Experiment 3: Conditions for Equilibrium Report
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila, Philippines
Abstract
The aim of this experiment is to
identify how different factors affect
equilibriant forces of a rigid body. The
objectives of this experiment is to: determine
the equilibrant force using the force table
and component method, to determine
unknown forces using the first condition and
second condition for equilibrium, to locate
the center of gravity of a composite body, to
demonstrate rotational equilibrium. The
results indicate that there is a 5.55% error
in the angle of position between the
theoretical and experimental values, while
the results in the center of gravity found that
balancing method is closer to the
computation of the center of gravity
compared to the plumb line method and that
there is around a 30% error between the
experimental weight and theoretical weight
of the bar.
1. Introduction
The great physicist, mathematician,
and scientist Isaac Newton developed the
Three Newton’s Law of Motion. The first
law of motion, which is related to conditions
of equilibrium, states that an object at rest
will remain at rest, and an object in motion
will continue moving with a constant
velocity, unless acted upon by an external
force.
The basic understanding of this law
allows us to understand the common
occurrences that happen in our everyday
lives, such as experiencing shoulder pain as
a result of unevenly distributed weight of
our belongings. The word 'equilibrium'
means balance, so the imbalance suggests a
failure to meet the conditions of equilibrium.
Static equilibrium occurs when an object is
at rest and stable, satisfying both
translational equilibrium and rotational
equilibrium. This implies that static
equilibrium must possess a net force of zero
for translational equilibrium and a net torque
of zero for rotational equilibrium,
respectively.
The distribution of weight,
concentrated on one shoulder only, affects a
person's stability and is related to another
concept called the center of gravity. It is
described as the point where the total weight
is concentrated. If the weight of the
belongings, which is exerting downward
force, is located far from the center of
gravity, it can create rotational force on the
body to counteract the imbalance.
Therefore, the experiment has four
objectives: (1) to determine the equilibriant
force table and component method, (2) to
determine unknown forces using the first
condition and second condition, (3) to locate
the center of gravity of an asymmetrical
composite body using three different method
(plumb line method, balancing method, and
computation method) and (4) to demonstrate
rotational equilibrium.
2. Theory
In Newton’s first law of motion, it is
stated that an object at rest will remain at
rest, while an object in motion will remain
in motion with a constant velocity unless
acted upon by a net external force. In other
terms an object will remain in equilibrium
until disturbed by an external force. In
equilibrium, the summation of all external
forces applied to a body equates to zero;
∑F = 0 → ∑Fx = 0; and ∑Fy = 0
Meanwhile, in Newton’s second law
of motion, it is stated that the acceleration of
an object as produced by a net force is
directly proportional to the magnitude of the
net force, in the same direction as the net
force, and inversely proportional to the mass
of the object. In relation to rotational
motion, the location of the axis of rotation
and the direction of the force applied
equates to the amount of torque applied.
For a body to be in rotational
equilibrium, the summation of all external
torques applied to a body equates to zero.
∑𝜏 =0
Where, ∑ means summation; 𝜏
means torque and is expressed as the
magnitude of force ⋅ length of lever arm.
𝜏=F⋅l
Lastly, the center of gravity of a
body is the point where torque caused by the
weight of the body is calculated from.
𝑊1𝑥1+𝑊2𝑥2+...
𝑥𝑐𝑔 =
𝑊1+𝑊2+...
3. Methodology
In this experiment, three activities
were conducted.
The first activity utilized a force
table and its corresponding accessories: 3
pans, as well as 2 weights of 100g and 150g
repectively, and a phone charger adapter.
First, on the 30 and 200 degree marks on the
force table, pan A and B were placed
respectively. The 100g weight was placed on
pan A while pan B held the 150 g weight.
With this, TA and TB, the tensions acting in
the string from the pan’s weight and the
added weight, were recorded. The tensions
for pan A and B’s strings were balanced
through placing a phone charger adapter to
act as weight on pan C and moved around
the table until the pin in the silver ring was
exactly at the center, which denoted that the
tensions are balanced. The magnitude and
position of the equilibrant were then
recorded. The theoretical equilibriant of the
two tensions was solved by component
method, in which the tensions of TA and TB
were broken down into their horizontal and
vertical components, then added together to
find the resultant force which was converted
into the equilibriant by simply changing its
direction. The percent error was then
computed by subtracting the experimental
value with the theoretical value, dividing it
by the theoretical value, and multiplying this
all by 100.
The second activity was performed
using a piece of cardboard, two pens, a piece
of yarn, and a weighing scale. To start, the
cardboard was cut out into a circle shape
with a diameter of 10 cm and a square shape
also with a size of 10 cm. Each shape was
weighed using the weighing scale, with the
circle weighing 4.9g and the square
weighing 5.7g. The circle and square were
then attached to each other side by side
using masking tape. Then the plumb line
method was utilized, wherein a hole was
poked in the top left corner of the square,
one end of a yarn was inserted into the hole
and the other end was tied to a ballpoint pen.
The composite figure was then allowed to
hang in the air as a member held the short
excess of yarn from the side that was tied to
the hole in the cardboard figure. The
ballpoint pen naturally moved towards the
center of gravity, and the spot on the
composite figure directly in front of the
outstretched yarn was marked with another
pen. This marks the center of gravity for the
whole composite figure. To make sure of
this, the center of gravity is measured again
using the balancing method in which the
composite figure was balanced on top of a
member’s pointer figure repeatedly through
trial and error until it remained stable on top
of the finger and that is now considered the
center of gravity. This section is marked
again with a pen. Then, the position of the
center of gravity is determined by
coordinates, with the left most side being the
y-axis, and the bottom side being the x-axis.
Afterwards, the x-coordinate for the actual
center of gravity is computed by adding the
product of square’s weight and measured
x-coordinate and the product of circle’s
weight and measured x-coordinate, divided
by the sum of the weights of the circle and
square. The y-coordinate for the actual
center of gravity is computed in the same
way, but the x-coordinates are exchanged
with the measured y-coordinates from the
experiments.
In Activity 3, an aluminum bar, a
cylinder, a spring scale, a weighing scale
and a piece of yarn were utilised. Both the
aluminum bar and cylinder were first
weighed using the weighing scale. Next, the
aluminum bar’s center of gravity was first
located and marked by a balancing method
similar to Activity 2. One end of the
aluminum bar was tied to with the yarn
string, and the other end was attached to the
spring scale. Due to the lack of a force
board, both the yarn and spring scale were
held upright by a member to help the
aluminum bar assume a horizontal position.
The cylinder was then placed 5.0cm away
from the spring scale end of the bar. By
then, as long as the bar stayed in a horizontal
position, it was assumed that the the forces
acting on the bar are now balanced. A free
diagram was then drawn of this position.
The experimental weight of the bar was then
computed by subtracting the product of the
theoretical value from the spring scale and
the length of the distance from the opposite
end of the bar to the spring scale and the
product of the weight of the cylinder and the
length of the distance from the opposite end
of the bar to the cylinder, divided by the
length of the distance from the opposite end
of the bar towards the position of the bar’s
center of gravity. Comparing this result with Θ = tan-1|(∑Y)/(∑X)|
the theoretical weight of the bar, the percent Θ = tan-1|(∑-0.029)/(∑0.54)|
error was computed through subtracting the ΘR = 2.12°
ΘR = 180° - 2.12°
experimental weight of the bar with the
ΘR = 177.88°
theoretical weight of the bar, dividing this
with the theoretical weight of the bar, and ΘE = -ΘR
then multiplying the dividend by 100. ΘE = 360° - 2.12°
ΘE = 357.88°

