B, and
and CC acting
acting on
on the
the ring
ring must
must
be
be zero.
zero.

Visualization of Forces
Force diagrams are necessary for
studying objects in equilibrium. Dont
confuse action forces with reaction
forces.
Equilibrium:

FF 00
A

B
C

The action forces are

each ON the ring.

Force A: By ceiling on
ring.
Force B: By ceiling on
Force C: ring.
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
Cr

Force Ar: By ring on

ceiling.
Force B
r: By ring on
ceiling.
: By ring on
Force C
r

weight.

Vector Sum of Forces

An object is said to be in
Translational Equilibrium if and
only if there is no resultant force.
The vector sum of all forces
acting on the ring is zero in this
case.

400

B
C

Vector sum: F = A + B + C
=0

Vector Force Diagram

A

400

B
C

Ay

40

Ay
Ax

W
A free-body diagram is a force
diagram all the elements in this
showing
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 to
to angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all given
given information
information and
and state
state what
what
forces
forces or
or angles
angles are
are to
to be
be found.
found.

Look Again at Previous

Arrangement
A

40

B
C

W
1. Isolate
point.
2. Draw x,y
3. axes.
Draw
vectors.

Ay
B

40

Ay

Ax
C

W
4. Label
5. components.
Show all given
information.

Example 1. Draw a free-body diagram

for the arrangement shown on left. The
pole is light and of negligible weight.

On
rop
e

A
300

W
700 N

Careful:
The pole can
only push or B
pull since it
has no
weight.

Ay
300

Ax

700 N

The
force
is
the
force
exerted
on
the
TheIsolate
force BB
is
the
force
exerted
on
the rope at the end of thethe
rope
by
the
pole.
Dont
confuse
itit with
rope
by
the
pole.
Dont
confuse
with
boom. All forces must act ON the
the
exerted
the reaction
reaction force
forcerope!
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.

FFxx 00

FFyy 00

Example 2. Find the tensions in

ropes A and B for the arrangement
shown.
A

400

Ay

40

Ay

C Ax

200 N
200 N
The Resultant
Force on the ring
is zero:
R = F = 0

Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx =
0
R y = A y + B y + Cy =
0

Example 2. (Cont.) Finding

components.
Recall
trigonometry
to find
components:
A

By = 0 A y
B
Bx

400

C
Cy

Ax
Cx = 0

200 N

Opp = Hyp x
A = Asin
sin 400
y

Adj = Hyp x
Ax = Acos
cos 400

The components
of the vectors are
found from the
free-body
diagram.

Cy = -200
N

Example 2. Continued . . .
Components
Ax = A cos
0
40
Ay = A sin 400

A
B

Ay

40

Ay

Ax

Bx = B; By =
W
0
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. ItIt must
must also
also show
show all
all given
given
information.
information.

Example 2. Continued . . .
A

40

A
C

Ay

400

C Ax

200 N

200 N

Fx= 0

Fy= 0

Ay

Components
Ax = A cos
0
40
Ay = A sin 400
Bx = B; By =
0
Cx = 0; Cy =
W

A cos 40 B 0; or B A cos 40

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

Example 2. Continued . . .
A
B

Ay

40

Ay

C Ax
200 N

Two
equations;
two
unknowns

A sin 40 200 N
0

B A cos 40

200 N
A
311 N
0
sin 40

Solve
first for A

Solve Next
for B

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

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 -).
Fx=
0 ; Fyfor
=0
4. Apply First
Condition
Equilibrium:
5. Solve for unknown forces or
angles.

Example 3. Find Tension in Ropes A and

B.
600

300

600

30

400 N
1. Draw free-body
diagram.
2.
Determine angles.
3. Draw/label
components.

Ay

300

600

Ax

Bx

By

400 N
Next
Next we
we will
will
find
find
components
components of
of
each
each vector.
vector.

Example 3. Find the tension in ropes A and

B.

First Condition for

Equilibrium:
Fx= 0 ;

Fy= 0

Ay

300

600

Ax

Bx

W 400 N

4. Apply 1st Condition for Equilibrium:

Fx = Bx - Ax = 0
Fy = By + Ay - W = 0

Bx =
By +Ax Ay = W

By

Example 3. Find the tension in ropes A and

B.

Ax = A cos 300; Ay = A sin 300

Bx = B cos
600
By = B sin 600

Ay

300

600

Ax

Bx

By

Wx = 0; Wy = -400
W 400 N
N
Using Trigonometry, the first condition
yields:
0
B =
x

Ax
By + A y = W

B cos 60 = A cos
0
30
0
0

A sin 30 + B sin 60 =
400 N

Example 3 (Cont.) Find the tension in A

and B.

A
y

A
30
A
0

B
600

B
x

W 400
N

B cos 600 = B cos 300

A sin 300 + B sin 600 = 400
N
We now solve for A and B:
Two Equations and Two
Unknowns.

We will first solve the horizontal

equation for B in terms of the unknown
A:
0

A cos 30
B
1.73 A
0
cos 60

BB =
= 1.732
1.732 AA

Example 3 (Cont.) Find Tensions in A and

B.

A
y

A
30
A
0

x
400
N

B
600

B
x

B = 1.732 A
Now apply Trig
A + B to:
= 400 N
y

A sin 600 + B sin 600 =

400 N

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
AA =
= 200
200 N
N
N

B = 1.732 A

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

A
y

A
30
A
0

B
60

B
x

W 400
N

A = 200 N
B = 1.732 A
B = 1.732(400 N)
B = 346
N

Rope tensions are: A = 200 N and B =

346 N
This problem is made much simpler if you

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
A

600

300
30

600

400 N

Ay

x
A

300

600

Ax

Bx

400 N

By

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 A
with W offset.

Since A and B are perpendicular, we

can find the new angle from
geometry.
y

x
B

y
A

600

300

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:

x

y
B

Wx = (400 N) cos 300

Wy = (400 N) sin
300
Thus, the components
W
of the weight vector
0
30
x
are:
W 400 N
Wx = 346 N; Wy = 200
y
N
Apply the first condition for Equilibrium,
and . . .
BB W
and
Wxx =
= 00
and AA W
Wyy =
=
A

Example 4 (Cont.) We Now Solve for A

and B:
x

y
A

Wx

300

Wy 400 N

Before working a
problem, you
might see if
rotation of the
axes helps.

Fx = B - Wx = 0
B = Wx = (400 N) cos
300
BB =
= 346
346 N
N

Fy = A - Wy = 0
A = Wy = (400 N) sin
300
AA =
= 200
200 N
N

Summary
Newtons
Newtons First
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 or
or at
at constant
constant speed
speed
in
in the
the absence
absence of
of 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 is
is
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.

Actio
n

Reaction
Reactio
n

Action

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 to
to angles.
angles.
Label
Label all
all given
given information
information and
and 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.

FFxx 00

FFyy 00

Problem Solving Strategy

1. Draw a sketch and label all
information.
2. Draw a free-body diagram.
3. Find components of all forces (+
and -).
Fx=
0 ; Fyfor
=0
4. Apply First
Condition
Equilibrium:
5. Solve for unknown forces or
angles.

Conclusion: Chapter 4A
Translational Equilibrium