EQUILIBRIUM PHYSICS

The term equilibrium

implies that
The object moves with both
constant velocity and
constant angular velocity
relative to an observer in an
inertial reference frame
We deal here only with the special case in which both of these velocities are equal to zero. In this case, the object is in

what is called static equilibrium.

The two requirements for a body to be in equilibrium are as follows:

1. The vector sum of all the external forces that act on the body must be zero.

2. The vector sum of all external torques that act on the body, measured about any possible point, must also be

zero.

EQUILIBRIUM =Translational Equilibrium + Rotational Equilibrium

Stable Equilibrium Unstable Equilibrium Neutral Equilibrium

Potential Energy- minimum Potential Energy- maximum Potential Energy- constant

 The two requirements given by vector expressions are equivalent, in general, to six scalar equations: three

from the first condition for equilibrium and three from the second (corresponding to x, y, and z

components).

 Here, we restrict our discussion to situations in which all the forces lie in the xy plane. (Forces

whose vector representations are in the same plane are said to be coplanar.) With this restriction, we

must deal with only three scalar equations. Two come from balancing the forces in the x and y

directions. The third comes from the torque equation, namely that the net torque about a

perpendicular axis through any point in the xy plane must be zero. This perpendicular axis will

necessarily be parallel to the z axis,

 So the two conditions of the rigid object in equilibrium model provide the equations where the

location of the axis of the torque equation is arbitrary

 Regardless of the number of forces that are acting, if an object is in translational equilibrium and if the

net torque is zero about one axis, then the net torque must also be zero about any other axis. The

point can be inside or outside the boundaries of the object.

Que. Consider the object subject to the two forces of equal magnitude in figure. Choose the correct statement with

regard to this situation.

(a) The object is in translational equilibrium but not rotational equilibrium.

(b) The object is in rotational equilibrium but not translational equilibrium.

(c) The object is in both translational equilibrium and rotational equilibrium.

(d) The object is in neither translational equilibrium nor rotational equilibrium.

Que. Consider the object subject to the three forces in figure. Notice that the lines of action of all three forces pass

through a common point. Choose the correct statement with regard to this situation.

(a) The object is in translational equilibrium but not rotational equilibrium.

(b) The object is in rotational equilibrium but not translational equilibrium.

(c) The object is in both translational equilibrium and rotational equilibrium.

(d) The object is in neither translational equilibrium nor rotational equilibrium.

Que. Figure shows four overhead views of rotating uniform disks that are sliding across a frictionless floor. Three

forces, of magnitude F, 2F, or 3F, act on each disk, either at the rim, at the center, or halfway between rim and
center. The force vectors

rotate along with the disks,

and, in the "snapshots" of

Fig. point left or right.

Which disks are in equilibrium?

[a] [b] [c] [d]

Que. Figure shows an overhead view of a uniform stick on which four forces act. Suppose we choose a rotational axis

through point O, calculate the torques about that axis due to the forces, and find that these torques balance. Will the

torques balance if instead, the rotational axis is chosen to be at (a) point A (on the stick), (b) point B (on line with the

stick), or (c) point C (off to one side of the stick)? (d) Suppose, instead, that

we find that the torques about point O do not balance. Is there another

point about which the torques will balance?

RIGID OBJECT IN EQUILIBRIUM

When analyzing a rigid object in equilibrium under the action of several external forces, use the following procedure.

1. Conceptualize

Think about the object that is in equilibrium and identify all the forces on it. Imagine what effect each force

would have on the rotation of the object if it were the only force acting.

2. Categorize

Confirm that the object under consideration is indeed a rigid object in equilibrium. The object must have zero

translational acceleration and zero angular acceleration.

3. Analyze

Draw a diagram and label all external forces acting on the object. Try to guess the correct direction for any

forces that are not specified.

(I) Choose a convenient coordinate system:

Resolve all forces into rectangular components. Then apply the first condition for equilibrium, Remember to

keep track of the signs of the various force components.

(ii) Choose a convenient axis:

to calculate the net torque on the rigid object. Remember that the choice of the axis for the torque

equation is arbitrary; therefore, choose an axis that simplifies your calculation as much as

possible. Usually, the most convenient axis for calculating torques is one through a point at

which several forces act, so their torques around this axis are zero. If you don’t know a force

or don’t need to know a force, it is often beneficial to choose an axis through the point at

which this force acts. Apply the second condition for equilibrium. Solve the simultaneous equations for

the unknowns in terms of the known quantities.

Caution :
When using the particle under a net force model, the object on which forces act can be

represented in a free-body diagram with a dot because it does not matter where on the

object the forces are applied. When using the rigid object in equilibrium model, however, we

cannot use a dot to represent the object because the location where forces act is important
 in the calculation. Therefore, in a diagram showing the forces on an object, we must show

the actual object or a simplified version of it.

4. Finalize

Make sure your results are consistent with your diagram. If you selected a direction that leads to a negative

sign in your solution for a force, do not be alarmed; it merely means that the direction of the force is the

opposite of what you guessed. Add up the vertical and horizontal forces on the object and confirm that each

set of components adds to zero. Add up the torques on the object and confirm that the sum equals zero.

CENTRE OF GRAVITY

Whenever we deal with a rigid object, one of the forces we must

consider is the gravitational force acting on it, and we must

know the point of application of this force.

The combination of the various gravitational forces acting on all the

various mass elements of the object is equivalent to a single

gravitational force acting through this center of gravity

point. Therefore, to compute the torque due to the

gravitational force on an object of mass M, we need only

consider the force Mg acting at the objects center of gravity.

How do we find this special point? If we assume g is uniform over the object, the

center of gravity of the object coincides with its center of mass.

To see why, consider an object of arbitrary shape lying in the xy plane as illustrated in Figure. Suppose the object is

divided into a large number of particles of masses m1, m2, m3, . . . having coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), . . . .

Each particle contributes a torque about an axis through the origin equal in magnitude to the particle’s weight mg

multiplied by its moment arm. For example, the magnitude of the torque due to the force m1g1 is m1g1x1, where g1 is

the value of the gravitational acceleration at the position of the particle of mass m1. We wish to locate the center of
gravity, the point at which application of the single gravitational force Mg due to gravity at the location of the center of

gravity) has the same effect on rotation as does the combined effect of all the individual gravitational forces mi gi .

Equating the torque resulting from Mg CG acting at the center of gravity to the sum of the torques acting on the

individual particles gives

If we assume uniform g over the object (as is usually the case), the g factors cancel and we obtain

Equation shows that the center of gravity is located at the center of mass as long as g is uniform over the entire object.

Several examples in the next section deal with homogeneous, symmetric objects. The center of gravity for any such

object coincides with its geometric center.