In this lecture youll learn

Chapter 12 Lecture

To describe the conditions

necessary for static
equilibrium

Static Equilibrium

To calculate forces and

torques needed to ensure
that a system is in static
equilibrium
To determine whether or not
an equilibrium is stable

Slide 12-2

Slide 12-1

Conditions for Static Equilibrium

Clicker Question
A bar has four forces,
forces all of the same magnitude,
magnitude exerted on
it, as shown. What is the sign of the torque about the axis of
rotation?

A system in static equilibrium undergoes neither rotational

nor linear acceleration.
If its at rest,, it remains at rest.
The conditions for static equilibrium are

No net force: Fi 0

No net torque: i ri Fi 0
Torques can be evaluated about any arbitrary point

axis

1) Torque is zero
2) Positive (ccw)
3) Negative (cw)

Clicker 12-4

Slide 12-3

Examples

Clicker Question
A ((static)
t ti ) mobile
bil h
hangs as shown
h
b
below.
l
Th
The rods
d are
massless and have lengths as indicated. The mass of
the ball at the bottom right is 1 kg
kg. What is the total
mass of the mobile?

1) 5 kg
?

2) 6 kg
1m

3) 7 kg
4) 8 kg
5) 9 kg

Slide 12-5

2m

1 kg
1m

3m

Clicker 12-6

Example

Clicker Question

A thin beam of negligible weight and length L is supported at

each end. A box weighing W is placed at a distance of L/4 from
the left end. How is the weight shared by the two ends?
Zero net force:
L/4

FL

N1 N 2 W

3L/4
N2

N1

A mass M is placed on a very light board supported at the

ends, as shown. The free-body diagram shows directions of
the forces, but not their correct relative magnitudes. What is
the ratio FR/FL?

Choosing the left end as the

rotational axis:

W L 4 N 2 L

(2/3)L

Mg

L/3

N2 W 4

Choosing the right end as the

rotational axis:

W 3L 4 N1 L

FR

1) 2/3
2) 1/3

N1 3W 4

3) 1/2
4) 2

Slide 12-7

Center of Gravity

Clicker 12-8

Clicker Question

The gravitational forces acting on all parts of

an object exert a torque on the object.
These forces act like a single force, equal
to the objects weight, acting at a point
called the center of gravity.
In a uniform gravitational field
field, the center of
gravity coincides with the center of mass.

A 1 kg ball is hung at the end of a rod 1 m long. If the

system balances at a point on the rod 0.25 m from the end
holding the mass, what is the mass of the rod?

1) 1/4 kg
Gravitational force due to a
single mass element
produces a torque about O:

1m

2) 1/2 kg

Finding the
center of gravity

3)) 1 kg
g

1kg

4) 2 kg
5) 4 kg
Clicker 12-10

Slide 12-9

Finding Center of Gravity of Human Body

Stability and Center of Gravity

People carrying heavy loads

automatically adjust their
posture so their center of
mass is over their feet.

Slide 12-11

Slide 12-12

Example

Clicker Question

A uniform beam of length

g L and mass m is mounted byy a small hinge
g on a
wall. The beam is held in a horizontal position by a cable that makes an
angle . The beam supports a sign of mass M suspended from its end.
Determine the tension FT in the supporting
g cable and the force that the
hinge exerts on the beam.
The sum of the forces must be zero:

F F
F F
x

Hx

FTx FHx FT cos 0

Hy

FT sin mg Mg 0

1.
1
2.
3.
4.
5.

The net torque about the hinge is zero:

L
FT sin L mg 2 MgL 0
Solve for FT and FH:

FT

M m 2 g
sin

FHx

M m 2 g cos

T = W/(2sin
T = W/(2cos
T = W/sin
T = W/cos
T = W/2

sin

FHy mg 2

FH

FHx FHy
2

2
Slide 12-13

Clicker Question

Slide 12-14

Example: A Leaning Ladder

At what angle will the ladder slip assuming the wall is
frictionless?

A woman who weighs 500 N is standing on a board

that weighs
g 100 N. The board is supported
pp
at each
end, and the support force at the right end is 3 times
bigger than the support force at the left end. If the
board is 8 m long,
long how far from the right end is the
woman standing?
1.
2.
3
3.
4.

A uniform, horizontal beam with weight W is attached at one

end to a wall by a hinge. The opposite end is supported by a
string attached to the ceiling. The string makes an angle off
with the horizontal. What is the tension in the string?

F
Forces
in
i both
b th di
directions
ti
sum tto zero:

Force, x: n1 n2 0
Force y: n1 mg 0
Force,
The torques are all perpendicular to
the plane of the page, so theres only
one torque equation:

4.0 m
2.0 m
2 m
2.7
1.6 m

L
Torque: Ln2 sin mgcos 0
2
Solve the three equations to get

tan

sin
1

cos 2

Slide 12-15

Clicker Question

Slide 12-16

Applications to Muscles and Joints

A ladder of weight WL leans against a wall

wall. The ladder has
rollers at the top so that the wall exerts a normal force only on
the top of the ladder. A person of weight WP slowly climbs the
ladder A free
ladder.
free-body
bod diagram for the ladder is sho
shown.
n The
ladder is more likely to slip when the person is:
FWall

WL

Fy
WP

Fx (friction)

A. Lower
B Higher
B.
Hi h
C. It doesnt matter
Clicker 12-17

Slide 12-18

Applications to Muscles and Joints

Types of Equilibrium
An equilibrium is stable if a slight disturbance from equilibrium
results in forces and/or torques that tend to restore the
equilibrium.
An equilibrium is unstable if a slight disturbance causes the
system to move away from the original equilibrium.

The angle at which the back is

bent places an enormous force
on the intervertebral discs at the
base of the spine, as the lever
arm for FM is so small.

Stable

Unstable

Neutral

Metastable

Slide 12-19

Conditions for Equilibrium and Stability

Slide 12-20

Summary

To be in equilibrium,
equilibrium there must be zero net force on an object
object.
Therefore the object must be at a maximum or minimum of
its potential energy curve:

dU
0 (condition for equilibrium)
dx

Static equilibrium requires zero net force and zero net torque
on a system:

Fi 0,
i ri Fi 0
0
Equilibria can be stable, unstable, neutrally stable, or
metastable.
metastable

For
F stable
t bl equilibrium,
ilib i
th
the object
bj t mustt b
be att a minimum:
i i

d 2U
0 (stable equilibrium)
d 2
dx
The condition for unstable equilibrium is

d 2U
0 (unstable
( t bl equilibrium)
ilib i )
dx 2
In two and three dimensions, an object
can be stable in one direction but not
another.

Slide 12-21

Slide 12-22