Lab #1 –DIMENSIONAL STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

Cheyanne Green 2108119

Lecturer: Mr. Anil Thomas

MEE2018

September 22, 2022

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 ABSTRACT

In this experiment two-dimensional static equilibrium was explored. The aim was to examine the

static equilibrium of a body undergoing the action of several concurrent forces and to prove that

the resultant force of the system of forces equates to zero when at rest. Both members of the

group added different weights to the systems weight hanger and recorded the constructed a force

system on the drawing paper. The subsequently obtained force polygon contained several

experimental errors which caused the sum of the forces not to sum to zero.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENT PAGE
Nomenclature…………………………………………………………………….4

Objectives………………………………………………………………………...5

Theory…………………………………………………………………………….6

Apparatus…………………………………………………………………………8

Procedure…………………………………………………………………………9

Results……………………………………………………………………………10
 Table 1: Showing Forces and Angles…………………………………….10
 Table 2: Measured and Calculated Values……………………………….10
 Table 3: The Uncertainty in angles………………………………………10
 Table 4: Uncertainty in the magnitude of forces………………………....11
Discussion………………………………………………………………………..12

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………..13

References………………………………………………………………………..14

Appendix B………………………………………………………………………15

Appendix C………………………………………………………………………17

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 NOMENCLATURE

Resultant Force = F x

Resultant Force in x-axis = F Rx

Resultant Force in y-axis = F Ry

Force = F 1

Force 2 = F 2

Force 3 = F 3

Force 4 = F 4

Force 5 = F5 F 5

Newton = N

Summation = ∑

Sum of Forces in x-axis = ∑ F x

Sum of Forces in y-axis = ∑ F y

Gravity as 9.81 m/s-2 = g

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 OBJECTIVES

To study static equilibrium under the action of several concurrent forces and verify that the

resultant of a system of forces acting on a body at rest equates to zero.

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 THEORY

A particle is said to be in equilibrium when the resultant of all forces acting on the particle is

equal to zero. Therefore, a particle is in equilibrium when it satisfies Newton's first law of

motion, which states that all objects will remain in equilibrium or at rest unless acted upon by an

external force.

When all forces acting on an object are on the same plane, they are known as coplanar, this is

exactly what happens in a coplanar force system. These forces may be:

 Concurrent - A concurrent coplanar force system has two or more forces whose lines of

action all converge on a common point.

 Parallel – This coplanar force system contains two or more forces whose lines of action are

all parallel

 Non-concurrent/Non-parallel - This system has several forces which do not meet at a single

point and none of which are parallel.

To achieve equilibrium in a coplanar force system certain condition must be achieved. The sum

of forces in both planes must total to zero and the sum of the moments of the Z axis should be

equal to zero.

A free-body diagram is a simplified representation of all the forces that act an object and the

direction the forces are acting. To draw a free-body diagram the steps should be followed: make

a sketch of the object, locate and place a dot in the center of this sketch to represent the point that

all forces act, next, determine the forces that act on the object and label them on the diagram.

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The differences between a particle and a rigid body is that a rigid body can experience both rotational and

translational motion whereas a particle can experience only one translational motion. As well as the fact

that rigid body does not or change its shape due to any external loads.

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 APPARATUS

1. Force Board

2. Tripod Stand

3. Cord And an Assortment Of Weight Hangers

4. Weights

5. Drawing Paper and Thumb Tacks

6. Meter Rule.

Subsystems

SENSING ELEMENT -This is the initial equilibrium state of the force system

SIGNAL MODIFICATION – The weights added to the system

THE INDICATOR -The observation of another state of equilibrium

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 PROCEDURE

1. Using thumbtacks a blank sheet of paper was pinned to the force board and the approximated

center was marked.

2. The cord was then placed in over the pulleys and adjusted.

3. The weights were then placed on the weight hangers that were attached to the loose end of the

cords.

4. The point of intersection of all cords, along with two points behind each cord were marked.

5. The value of the forces acting at each hanger was recorded in a table alongside with the weight

of the hanger.

6. The paper was removed, and all marked points were connected, and all met at one point.

7. The angles between the forces and a horizontal reference line was then measured.

8. the data was recorded on the data sheet.