4. Results and Discussion % error = |(E - T)/T| X 100

% error = |(0.57- 0.54)/0.54| X 100
% error = 5.55%
Table 1. Tension forces and Equilibrant
for the first condition of equilibrium

MAGNITUDE
Table 2. Collated center of gravity using 2
TENSION (N) POSITION (°) methods
TA 1.13 N 30° N of E Center of Gravity

TB 1.62 N 200° S of W Method x-coordinate y-coordinate

Experimentll plumb line

Equilibrant 0.57 N 369° N of E method 9.5 5.5

Theoretical balancing
Equilibrant 0.54 N 2.12° S of W method 9.1 4.8

% Error 5.55% computation 9.62 5

Table 3. Data for the Aluminum bar

Table 1.2. Computation for the first Activity
condition of equilibrium reading of
spring scale Free body
X Y
(N) 1.23 N diagram
TAY=
Weight of
TAX= 1.13cos30 1.13sin30=
cylinder (N) 0.49 N
TA = 0.98N 0.57N
Experimental
tTBX= TBY=
weight of bar
1.62cos200 = 1.62sin200 =
(N) 1.6205
TB 1.52N 0.55N
Theoretical
∑X = TAX+TBX ∑X = TAY+TBY
weight of bar
∑X = 0.98NN + ∑X = 0.571N +
(N) 1.24
-1.52N -0.55N
∑X = -0.54N ∑X = 0.02N % Error 29.03%

