Equilibrium Applications of Newton’s Laws of Motion

Have you ever been so upset that it took days to recover your “equilibrium?” In this context, the word “equilibrium” refers to a balanced state of mind, one that is not changing wildly. In physics, the word “equilibrium” also refers to a lack of change, but in the sense that the velocity of an object isn’t changing. If its velocity doesn’t change, an object is not accelerating. Our definition of equilibrium, then, is as follows:

	Definition of Equilibrium
	* An object is in equilibrium when it has zero acceleration.

The concept of equilibrium arises directly from Newton’s second law. The Concepts-at-a-Glance chart in Figure 4-28, which is an enhanced version of the chart in Figure 4-9, illustrates this important point. When the acceleration of an object is zero (

= 0 m/s²), the object is in equilibrium, as the upper-right part of the chart indicates. This section presents several examples involving equilibrium situations. On the other hand, when the acceleration is not zero (

≠ 0 m/s²), we have a non-equilibrium situation, as the lower-right part of the chart suggests. Section 4.12 deals with nonequilibrium applications of Newton’s second law.

Figure 4-28 CONCEPTS AT A GLANCE Both equilibrium and nonequilibrium problems can be solved with the aid of Newton’s second law. For equilibrium situations, such as the gymnast holding the “Iron Cross” position in the left photograph, the acceleration is zero (

). For nonequilibrium situations, such as the freely falling gymnast in the right photograph, the acceleration is not zero (

). (© Both, Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images).

Figure 4-29 (a) A traction device for the foot. (b) The free-body diagram for the pulley on the foot.

Since the acceleration is zero for an object in equilibrium, all of the acceleration components are also zero. In two dimensions, this means that

and

. Substituting these values into the second law (

and

) shows that the x component and the y component of the net force must each be zero. In other words, the forces acting on an object in equilibrium must balance. Thus, in two dimensions, the equilibrium condition is expressed by two equations:


	(4.9a)


	(4.9b)

In using Equations 4.9a and 4.9b to solve equilibrium problems, we will use the following five-step reasoning strategy:

BOX 4.1

Reasoning Strategy

Analyzing Equilibrium Situations

1.	Select the object (often called the “system”) to which Equations 4.9a and 4.9b are to be applied. It may be that two or more objects are connected by means of a rope or a cable. If so, it may be necessary to treat each object separately according to the following steps.

2.	Draw a free-body diagram for each object chosen above. Be sure to include only forces that act on the object. Do not include forces that the object exerts on its environment.

3.	Choose a set of x, y axes for each object and resolve all forces in the free-body diagram into components that point along these axes. Select the axes so that as many forces as possible point along the x axis or the y axis. Such a choice minimizes the calculations needed to determine the force components.

4.	Apply Equations 4.9a and 4.9b by setting the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components of the forces each equal to zero.

5.	Solve the two equations obtained in Step 4 for the desired unknown quantities, remembering that two equations can yield answers for only two unknowns at most.

Example 11

Traction for the Foot

Figure 4-29a shows a traction device used with a foot injury. The weight of the 2.2-kg object creates a tension in the rope that passes around the pulleys. Therefore, tension forces

and

are applied to the pulley on the foot. It may seem surprising that the rope applies a force to either side of the foot pulley. A similar effect occurs when you place a finger inside a rubber band and push downward. You can feel each side of the rubber band pulling upward on the finger. The foot pulley is kept in equilibrium because the foot also applies a force

to it. This force arises in reaction (Newton’s third law) to the pulling effect of the forces

and

. Ignoring the weight of the foot, find the magnitude of

Reasoning The forces

, and

keep the pulley on the foot at rest. The pulley, therefore, has no acceleration and is in equilibrium. As a result, the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components of the three forces must each be zero. Figure 4-29b shows the free-body diagram of the pulley on the foot. The x axis is chosen to be along the direction of force

, and the components of the forces are indicated in the drawing. (See Section 1.7 for a review of vector components.)

