FORCE BOARD -

FORCES IN
EQUILIBRIUM
Mechanical Principles
Introduction and Background
In this particular experiment we will learn about the equilibrium of forces acting in vertical
plane by taking into account three equations of equilibrium and we will learn experimentally
how to set a system of forces in equilibrium condition by simply changing the weights carried
by the strings and the angles between these strings. In that respect herewith applies the
Newton's first law which states that if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a
straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant speed unless it
is acted upon by a force. This postulate is known as the law of inertia. [1]

Newton's First Law

In this particular experiment we will learn about the equilibrium of forces acting in vertical
plane by taking into account three equations of equilibrium and we will learn experimentally
how to set a system of forces in equilibrium condition by simply changing the weights carried
by the strings and the angles between
these strings. In that respect herewith
applies the Newton's first law which
states that if a body is at rest or moving
at a constant speed in a straight line, it
will remain at rest or keep moving in a
straight line at constant speed unless it
is acted upon by a force. This postulate
is known as the law of inertia.

For example, a cup of coffee is resting

The external force of the hand will move the cup by creating unbalanced forces.
on a kitchen table. The force of gravity
pulling down is balanced by the force of the kitchen table pushing up on the cup of coffee.
Now to move the cup of coffee an external force must be applied to disrupt the balance.
Newton's first law of motion is also referred to as the law of inertia. Inertia is simply the
resistance to change in motion. In short, objects tend to keep doing what they are already
doing. [2]

Forces in Equilibrium
Newton wrote a set of laws of motion that describe how objects are affected by forces. The
first of these laws relates to the superposition of forces. The net force on an object is the sum
of the forces that act on it.

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This can also be written in summation notation,

In this notation, the Greek uppercase letter Σ ("sigma") is used to mean "the sum of" all
forces, and I is an index to identify each force in the sum.

The net force on an object is zero if all of these forces balance, and so the sum of forces is
zero,

If the net force is zero, then Newton's first law states that the object is in equilibrium. This
means that the object is not accelerating or decelerating, though it does not mean that object
can't be in motion. If the net force on an object is zero, it can move with a constant velocity.
If the object is initially at rest, then it will remain at rest. If it is initially in motion, then it will
continue to move at the same velocity.

Newton's first law states that when the vector sum of all forces acting on an object (the net
force) is zero, the object is in equilibrium. If the object is initially at rest, it remains at rest. If
it is initially in motion, it continues to move with constant velocity. [3]

Objectives
● To understand Newton's First Law that is the sum of all forces acting on an object must
be equal to zero.

 To develop a set of system forces in equilibrium condition with different masses and
identify the effect on the magnitude and direction of these forces.

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Methodology
Apparatus

 Force Board, fitted with light friction free pulleys

 Collection of hangers and masses
 Light weight cord

The three different set up systems configurations of the experiment:

Three equal forces: Four equal forces: Four unequal forces:

alculation, results and graphs

1st System (three equal masses)

Force = mass x acceleration of gravity (g)

(N) (kg) (m/s2)

The mass of the three forces are 70 grams each so

m = 70g  m = 70/1000  m = 0.07 kg

F = m × g  F = 0.07 x 9.81  F = 0.687 N

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F1 = F2 = F3 = 0.687 N

Resolving Horizontally

0.687 cos(29.5°) – 0.687 cos(31°) = 9.060 ×10−3 N

Resolving Vertically

0.687 sin(29.5°) + 0.687 sin(31°) – 0.687 = 5.126 ×10−3N

Resultant force is equal to the following equation

2 2
R = √ Fx2 + Fy 2 = ( 9.060 ×10−3 ) + ( 5.126 ×10−3 ) = 10.410 ×10−3 N
√
Fy 5.126× 10−3 −1 5.126 ×10
−3
tanθ= =
Fx 9.060 ×10−3
 θ=tan (
9.060 × 10−3 )
= 29.5°

Fx 9.060 ×10−3 −1 9.060 ×10

−3
tana = =
Fy 5.126× 10−3
a= tan (
5.126× 10−3
= 60.5° )

2nd System (Four equal masses)

