MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATIONS

KABUL UNIVERSITY
ENGINEERING FACULTY
CIVIL DEPARTMENT
ENGINEERING STATICS

ENGINEERING STATICS

Equilibrium of a Particle
Chapter 3

1 By: Wahidullah H.
 Condition for the Equilibrium of a Particle:
A particle is said to be in equilibrium if it remains at rest if originally at
rest, or has a constant velocity if originally in motion.

The Free-Body Diagram : A drawing that shows the particle with all
the forces that act on it is called a free-body diagram (FBD).
Procedure for Drawing a Free-Body Diagram

 Draw Outlined Shape.

 Show All Forces.
 Identify Each Force.

2 By: Wahidullah H.
 Procedure for Drawing a Free-Body Diagram
EXAMPLE 3.1: The sphere in Fig. 3–3 a has a mass of 6 kg and is
supported as shown. Draw a free-body diagram of the sphere, the cord CE ,
and the knot at C .
 Sphere.  Cord CE.

 Knot.

3 By: Wahidullah H.
 Coplanar Force Systems
If a particle is subjected to a system of coplanar forces that lie in the x–y
plane.

For equilibrium, these forces must sum to

produce a zero force resultant.

Note: that if a force has an unknown magnitude , then the arrowhead

sense of the force on the free-body diagram can be assumed . Then if the
solution yields a negative scalar , this indicates that the sense of the force
is opposite to that which was assumed.

4 By: Wahidullah H.
 Coplanar Force Systems…

For example, consider the free-body diagram of the particle subjected to

the two forces shown in Fig.

Here it is assumed that the unknown force F acts to the right to maintain
equilibrium. Applying the equation of equilibrium along the x axis, we
have

F = -10 N. Here the negative sign indicates that F must act to the left to
hold the particle in equilibrium.
5 By: Wahidullah H.
 Coplanar Force Systems…
EXAMPLE 3.2:Determine the tension in cables BA and BC necessary
to support the 60-kg cylinder in Fig. 3–6 a .

SOLUTION: Free-Body Diagram.

6 By: Wahidullah H.
 Coplanar Force Systems…

Equation ( 1 ) can be written as TA = 0.8839 TC Substituting this into Eq. ( 2 )

yields

7 By: Wahidullah H.
 Assignment

All problem solutions must include an FBD.

FANDAMENTAL PROBLEMS *: (2,4,6)

Problems: (1.10.20)

CONCEPTUAL PROBLEMS:(1.2.3)

8 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems

In Section 3.1 we stated that the necessary and sufficient condition for
particle equilibrium is

In the case of a three-dimensional force system

9 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…

EXAMPLE 3.5: A 90-lb load is suspended from the hook shown in

Fig. 3–10 a . If the load is supported by two cables and a spring having a
stiffness k = 500 lb/ft, determine the force in the cables and the stretch of
the spring for equilibrium. Cable AD lies in the x–y plane and cable AC
lies in the x–z plane.

10 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…
SOLUTION: The stretch of the spring can be determined once the force
in the spring is determined.

Free-Body Diagram.
Equations of Equilibrium.

11 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…

The stretch of the spring is therefore

NOTE: Since the results for all the cable forces are positive, each cable
is in tension; that is, it pulls on point A as expected, Fig. 3–10 b .

12 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…
EXAMPLE 3.7 Determine the force in each cable used to support the
40-lb crate shown in Fig. 3–12 a .

Free-Body Diagram.

Equations of Equilibrium. First we will

express each force in Cartesian vector form.
13 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…C
Since the coordinates of points B and C are B(- 3 ft, - 4 ft, 8 ft) and
C ( -3 ft, 4 ft, 8 ft), we have

Equilibrium requires

14 By: Wahidullah H.
 Three-Dimensional Force Systems…

Equation (2) states that FB = FC. Thus, solving Eq. (3 ) for FB and FC and
substituting the result into Eq. (1 ) to obtain, we have

15 By: Wahidullah H.
 Assignment

REVIEW PROBLEMS: (68.70.72.74.76)

16 By: Wahidullah H.