Now that we've established that...
FULCRUM
PS: I believe many of you have seen a see-saw before and have
even played in one. That center mechanism that makes the
other end go down while your end goes up is an example of a
fulcrum
What is a fulcrum??
Sometimes a system of forces can succeed only in
causing a body to undergo rotation, and will not
produce any linear motion. Such a system is called
couple�
A couple is a system of two parallel and equal
but opposite forces not acting along the same
line.
Here, the resultant force is zero but the resultant
moment is not zero. (Take note)
The turning moment of a couple is the product of
one of the forces and the perpendicular distance
between the lines of action of the two forces.
Note that the moment of a couple is also called
“Torque”.
Moving on...
A body acted on by several forces is said to be in equilibrium
if it does not accelerate or rotate.
This means that the forces acting on the body along each
direction cancel each other out, i.e. the resultant force is zero.
For example, when a body is in any equilibrium, the total
forces acting upwards must equal the total forces acting
downwards, or the body would move vertically.
Equilibrium also means that the resultant moment about any
point is zero✅
The principle of moments states that if a body is in equilibrium
then the sum of the clockwise turning moments acting upon it
about any point equals the sum of the anticlockwise turning
moments about the same point.
When there are several forces acting on a body the resultant
moment on the body about any point O can be found by
finding the algebraic sum of the various moments.⚡
In this case, forces can move or tend to Resolving Vertically And Horizontally
move the body in a straight line, but they Ø When a body is in equilibrium, we can
can also have the effect of causing rotation. say that the algebraic sum of the vertical
We have to consider moments as well. components of all the forces acting must
NORMAL REACTIONS✨ be zero, i.e. the upward components
A body pressed onto a rigid, solid surface by must equal the downward components.
a force receives a reaction from the surface
which acts normally, or perpendicular, to the Ø Similarly, the algebraic sum of the
surface. horizontal components of all the forces
A simple example is a body resting on a table acting must be zero, i.e. the components
top, where the weight of the body downwards to the left must equal the components to
is balanced by a normal reaction upwards the right.
from the table, which is equal and opposite
(Newton's third law...Do you remember it?).
This applies in fact to components in any
direction, not just vertical and horizontal
For every action, there is an equal and
components. Please take note
opposite reaction
Let's proceed...
CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR DIFFERENT
OBJECTS
If a body is supported at this point(CG), it will
remain stable. The centre of gravity of any
uniform symmetrical object can easily be
determined, because it is at the centre of
the body.
Let's now look into Equilibrium of objects at rest...
1) Stable Equilibrium: A body is said
to be in a stable equilibrium if upon
slight displacement acted on it, it
tends to return to its original position.
2) Unstable Equilibrium: A body is
Types of Static Equilibrium said to be in an unstable equilibrium
if upon slight displacement acted on
There are three types of Static it, it does not return to its original
Equilibrium base on Stability of object position.
which are;
Ø Stable Equilibrium
3) Neutral equilibrium: A body is said
Ø Unstable Equilibrium
to be in a neutral equilibrium if upon
Ø Neutral Equilibrium slight displacement and it tends to
rotate around its centre of gravity.
STABLE
v A cone resting on its base Apex or pointed end.
v A racing car with low CG and wide base.
v A ball or sphere in the middle of a bowl.
UNSTABLE
v A cone resting on its vertex or pointed and
v A tightrope walker.
v A racing vehicle with high CG and narrow base.
v A ball or phere resting on an inverted bowl.
NEUTRAL
v A cone or cylinder on its side.
v A ball or sphere on a smooth horizontal table.
Now let's talk about the triangle of forces...
A) For the action of parallel coplanar forces
(i) The algebraic sum of the forces acting on
the body in any direction must be zero. In
other words, the sum of the upward forces must
be equal to the sum of downward forces, and
similarly for those forces along the other
directions.‼️
(ii) Moments: The algebraic sum of the
moments of all the forces acting about any
point must be zero.
In other words, the sum of clockwise moments
about any point must be equal to the sum of
anticlockwise moments about the same points.
This is also known as the principle of moments‼
️
Enough talking, let's try practical examples now...
Example 1:
The diagram shows a uniform meter rule
AB which balances horizontally at the
90cm mark when a mass of 0.2kg is
suspended from B. Calculate the mass of
the meter rule.
a) 0.05kg
b) 0.20kg
c) 0.80kg
d) 1.00kg
let's try another one...
Example 2: EOT SOLUTION
Given:
- The midpoint
- The distance between the mid-point
and a 10N force = 30cm
- The distance between the midpoint
and a 15N force on the other end to
A meter rule is pivoted at its mid-point
balance the metre rule horizontally = x
with a vertical force of 10N hanging from
the distance 30cm from the mid-point. At Recall that,
what distance must a 15N force hang to - Net clockwise moment about a point is
balance the ruler horizontally? equal to the net anticlockwise moment
a) 30cm about the same point.
b) 10cm ∴ 10 × 30 = 15 × x
c) 20cm 300 = 15x
d) 25cm x = 20cm.
Option C is polished!!!
let's try yet another one...
Example 3: EOT SOLUTION
A mirror of weight 75N is hung by a cord Remember your SOH CAH TOA
from a hook on the wall. If the chord Quick recap:
makes an angle of 30° with the horizontal, Sine = Opposite/Adjacent
the tension in the cord is? Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse
a) 1500N Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent
b) 250N Sin 30° = 75 / T
c) 150N T sin 30° = 75
d) 100N T × (0.5) = 75
T = 150N. Option C is flawless!!!
Example 4:Three concurrent forces act EOT SOLUTION
on a body at equilbrium as shown in the 60° + 150° + θ = 360 Using Lami's theorem
diagram below 210 + θ = 360 F1 / sin150 = 100 /sin60
θ = 360 - 210 F1 = 100sin150/sin60
θ = 150° F1 = (100 x 1/2)/√3 /2
F1 = 50 ÷√3/2
F1 = 50 × 2/√3 = 100/√3
Rationalize: Remember your surds?
100/√3 x √3 /√3
= 100√3/3 N
∴ F1 = 100√3/3N
The magnitudes of F2 and F1 respectively are
Also,
a) 50√3/3 N and 50√3/3N
F2 / sin 150 = 100 sin 60
b) 50√3/3 N and 100√3/3 N F2 = 100√3/3 N
c) 100√3/3 N and 100√3 N
d) 100√3/3 N and 100√3/3N Option D is fastidious!!!
Example 5: EOT SOLUTION
The net vertical force in the diagram Let's first resolve the two components
below is Resolving horizontal components:
30cos45°+25cos90°+20cos120°+20cos270°
30°
= 21+ 0 - 10 + 0 = 11
45°
Resolving vertical components:
30sin45°+25sin90°+20sin120°+20sin270°
= 21 + 25 + 17 - 20 = 43
a)40N
b)44N Now, let's find the resultant;
c)36N R= √112+ 432
d)42N R= √1970
R = 44N
Option B is Elegant!!!
