Experiment No.

FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

OBJECTIVE: To verify the first condition of equilibrium.

MATERIALS: Dynamic kit stand, protractor, weights, pulley system, clamps, ruler,
hard cardboard, bond papers, pencil

THEORY:
The first condition by which an object remains at equilibrium (either at rest, or in
straight – line motion with constant speed) states that the net external force acting on the
object must be zero. Any object hangs at rest if its weight is counteracted by other forces,
so that the vector sum of all concurrent forces along the vertical and the horizontal
directions is zero. In this activity, the weights hanging on the left, right, and center objects
are considered as tensions on the left, right, and center cords, respectively. If the system
remains at rest, then the sum of the upward components of the tensions in the left and
right cords is equal in magnitude to the weight of the center object. Likewise, the leftward
component of the tension in the left cord is equal in magnitude to the rightward component
of the tension in the right cord.

OBJECTIVE:
A. Graphical Method:
1. Set up the dynamic kit stand with clamps and pulley system as shown in Fig. 1.

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2. Hang a number of weights on the left, center and right cords such that the center weight is less
than the sum of the left and right weights.

3. Give the system a little jerk and let it come to rest.

4. With the use of a hard cardboard, trace the lines of the cords on the bond paper. See Figure 2.

5. With a convenient scale of unit length for every weight, (2 cm = 1 weight), construct graphically
the vector sum of the left, right and center cords. Use the graphing paper provided.

6. Complete table A and reproduce the graphical vector sum of Step No. 5 just below table A for
your final report.

B. Analytical Method:

1. Reproduce the lines of the traced cords of Step #4 in Procedure A in a rectangular

coordinate system, letting the y – axis coincide with the center line of the cord. Use the
same scale adapted in Procedure A.

2. Using the protractor, measure the angle made by the left and right lines with reference
to the x – axis of the rectangular coordinate system.

3. Representing each weight by 2 cm = a unit vector, analytically apply the first condition
of equilibrium to the three forces.

4. Complete table B, showing all your computations in its completion.

Figure 2.

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Name: Date:
Course, Year, & Section: Group No. :

Experiment No. 3

FIRST CONDITION OF EQUILIBRIUM

Table A. Scale: 2 cm = 1 weight

NUMBER OF LENGTH OF ANGLE IN DEGREES BETWEEN

CORD
WEIGHTS TRACED LINES CORDS OF

LEFT (L) LEFT and RIGHT

RIGHT (R) RIGHT and CENTER

CENTER (C) CENTER and LEFT

Graphical construction of vectors:

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Table B.

Number Angle with Components of Forces Along

Length
Cord of respect to
(cm) x – axis y – axis
weights +x – axis

Left

Right

Cente
r

Total

Resultant R = R =

COMPUTATIONS:

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ANALYSIS OF DATA/QUESTIONS:

1. In Step 2 of method A, why should the center weight be less than the sum of the left and
right weights?

2. The net external force acting on an object is zero. Is it possible for the object to be
traveling with a velocity that is not zero? Justify your answer.
YES. If the net external force acting on an object is zero, it is possible for the object to be
traveling with a nonzero velocity. According to Newton’s 1 st and 2nd laws, if the net external
force Fnet is zero, the acceleration a is also zero. If the acceleration is zero, the velocity must be
constant, both in magnitude and in direction. Thus, an object can move with a constant nonzero
velocity when the net external force is zero.

APPLICATIONS:

1. The steel I beam in the drawing has a weight of

8.00 kN and is being lifted at constant velocity.
What is the tension in each cable attached to
its ends?
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 70o 70o

2. In the figure below, find T1 and T2.

5m
1 2
T2
T1 3m
4m

500 N

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