The mass of the three forces are 70 grams each so

m = 70g  m = 70/1000  m = 0.07 kg

F = m × g  F = 0.07 x 9.81  F = 0.687 N

F1 = F2 = F3 = F4 = 0.687 N

Resolving Horizontally

0.687 cos(29.5°) + 0.687 cos(35°) – 0.687 cos(34°) – 0.687 cos(30°) =

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- 3.816 ×10−3 N

Resolving Vertically

0.687 sin(29.5°) + 0.687 sin(34°) – 0.687 sin(30°) – 0.687 sin(35°) =

- 15.087 ×10−3 N

Resultant force is equal to the following equation

2 2
R = √ Fx2 + Fy 2 = (−3.186 ×10−3 ) + (−15.087 ×10−3) = 15.420 ×10−3 N
√

Fy 15.087× 10−3 −1 15.087 ×10

−3
tanθ=
Fx
=
3.816× 10−3
 θ=tan (
3.816 ×10−3 )
= 75.806°

Fx 3.816× 10−3 −1 3.816× 10

−3
tana = =
Fy 15.087× 10−3
 a = tan (
15.087× 10−3 )
= 11.924°

3rd System (Four unequal masses):

The mass of the four forces are different so

50
 m1 = 50g  m1 =  m1 =0.05 kg
1000

F1 = m1 × g = 0.05 ×9.81  F1 = 0.491 N

70
 m2 = 70g  m2 =  m2 = 0.07 kg
1000

F2 = m2 × g = 0.07 ×9.81  F2 = 0.687 N

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 70
 m3 = 70g  m3 =  m3 = 0.07 kg
1000

F3 = m3 × g = 0.07 ×9.81  F3 = 0.687 N

60
 m4 = 60g  m4 =  m4 = 0.06 kg
1000

F4 = m4 × g = 0.06 ×9.81  F4 = 0.589 N

Resolving Horizontally

0.687 cos(34.5°) + 0.589 cos(37°) – 0.491 cos(29.5°) – 0.687 cos(27°) =

- 2.895×10−3N

Resolving Vertically:

0.491 sin(29.5°) + 0.687 sin(34.5°) – 0.589 sin(37°) – 0.687 sin(27°) =

- 35.459 ×10−3 N

Resultant force is equal to the following equation:

2 2
R = √ Fx2 + Fy 2 = (−2.895 ×10−3 ) + ( −35.459× 10−3 ) = 35.577 ×10−3 N
√
Fy 35.459× 10−3 −1 35.459 ×10
−3
tanθ=
Fx
=
2.895× 10−3
 θ=tan (
2.895 ×10−3 )
= 85.333°

Fx 2.895× 10−3 −1 2.895× 10

−3
tana = =
Fy 35.459× 10−3
 a = tan (
35.459× 10−3 )
= 4.667°

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Discussion:
This experiment was first carried out by testing 3 completely different systems
(experimentally) in order to develop an understanding of a force in equilibrium and identify
the effect on the magnitude and direction of the forces with different masses, in the first
system three equal masses were used whereas in the second and third systems four equal
masses and four unequal masses were used respectively. From the results obtained we can
conclude that for the first and the second systems with three equal masses and four equal
masses respectively both systems were in equilibrium since the resultant force was verified
from the calculations and it was very closed to zero (the very small differences in values is
due to some errors that took place during the experiment) where as in the third system with 4
unequal masses there is a considerable deviation from the calculated results thus the system
was not in equilibrium.
A theoretical model used to determine whether the system was in equilibrium is by using
equations. By taking into consideration the calculations carried out for each different system

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(three equal masses, four equal masses and four unequal masses), we can clearly see that
there are some deviations as far as the expected results are concerned. Another model used to
check whether the system was in equilibrium is graphically by drawing for each different
system a force polygon and calculate the resultant force. For any system in order to be
equilibrium the value of the resultant force should be equal to zero. From the results it is
shown again that there some deviations as far as the expected results are concerned.

Conclusions:
 All the objectives of the experiment have been successfully achieved fulfilled Newtons
first law that is the sum of all forces acting on an object must equal to zero.

 There are some deviations as far as the expected results are concerned when calculating
the resultant force theoretically and graphically due to some errors occurred during the
experiment.

References:

[1] https://www.britannica.com/science/Newtons-laws-of-motion

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