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Applications of Statics, Including Problem-Solving Strategies

Module by: OpenStax College. E-mail the author

Summary:

  • Discuss the applications of Statics in real life.
  • State and discuss various problem-solving strategies in Statics.

Note: You are viewing an old version of this document. The latest version is available here.

Statics can be applied to a variety of situations, ranging from raising a drawbridge to bad posture and back strain. We begin with a discussion of problem-solving strategies specifically used for statics. Since statics is a special case of Newton’s laws, both the general problem-solving strategies and the special strategies for Newton’s laws, discussed in Problem-Solving Strategies, still apply.

Problem Solving Strategy: Static Equilibrium Situations:

  1. The first step is to determine whether or not the system is in static equilibrium. This condition is always the case when the acceleration of the system is zero and accelerated rotation does not occur.
  2. It is particularly important to draw a free body diagram for the system of interest. Carefully label all forces, and note their relative magnitudes, directions, and points of application whenever these are known.
  3. Solve the problem by applying either or both of the conditions for equilibrium (represented by the equations netF=0netF=0 size 12{"net"F=0} {} and net τ=0net τ=0 size 12{"net "τ rSub { size 8{"cw"} } ="net"τ rSub { size 8{"ccw"} } } {}, depending on the list of known and unknown factors. If the second condition is involved, choose the pivot point to simplify the solution. Any pivot point can be chosen, but the most useful ones cause torques by unknown forces to be zero. (Torque is zero if the force is applied at the pivot (then r=0r=0 size 12{r=0} {}), or along a line through the pivot point (then θ=0θ=0 size 12{θ=0} {})). Always choose a convenient coordinate system for projecting forces.
  4. Check the solution to see if it is reasonable by examining the magnitude, direction, and units of the answer. The importance of this last step never diminishes, although in unfamiliar applications, it is usually more difficult to judge reasonableness. These judgments become progressively easier with experience.

Now let us apply this problem-solving strategy for the pole vaulter shown in the three figures below. The pole is uniform and has a mass of 5.00 kg. In Figure 1, the pole’s cg lies halfway between the vaulter’s hands. It seems reasonable that the force exerted by each hand is equal to half the weight of the pole, or 24.5 N. This obviously satisfies the first condition for equilibrium (netF=0)(netF=0) size 12{"net "F=0} {} . The second condition (netτ=0)(netτ=0) is also satisfied, as we can see by choosing the cg to be the pivot point. The weight exerts no torque about a pivot point located at the cg, since it is applied at that point and its lever arm is zero. The equal forces exerted by the hands are equidistant from the chosen pivot, and so they exert equal and opposite torques. Similar arguments hold for other systems where supporting forces are exerted symmetrically about the cg. For example, the four legs of a uniform table each support one-fourth of its weight.

In Figure 1, a pole vaulter holding a pole with its cg halfway between his hands is shown. Each hand exerts a force equal to half the weight of the pole, FR=FL=w/2FR=FL=w/2 size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } =F rSub { size 8{L} } =w/2} {}. (b) The pole vaulter moves the pole to his left, and the forces that the hands exert are no longer equal. See Figure 1. If the pole is held with its cg to the left of the person, then he must push down with his right hand and up with his left. The forces he exerts are larger here because they are in opposite directions and the cg is at a long distance from either hand.

Similar observations can be made using a meter stick held at different locations along its length.

Figure 1: A pole vaulter holds a pole horizontally with both hands.
A pole vaulter is standing on the ground holding a pole with his two hands. The center of gravity of the pole is between the hands of the pole vaulter and is near the right hand of the man. The weight W is shown as an arrow downward toward center of gravity. The reactions F sub R and F sub L of the hands of the man are shown with vectors in upward direction. A free body diagram of the situation is shown on the top right side of the figure.

