FORCES AND EQUILIBRIUM

OF BODIES
THE CONCEPT OF FORCE
WHAT IS FORCE?
FORCE – a push and
pull that produces a
change in the motion
of an object.
WHAT ARE THE REASONS WHY
FORCES DO NOT ALWAYS PUSH
OR PULL AN OBJECT?
 Some combinations of forces acting
on a object just balance each other,
and consequently, the object remains
stationary.
 Balanced forces on an object may
keep the object moving at a
constant speed in a straight line.
 Net unbalanced force acting on a
object can increase or decrease the
object’s speed and/or change it’s
direction of motion.
 Force affect the state of motion
of any object, whether the object is
moving or at rest.
 e.g push against a truck or to pull a
heavy piano.
FORCE VECTOR
 Force vector – arrow
 Point of Application – tail of the arrow
- length represents the magnitude of
force.
 Direction – arrow head
 EXAMPLE
 A force of 10 N acting eastward upon
point O can be represented by a ten-
unit-long arrow that runs eastward
from point O.
COMBINING FORCES
 Resultant Force (R) – combination of
two or more forces acting concurrently
(or simultaneously) at one point.
HOW DO CONCURRENT FORCES
DIFFER FROM PARALLEL
FORCES?
 Concurrent Force – a force whose
lines of action pass through a common
point.
 Parallel Force – forces that act in the
same or opposite direction and are
parallel to one another.
Forces Acting on a Straight Line
 Student pulls a rope with a force of 40 N
eastward while another student pulls the
same rope with a force of 60 N
eastward.
 The resultant force of two forces acting
in the same direction and on the same
point has a magnitude equal to the sum
of the forces.
Forces Acting on a Straight Line
 Student pulls a rope with a force of 40 N
eastward while another student pulls it
with a force of 60 N westward.
 The resultant force of two forces acting
in opposite directions but on the same
point has a magnitude equal to the
difference between the forces and
follows the direction of the force.
 Try This!
 Student pulls a rope with a force of 70 N
eastward while another student pulls the
same rope with a force of 40 N
eastward.
 Try This!
 Student pulls a rope with a force of 70 N
eastward while another student pulls it
with a force of 40 westward.
TORQUE
 Torque or moment of force – the
ability of a force to produce rotation.
 Torque is equal to the product of
the force F and the length of
moment of arm, or lever arm l, on
which the force acts.
Torque = force x distance
 Example
Calculate the torque produced by a
force of 6.0 N applied to the handled
of a door is 0.75 m from the hinge.
 Try this!
Calculate the torque produced by a
force of 7.5 N applied to the
handled of a door is 1.85 m from the
hinge.
 When you open a door pushing down on
the handle, you are exerting a force
acting at a distance (width of the
door) from the axis of rotation (the
hinge).
 The handle is placed at the edge of the
door farthest from the hinge to
increase the torque produced by the
force. (your push)
CONDITIONS OF
EQUILIBRIUM
 Equilibrium – is a condition in which
the state of motion of a body
remains the same.
 A body at rest or a body in motion at
a constant speed in a straight line.
(i.e, a = 0)
This equation signifies that the sum of all the
forces (net force) acting on an object in
equilibrium is zero.

If there are no unbalanced force acting on a

body, the vector sum of all the forces is
zero.
 Equilibrant force – is a force that
balances the resultant force when
applied at the same point.
 When two or more forces act
simultaneously at a point, the
equilibrant force balances the
resultant force when applied at the
same point.
 Parallel forces act on an object
 The torque produced in the clockwise
direction must be equal to the torque
produced in counterclockwise
direction.
 EXAMPLE
 A light horizontal beam 1.4 m long and
supported at its midpoint, is held in
equilibrium by two vertical downward
forces, one of which is 16 N acting 3.7 m
from one end. Find where the other force
of 12 N is acting.
 EXAMPLE
 A light horizontal beam 1.4 m long and
supported at its midpoint, is held in
equilibrium by two vertical downward
forces, one of which is 16 N acting 3.7 m
from one end. Find where the other force
of 12 N is acting.