Heavenly Father,

We come to you today

asking for your guidance,
wisdom, and support
as we begin our class.
Help us engage
in meaningful discussion.
Allow us to grow closer as a group
and nurture the bonds of our class
Amen
2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
• When all the forces that act upon an object are balanced,
then the object is said to be in a state of equilibrium. The
forces are considered to be balanced if the rightward
forces are balanced by the leftward forces and the upward
forces are balanced by the downward forces.
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
• If an object is at equilibrium, then the forces are balanced.
• Thus, the net force is zero and the acceleration is 0𝑚/𝑠 2 .
• Objects at equilibrium must have an acceleration of 0𝑚/𝑠 2 .
• Having an acceleration of 0𝑚/𝑠 2 does not mean the object
is at rest. An object at equilibrium is either ...
i. at rest and staying at rest, or
ii. in motion and continuing in motion with the same speed
and direction.
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
• If an object is at rest and is in a state of equilibrium, then it is at
"static equilibrium."
• If the object is at equilibrium, then the net force acting upon the
object should be 0 Newton.
• For example, consider the picture below that hangs on a wall.
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
• The picture is in a state of equilibrium, and thus all the forces
acting upon the picture must be balanced.
• That is, all horizontal components must add to 0 Newton and all
vertical components must add to 0 Newton.
• The leftward pull of cable A must balance the rightward pull of
cable B
• and the sum of the upward pull of cable A and cable B must
balance the weight of the sign.
• Suppose the tension in both of the cables is measured to be 50 N and that the
angle that each cable makes with the horizontal is known to be 30 degrees.
What is the weight of the sign?
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
• The weight of the sign is equal to the sum of the upward components of the tension in the two
cables.
• Thus, a trigonometric function can be used to determine this vertical component.
• A diagram and accompanying work is shown below.

• Since each cable pulls upwards with a force of 25 N, the total upward pull of the sign is 50 N.
• Therefore, the force of gravity (also known as weight) is 50 N, down. The sign weighs 50 N.
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Example 2
Consider the symmetrical hanging of a sign as shown below. If the sign is
known to have a mass of 5 kg and if the angle between the two cables is
100 degrees, determine the tension in the cable. (𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑔 = 9.8𝑁/𝐾𝑔)
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Solution
 The weight is 49 N , so each cable pulls upwards with 24.5 N of force.
Since the angle between the cables is 1000 , then each cable must make a
400 angle with the horizontal.
The triangle below illustrates these relationships.
BREAK
5 minutes
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Example 3
The following picture is hanging on a wall.
Use trigonometric functions to determine the weight of the picture.
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Solution
• The weight of the sign is 42.4 N.
• The tension is 30.0 N and the angle is 45 degrees.
• Thus,
• sin 450 = 𝐹Τ30.0𝑁
• The proper use of algebra leads to the equation:
0
• 𝐹 = (30.0 𝑁) • 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 45 = 21.2 𝑁
• Each cable pulls upward with 21.2 N of force. Thus, the
sign must weigh twice this 42.4 N
 2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Example 4
The sign below hangs outside the physics classroom, advertising the most
important truth to be found inside. The sign is supported by a diagonal cable
and a rigid horizontal bar. If the sign has a mass of 50 kg, then determine the
tension in the diagonal cable that supports its weight.
2. Statics and Laws of Equilibrium
Solution
• The tension is 980 newtons.
• Since the mass is 50 kg, the weight is 490 N. Since there is only
one "upward-pulling" cable, it must supply all the upward force.
• This cable pulls upwards with approximately 490 N of force.
Thus,
• 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 300 = (490 𝑁 ) / (𝐹).
• Proper use of algebra leads to the equation
• 𝐹 = (490 𝑁) / [ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 300 ] = 980 𝑁.