Experiment 3: Conditions for Equilibrium

Maria Cherisse Tuazon, Maria Christine Tuazon, Darell Josepher Villanueva, Pamela Andrea Yeung,
Lauren Therese Yu
Group 7 3MB

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila, Philippines

Abstract called transitional equilibrium. The second

Statics is the branch of mechanics
dealing with forces acting on an object at rest.
An object is in equilibrium when all forces or
moments acting upon it are balance, and that
each and every force acting upon a body or part
of the body is resisted by either another equal
and opposite force or set of forces whose net
result is zero. The experiment was divided into
four parts: the first experiment is the equilibrant
force wherein the position and the magnitude of
the equilibrant were recorded. The second
experiment is the first condition for equilibrium
wherein a free body diagram was drawn and the
tension for T2 and the weight of the cylinder
was solved. The third experiment is to locate the
centre of gravity by balancing method and
plumb line method. The last experiment is the
second condition for equilibrium wherein a free
body diagram was drawn wherein the weight of
the bar and the tension in the string were solved
with the use of the second condition for
equilibrium.
condition of equilibrium states that the net
torque acting on the object must also be zero. It
involves avoiding accelerated rotation.
Equilibrium can be achieved in a rotating body
if the rate of rotation is constant and remains
unchanged by the forces acting on it. The center
of gravity also plays major role in equilibrium.
The center of gravity of an object is the point
where the weight is evenly dispersed and all
sides are balanced. In human, the center of
gravity may be shifted if the subject is moving
but in some cases, the center of gravity is in a
fixed location. This experiment aims to
determine the equilibrant force using the force
table and component method. To determine
unknown forces using the first and second
condition for equilibrium. To locate center of
gravity of a composite body and lastly to
demonstrate rotational equilibrium.
2.Theory

1.Introduction
Equilibrium is a state of rest or balance
due to equal action of opposing forces so that
one is not stronger or greater than the other.
Different methods were used to achieve
equilibrium in this experiment. The first was the
equilibrant force. They are the forces that act on
a body at rest and counteract the force pushing
or pulling the body in opposite direction.
Equilibrant force also establishes equilibrium for
an object and makes the object motionless. To
achieve equilibrium, conditions are taken to
account. The first condition of equilibrium states
that the net force in all direction must be zero
3.Methodology
4.Results and Discussion
5.Conclusion
We can infer from the results that
according to the two conditions of equilibrium,
the resultant of the forces acting upon a body is
zero and that the counter clockwise and
clockwise moment are equal to each other.
Using the three strings with different weights
placed in different positions, we were able to
determine the equilibrant force. Therefore we
can say that the equilibrant force was the one
responsible for equilibrium. We can also
compute for the center of gravity as long as it is
in the state of equilibrium. The Plumb Line
Method, Balancing Method, and Computation
Method were used and were proven to be
precise.
6.Applications
7.References
[1] How to Determine the Center of Gravity of
Any Load. On March 4, 2017.
http://simscrane.com/how-determine-center-
gravity-any-load/
[2] Lesson 24: Equilibrium. On March 4, 2017.
http://www.studyphysics.ca/newnotes/20/unit01
_kinematicsdynamics/chp06_vectors/lesson24.ht
m
[3] The First Condition for Equilibrium. On
March 4, 2017. http://philschatz.com/physics-
book/contents/m42170.html
[4] The Second Condition for Equilibrium. On
March 4, 2017. http://philschatz.com/physics-
book/contents/m42171.html