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 RESULTS

FORCE, N F 1= 4.46 F 2=4.78 F 3=2.68 F 4=1.98 F 5=2.38

ANGLES (θ) 32 30 25 90 36

TABLE 1: SHOWING FORCES AND ANGLES

FORCE (N) Fx UNCERTAINT Fy UNCERTAINTY

F1 -2.363 0.059 3.782 0.094

F2 2.39 0.059 4.139 0.103

F3 1.132 0.028 -2.428 0.061

F4 1.98 0.049 0 0

F5 -1.398 0.034 -1.925 0.048

Summation 1.741 3.568

Resultant 3.97

TABLE 2: MEASURED AND CALCULATED VALUES

FORCE (N) Fx Fy

F1 0.848° ± 0.025° 0.529° ± 0.025°

F2 0.866° ± 0.025° 0.5° ± 0.025°

F3 0.906° ± 0.025° 0.422° ± 0.025°

F4 0° ± 0.025° 1° ± 0.025°

F5 0.809° ± 0.025° 0.587° ± 0.025°

TABLE 3: THE UNCERTAINTY IN ANGLES

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 FORCE (N) Fx Fy

F1 0.059 0.094

F2 0.059 0.103

F3 0.028 0.061

F4 0.049 0

F5 0.035 0.048

TABLE 4: UNCERTAINTY IN THE MAGNITUDE OF FORCES

Equations Used:

Resultant of Force in x-axis - F = F +F +F +F +F

Resultant of Force in x-axis - F = F +F +F +F +F

Resultant Force - F = √(F )+(F )

Angle of resultant force = tan (R /R )

Uncertainty in angles = (sin θ ± 0.025 or cos θ ± 0.025).

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 Discussion

In this experiment, to determine the resultant along with the necessary calculations the polygon

of forces method was applied. Using a scale of 1N to 4cm, the polygon was effectively solved.

Due to error in the polygon, it was unable to close. This was validated through the calculation

process when the resultant force calculated is equal 3.97N.

The errors that were encountered were parallax error when reading the level to confirm that the

force the board was precisely levelled and environmental error due to the table being shifted that

would result in disturbing the system thus giving false readings as well as the wind affecting the

free weights. The difference between the experimental values and the theoretical values is that

the forces did not sum to zero. If all errors were removed in the experiment, the system would

have reached equilibrium. The forces summed to 1.741N in the x component and 3.568N in the y

component.

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 CONCLUSION

It should be stated that the particle in equilibrium in the experiment should sum to zero

on the condition that experimental errors are ignored. The magnitude of forces acting on the

system equates to 3.97N when the conditions of experimental errors have been met. The system

of forces should be levelled before any readings are taken, and ensure the cords are not resting on

the force board when taking readings. Limited contact with the force cord should be made. To

prevent external influence of the reading, the system is allowed to fall freely before recording

any values.

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 REFERENCES

https://www.phyley.com/freebodydiagram#:~:text=You%20can%20draw%20a%20free,forces

%20that%20act%20on%20it

https://byjusexamprep.com/coplanar-force-system-i

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APPENDIX B

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 APPENDIX C

Sample Calculations:

Breaking down a Force into its x and y components using F1 as sample.

X-Component = F1* Cos θ

= 4.46N * -Cos 32 o

= -2.363

Y-Component = F1 * Sin θ

= 4.46N N * -Sin 32 o

= 3.782N

Resultant Force (FR) = √𝛴𝐹𝑥 + 𝛴Fy

Where FRx = 1.741, FRy = 3.568

Therefore FR = 3.972N

Angle at which the resultant Force is acting

ɸ = tan -1 (FRx / FRx)

= tan-1 (1.741/ 3.568)

= tan-1 (0.487)

= 25.966

From the positive x-axis ɸ = 360 + (25.966) = 385.966

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Uncertainty in the Angles, using F1 as a sample.

(sin θ ± 0.025 or cos θ ± 0.025)

X-Component

F1=Cos32° ±0.025

= 0.848° ± 0.025

Y-Component

F1 = Sin 32° ± 0.025

= 0.529° ± 0.025

Calculating the Uncertainty in the Magnitude of Forces

X-Component for F1

F1 = 0.025 * -2.363

= ± 0.059 N

Y-Component for F1

F1 = 0.025 *3.782

= ± 0.094 N

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