FR =√(〖(∑X〗^2)+〖(∑Y〗^2))
FR=√(〖(-0.54〗^2)+〖(0.02〗^2))
FR = 0.54N Table 1 shows the forces, position, % error
as well as experimental and theoretical
equilibrant of tension A (TA) and tension B
(TB). Provided that Pan A, and Pan B are
placed 30° (1.13 N) and 200° (1.62N),
respectively, Pan C must be kept at 369°
(experimental) with a magnitude of 0.57 N. Table
1.2 includes the computations for the %
error which shows that there is a 5.55%
error in the angle of position. This implies
that there is a small percentage of error
between the actual results and theoretical
value.
Table 2 shows the x and y coordinates of the
center of gravity of the combined shapes
(circle and square) using the plumb line
method (9.8 , 5) and the balancing method
(9 , 5) which are both quite near the
computed actual center of gravity (9.27 , 5).
Table 3. Presents the reading of the spring
scale (0.98 N), weight of the cylinder (0.49
N) and % error. The experimental and
theoretical weight of the bar are 1.1025N
and 0.85N, respectively. Additionally,
computation shows that the % error between
the two weights is 29.71%.
5. Conclusion
For this experiment we conducted three
activities that will aid us in understanding
the law of motion, specifically the
conditions of equilibrium. All the objectives
set before the experiment were met by the
group in which we are able to determine the
equilibriant force table, the unknown forces
using the first and second condition, to
locate the center of gravity from one point to
another and its rotation. Lastly, we have also
learned the importance of equilibrium and
balance.
6. Applications
1. State the first condition for
equilibrium. If a body is in
equilibrium, are there no forces
acting on it?
The first condition for equilibrium or
also known as the condition for translational
equilibrium states that the vector sum of all
forces acting on an object must be zero. This
means that if an object is in equilibrium, the
net force acting on the object is zero. The
equation used for this condition is ∑F = 0.
For an object to be in equilibrium, both
forces must be equal in magnitude and
opposite in direction. There can be multiple
forces acting on a body but they must be
balanced in a way that the vector sum is
zero.
2. The Russell traction system shown
below is used for a fractured
femur. Identify the forces acting on
the femur. If the weight hang is
5.0kg, find the force needed to
immobilize the femur. What will
supply this force?
Cable tension:
T = (5.0kg)(9.8m/s2)
T = 49N
T1: 26° N of W following situations? a) His upper
Tx1 = -49cos26° right extremity is amputated. b)
Tx1 = -44 N He carries all his books using the
Ty1 = 49sin26° right arm only.
Ty1 = 21.5 N If the following situations were to
occur this is what will most likely happen:
T2: 12° N of W a.) If a person’s upper right extremity is
Tx2 = -49cos12° amputated then helf or most of this body
Tx2 = -47.9 N mass will be lost resulting to the shift of
Ty2 = 49sin12° their center of gravity to their left side
Ty2 = 10.2 N causing an imbalance.
b.) If a person carries all his books with the
T3: 12° S of W use of his right arm, their center of gravity
Tx3 = -49cos12° would then shift to his right arm due to the
Tx3 = -47.9 N weight of the carried books.
Ty3 = -49sin12°
Ty3 = -10.2 N 4. The human body is a mechanical
system designed by God and
∑Fx = Tx1 + Tx2 + Tx3 consists mostly of levers. Give
∑Fx = (-44N) + (-47.9N) + (-47.9N) examples of these “ human levers.”
∑Fx = -139.8N One example of “human levers” we
have in the human body is the
∑Fy = Ty1 + Ty2 + Ty3 atlanto-occipital joint which is the joint that
∑Fy = (21.5N) + (10.2N) + (-10.2N) is formed by the top of our vertebral column
∑Fy = 21.5N and skull that helps in moving the head
backwards or also known as neck extension.
Resultant Force =√(∑Fx)2 + (∑Fy)2 Another example is the base of our skull that
Resultant Force = √(-139.8N)2 + (21.5N)2 serves as a fulcrum when we nod our head.
Resultant Force = 141.4N
7. References
∑𝐹𝑦
Θ = tan-1 ( ∑𝐹𝑥 ) [1] Centre of Gravity - Detailed explanation,
21.5𝑁
calculation, FAQs. (2023, March 22).
Θ = tan-1( 139.8𝑁 ) BYJUS.
Θ = 8.7° https://byjus.com/physics/centre-of-gravity/

The force pulling the leg/femur is 141.4N at [2] Newton’s Laws of Motion - Three Laws
an angle of 8.7° of Motion Explanation, Examples. (2023,
June 14). BYJUS.
3. What happens to the center of https://byjus.com/physics/laws-of-motion/
gravity of a person under the