Figure 2: A pole vaulter is holding a pole horizontally with both hands. The center of gravity is near his right hand.
A pole vaulter is standing on the ground holding a pole with his two hands. The center of gravity of the pole is between the hands of the pole vaulter and is near the right hand of the man. The weight W is shown as an arrow downward toward center of gravity. The reactions F sub R and F sub L of the hands of the man are shown with vectors in upward direction. A free body diagram of the situation is shown on the top right side of the figure.

Figure 3: A pole vaulter is holding a pole horizontally with both hands. The center of gravity is to the left side of the vaulter.
A pole vaulter is standing on the ground holding a pole from one side with his two hands. The centre of gravity of the pole is to the left of the pole vaulter. The weight W is shown as an arrow downward at center of gravity. The reaction F sub R is shown with a vector pointing downward from the man’s right hand and F sub L is shown with a vector in upward direction at the location of the man’s left hand. A free body diagram of the situation is shown on the top right side of the figure.

If the pole vaulter holds the pole as shown in Figure 1, the situation is not as simple. The total force he exerts is still equal to the weight of the pole, but it is not evenly divided between his hands. (If FL=FRFL=FR size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } =F rSub { size 8{R} } } {}, then the torques about the cg would not be equal since the lever arms are different.) Logically, the right hand should support more weight, since it is closer to the cg. In fact, if the right hand is moved directly under the cg, it will support all the weight. This situation is exactly analogous to two people carrying a load; the one closer to the cg carries more of its weight. Finding the forces FLFL size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } } {} and FRFR size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } } {} is straightforward, as the next example shows.

If the pole vaulter holds the pole from near the end of the pole (Figure 3), the direction of the force applied by the right hand of the vaulter reverses its direction.

Example 1: What Force Is Needed to Support a Weight Held Near Its CG?

For the situation shown in Figure 1, calculate: (a) FRFR size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } } {} , the force exerted by the right hand, and (b) FLFL size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } } {}, the force exerted by the left hand. The hands are 0.900 m apart, and the cg of the pole is 0.600 m from the left hand.

Strategy

Figure 1 includes a free body diagram for the pole, the system of interest. There is not enough information to use the first condition for equilibrium (netF=0(netF=0 size 12{F=0} {}), since two of the three forces are unknown and the hand forces cannot be assumed to be equal in this case. There is enough information to use the second condition for equilibrium (netτ=0)(netτ=0) size 12{ ital "net"`τ=0} {} if the pivot point is chosen to be at either hand, thereby making the torque from that hand zero. We choose to locate the pivot at the left hand in this part of the problem, to eliminate the torque from the left hand.

Solution for (a)

There are now only two nonzero torques, those from the gravitational force (τwτw size 12{τ rSub { size 8{W} } } {}) and from the push or pull of the right hand (τRτR size 12{τ rSub { size 8{R} } } {}). Stating the second condition in terms of clockwise and counterclockwise torques,

net τcw=–netτccw.net τcw=–netτccw. size 12{"net "τ rSub { size 8{"cw"} } ="net"τ rSub { size 8{"ccw"} } } {}
(1)

or the algebraic sum of the torques is zero.

Here this is

τ R = –τ w τ R = –τ w size 12{τ rSub { size 8{R} } =τ rSub { size 8{w} } } {}
(2)

since the weight of the pole creates a counterclockwise torque and the right hand counters with a clockwise toque. Using the definition of torque, τ=rFsinθτ=rFsinθ size 12{τ= ital "rF""sin"θ} {}, noting that θ= 90ºθ= 90º size 12{θ} {} , and substituting known values, we obtain

0.900 mFR=0.600 mmg.0.900 mFR=0.600 mmg. size 12{ left (0 "." "900"" m" right ) left (F rSub { size 8{R} } right )= left (0 "." "600"" m" right ) left ( ital "mg" right )} {}
(3)