Solution Since the sum of the y components of the forces is zero, it follows that


	(4.9b)

. In other words, the magnitudes of the tension forces are equal. In addition, the sum of the x components of the forces is zero, so we have that


	(4.9a)

Solving for F and letting

, we find that

. However, the tension T in the rope is determined by the weight of the 2.2-kg object:

, where m is its mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Therefore, the magnitude of

Example 12

Replacing an Engine

An automobile engine has a weight

, whose magnitude is W = 3150 N. This engine is being positioned above an engine compartment, as Figure 4-30a illustrates. To position the engine, a worker is using a rope. Find the tension

in the supporting cable and the tension

in the positioning rope.

Reasoning Under the influence of the forces

, and

the ring in Figure 4-30a is at rest and, therefore, in equilibrium. Consequently, the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components of these forces must each be zero;

and

. By using these relations, we can find T₁ and T₂. Figure 4-30b shows the free-body diagram of the ring and the force components for a suitable x, y axis system.

Solution The free-body diagram shows the components for each of the three forces, and the components are listed in the following table:

Force	x Component	y Component
	−T₁ sin 10.0°	+T₁ cos 10.0°
	+T₂ sin 80.0°	−T₂ cos 80.0°
	0	−W

The plus signs in the table denote components that point along the positive axes, and the minus signs denote components that point along the negative axes. Setting the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components equal to zero leads to the following equations:


	(4.9a)


	(4.9b)

Solving the first of these equations for T₁ shows that

Substituting this expression for T₁ into the second equation gives

Setting W = 3150 N in this result yields

Since

T₂ and T₂ = 582 N, it follows that

Example 13

Equilibrium at Constant Velocity

A jet plane is flying with a constant speed along a straight line, at an angle of 30.0° above the horizontal, as Figure 4-31a indicates. The plane has a weight

whose magnitude is W = 86 500 N, and its engines provide a forward thrust

of magnitude T = 103 000 N. In addition, the lift force

(directed perpendicular to the wings) and

the force of air resistance (directed opposite to the motion) act on the plane. Find

and

Figure 4-30 (a) The ring is in equilibrium because of the three forces

(the tension force in the supporting cable),

(the tension force in the positioning rope), and

(the weight of the engine). (b) The free-body diagram for the ring.

Figure 4-31 (a) A plane moves with a constant velocity at an angle of 30.0° above the horizontal due to the action of four forces, the weight

, the lift

, the engine thrust

, and the air resistance

. (b) The free-body diagram for the plane. (c) This geometry occurs often in physics.

Reasoning Figure 4-31b shows the free-body diagram of the plane, including the forces

, and

. Since the plane is not accelerating, it is in equilibrium, and the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components of these forces must be zero. The lift force

and the force

of air resistance can be obtained from these equilibrium conditions. To calculate the components, we have chosen axes in the free-body diagram that are rotated by 30.0° from their usual horizontal-vertical positions. This has been done purely for convenience, since the weight

is then the only force that does not lie along either axis.

Problem solving insight A moving object is in equilibrium if it moves with a constant velocity; then its acceleration is zero. A zero acceleration is the fundamental characteristic of an object in equilibrium.

Solution When determining the components of the weight, it is necessary to realize that the angle

in Figure 4-31a is 30.0°. Part c of the drawing focuses attention on the geometry that is responsible for this fact. There it can be seen that

and

, with the result that

. The table below lists the components of the forces that act on the jet.

Force	x Component	y Component
	− W sin 30.0°	− W cos 30.0°
	0	+ L
	+ T	0
	− R	0

Setting the sum of the x component of the forces to zero gives


	(4.9a)

Setting the sum of the y component of the forces to zero gives


	(4.9b)

Check Your Understanding 4

In which one of the following situations could an object possibly be in equilibrium? (a) Three forces act on the object. The forces all point along the same line but may have different directions. (b) Two perpendicular forces act on the object. (c) A single force acts on the object. (d) In none of the situations described in (a), (b), and (c) could the object possibly be in equilibrium. (The answer is given at the end of the book.)

Background: A number of concepts enter the picture here: force, net force, and equilibrium. The addition of vectors also plays a role, as does Newton’s second law of motion.

For similar questions (including calculational counterparts), consult Self-Assessment Test 4.3. This test is described at the end of Section 4.12.

	Concepts at a Glance