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Equilibrium of a rigid body under coplanar forces

Equilibrium of a rigid body under coplanar forces

Point 2 of 7 — Moments, General Equilibrium, the Couple and the Centre of GravityQuestion bank: 0 questions (0 with pictures)

02 Equilibrium of a rigid body under coplanar forces

A rigid body is in equilibrium when it has no tendency to translate or to rotate. For coplanar forces this requires three independent conditions:

  • ΣFx = 0 — no resultant force horizontally.
  • ΣFy = 0 — no resultant force vertically.
  • ΣM = 0 about any point — no resultant turning effect.

Choose the point for taking moments where the largest number of unknown forces act, because those forces then drop out of the equation.

Worked example — a uniform beam on two supports

A uniform rod of weight 60 N and length 4 m rests on supports at its ends; a 100 N load hangs 1 m from the left end.

  • Moments about the left end: R₂ × 4 = 60 × 2 + 100 × 1 = 220 ⟹ R₂ = 55 N.
  • ΣFy = 0: R₁ = 160 − 55 = 105 N.
  • Check with moments about the right end: R₁ × 4 = 60 × 2 + 100 × 3 = 420 ⟹ R₁ = 105 N ✓.

Three-force bodies

If a body is in equilibrium under three non-parallel forces, their lines of action are concurrent (meet at one point) and coplanar — this fact is used to find the direction of an unknown reaction.

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