Equilibrium of a Particle

Equilibrium depends on balanced forces and balanced torque. An object in equilibrium is either at rest or moving with a constant velocity. These two cases are called static equilibrium and dynamic equilibrium.

Static equilibrium means the object is not moving. Dynamic equilibrium means the object is moving, but its velocity stays constant. In both cases, the forces acting on the object must balance each other.

Different forces can add, subtract, or cancel each other out. When the vector sum...

Free-body diagrams help analyze the forces acting on an object in mechanics. They give a simple picture of a stationary or moving object and show why it moves the way it does. By turning a complex situation into a clear sketch, they make it easier to write the equation needed to solve the problem.

To draw a free-body diagram, first choose the object or system you want to study. Then isolate it from its surroundings and draw it as a dot or a simple outline. Add arrows for every important...

A free-body diagram helps analyze two-block motion in mechanics. It shows the forces acting on a system so the net force can be found and the acceleration can be calculated.

The example in this lesson uses two blocks linked by a massless string over a frictionless pulley. Block 1 moves across a table while block 2 falls under gravity. The two blocks are treated as one isolated system.

External forces are then identified and drawn as vector arrows on the diagram. For block 1, the forces...

Free-body diagrams help show the forces acting on an object on an inclined plane. A free-body diagram is a simple drawing that focuses only on the object or system being studied. It leaves out extra details so the force problem is easier to analyze and solve.

For an example, a 10 kg block is released on a ramp that is 30° to the horizontal. The coefficient of friction is 0.2. The diagram for this block includes the weight from gravity, the normal force, and the frictional force. These are the...

Coplanar forces act on an object in the same plane. To analyze this kind of system, each force is resolved into x and y components using Cartesian vector form and vector algebra. This makes it possible to test whether the object is in equilibrium.

A coplanar system is in equilibrium when the resultant force is zero. That means the sum of the forces in each direction must also be zero. If the forces do not balance, the object is not in equilibrium and will accelerate in the direction of the net...

Equilibrium in physics describes how forces act on a body so it stays still or moves at a constant speed. In two-dimensional force systems, equilibrium can be grouped into several categories based on how the forces are arranged.

Collinear equilibrium is the simplest case. The forces act along one straight line, so only one force equation is needed in the direction of those forces. The other equations are already satisfied.

Coplanar concurrent equilibrium is another category. In this case, all...