Thus,

FR=0.6675.00 kg9.80 m/s2=32.7 NFR=0.6675.00 kg9.80 m/s2=32.7 N.alignl { stack { size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } = left (0 "." "667" right ) left (5 "." "00"" kg" right ) left (9 "." "80"" m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } right )} {} # ="32" "." 7" N" {} } } {}
(4)

Solution for (b)

The first condition for equilibrium is based on the free body diagram in the figure. This implies that by Newton’s second law:

F L + F R – mg = 0 F L + F R – mg = 0 size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } +F rSub { size 8{R} } - ital "mg"=0} {}
(5)

From this we can conclude:

F L + F R = w = mg F L + F R = w = mg size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } +F rSub { size 8{R} } =w= ital "mg"} {}
(6)

Solving for FLFL size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } } {}, we obtain

F L = mg − F R = mg − 32 . 7 N = 5.00 kg 9.80 m/s 2 − 32.7 N = 16.3 N F L = mg − F R = mg − 32 . 7 N = 5.00 kg 9.80 m/s 2 − 32.7 N = 16.3 N alignl { stack { size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } = ital "mg" - F rSub { size 8{R} } } {} # = ital "mg" - "32" "." 7 {} # =0 "." "333" ital "mg" {} # = left (0 "." "333" right ) left (5 "." "00"" kg" right ) left (9 "." "80"" m/s" rSup { size 8{2} } right ) {} # ="16" "." 3" N" {} } } {}
(7)

Discussion

FLFL size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } } {} is seen to be exactly half of FRFR size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } } {}, as we might have guessed, since FLFL size 12{F rSub { size 8{L} } } {} is applied twice as far from the cg as FRFR size 12{F rSub { size 8{R} } } {}.

If the pole vaulter holds the pole as he might at the start of a run, shown in Figure 3, the forces change again. Both are considerably greater, and one force reverses direction.

Take-Home Experiment:

This is an experiment to perform while standing in a bus or a train. Stand facing sideways. How do you move your body to readjust the distribution of your mass as the bus accelerates and decelerates? Now stand facing forward. How do you move your body to readjust the distribution of your mass as the bus accelerates and decelerates? Why is it easier and safer to stand facing sideways rather than forward? Note: For your safety (and those around you), make sure you are holding onto something while you carry out this activity!

Balancing Act:

Play with objects on a teeter totter to learn about balance. Test what you've learned by trying the Balance Challenge game.

Figure 4 (balancing-act_en.jar)

Balancing Act

Summary

  • Statics can be applied to a variety of situations, ranging from raising a drawbridge to bad posture and back strain. We have discussed the problem-solving strategies specifically useful for statics. Statics is a special case of Newton’s laws, both the general problem-solving strategies and the special strategies for Newton’s laws, discussed in Problem-Solving Strategies, still apply.

Conceptual Questions

Exercise 1

When visiting some countries, you may see a person balancing a load on the head. Explain why the center of mass of the load needs to be directly above the person’s neck vertebrae.

Problems & Exercises

Exercise 1

To get up on the roof, a person (mass 70.0 kg) places a 6.00-m aluminum ladder (mass 10.0 kg) against the house on a concrete pad with the base of the ladder 2.00 m from the house. The ladder rests against a plastic rain gutter, which we can assume to be frictionless. The center of mass of the ladder is 2 m from the bottom. The person is standing 3 m from the bottom. What are the magnitudes of the forces on the ladder at the top and bottom?

Exercise 2

In Figure 3, the cg of the pole held by the pole vaulter is 2.00 m from the left hand, and the hands are 0.700 m apart. Calculate the force exerted by (a) his right hand and (b) his left hand. (c) If each hand supports half the weight of the pole in Figure 1, show that the second condition for equilibrium (netτ=0)(netτ=0) is satisfied for a pivot other than the one located at the center of gravity of the pole. Explicitly show how you follow the steps in the Problem-Solving Strategy for static equilibrium described above.

Glossary

static equilibrium:
equilibrium in which the acceleration of the system is zero and accelerated rotation does not occur

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