Laboratory Report
Jerard Gaerlan, Rovelyn Gonzales, Richelle Ignacio, Fredda Wil Jamora
Department of Math and Physics
College of Science, University of Sto. Tomas
Espaa, Manila
Abstract
Equilibrium is the condition of a
system in which the forces acting on it
are balanced. This experiment is
divided into four parts: Equilibrant
force, where pan C is manipulated in
order to balance the force excerted by
pan A and pan B; First condition for
equilibrium, where we located the
point where in the force exerted by
Tension 1 would cancel the force
exerted by Tension 2; Location of
center of gravity, where we located the
cardboards center of gravity and
Second condition of equilibrium,
where we located the point in the
system where in the rotational force
acting on it would be equal to zero.
1. Introduction
Balance is a major aspect of life.
Too much and too little of something
is never good. In physics, balance is
also important. For example, gravity
holds together heavenly bodies like
planets and stars and keeps them in
place due to a state of equilibrium.
Equilibrium
makes
the
world
harmonious. When we talk of
equilibrium, there are two conditions.
First, the net external force or the sum
of all forces acting upon an object
must equal to zero. Second, the net
external torque must be zero. In the
experiment, equilibrant force, the thing
that keeps things motionless, must be
determined using a force table and
component method. Unknown forces
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
Formula below are used to compute for
the x and y components
Force
F
Horizontal
Component
Fcos
Vertical
component
Fsin
Activity 1 & 2:
A. Horizontal component of Fa +
Horizontal component of Fb = 0
y=
Yc *Wc + Ys *Ws
Wc + Ws
is used.
T = Force * l
T = 0
Therefore, the torque clockwise must
be equal to the torque
counterclockwise, negative sign for the
force that creates a clockwise motion
and positive for counterclockwise.
2!"# !! (! 5!")
!
2
wherein
Wc = Weight of the cylinder
L = Length of the bar
3. Methodology
This experiment, comprised of four
activities, made use of the following
materials: (1) force the table and
accessories, (2) force board, (3)
cylinder of unknown weight, (4) spring
scale, (5) electronic gram balance, (6)
card board/index card, (7) aluminium
bar, and (8) protractor.
Magnitude
(N)
1.31 N
1.87 N
1.62 N
Position
()
240
0
139
1.66N
221
2.47%
!!
(N) =
1.31N
!!
(N) =
1.87N
Angle
xy()
component component
240
-0.66N
-1.13 N
0
1.87N
0N
!! =
1.22 N
!! = 1.13 N
!.!!
!! (N) =
!!.!"!!!""!( ! )
!
!"""
!.!!
= 1.31!
!! (N) =
!"""
= 1.62N
% Error =
!.!!!!!.!"!
!.!"!
!".!"!!!"#!( ! )
!
!! (N) =
!"""
= 1.87N
x-component of !! : 1.87cos 0 =
1.87!
y-component of !! : 1.87sin 0 = 0 N
data for computing for the resultant
equilibrant force. By comparing it with
the theoretical value, the group
garnered a 2.87% error, which shows
how close the experimental value is to
the theoretical value.
!! (N)
1.18 N
()
52
!! (N)
1.18 N
Experimental 0.770
Weight (N)
N
Theoretical
0.650
Weight (N)
N
% Error
15.58%
Activity 2:
x 100
x 100
% Error = 2.47%
In activity 1, the data that the
group has gathered is reasonable
considering that we have achieved a
less than 10% error. The group
acquired
the
theoretical
and
experimental equilibrant given the two
tensions acting on the force board. By
using the component method, the
group was able to deduce the needed
Angl
e ()
!!
(N) =
1.12
N
!!
(N) =
1.12
N
52
270
xycomponen componen
t
t
0.73 N
0.93 N
0N
-1.18 N
!! =
0.73 N
!! = 0.25 N
+ 0.25
Method
% Error =
!!!"#!$%&'( !"#$%!!"#$% !"#$%
!"#$% !"#$%
% Error =
!.!"!!!.!!!
!.!"!
x 100
x 100
% Error = 15.58%
Plumb line
Method
Balancing
Method
Computation
Center of Gravity
xycoordinate coordinate
9.0 cm
5.0 cm
9.50 cm
4.90 cm
9.719 cm
5.0 cm
!! . !! + !! . !!
!! + !!
wherein:
!! = 15cm
!! = 12.35g
!! = 5cm
!=
!! . !! + !! . !!
!! + !!
!! = 13.82g
!! = 5cm
!! = 5c
Computations:
!
=
(15!")(12.35!) + (5!")(13.82!)
12.35! + 13.82!
(5!")(12.35!) + (5!")(13.82!)
12.35! + 13.82!
!=
!=
254.5 !. !"
26.17!
!=
! = 9.719!"
!=
130.9 !. !"
26.17!
Computations:
! = 5!"
In activity 3, the location of the center
of gravity was acquired 2 ways
balancing method and plumb line
method. In the balancing method, the
two shapes were merely lifted by the
point finger and its coordinates were
determined. With the use of the plumb
line method, the formula above
provided a more accurate way of
computing the coordinates. Comparing
the two results, their difference is
small.
Reading
of Spring
Scale (N)
Weight of
the
Cylinder
(N)
Tension
of the
String
Experime
ntal
Weight of
bar (N)
Theoretic
al Weight
of bar (N)
% Error
Activity 4:
0.3 N
0.49 N
-----------------------------0.75 N
0.85 N
13 %
The formula used was,
2!"# !! (! 5!")
!! =
!
2
wherein:
!! = 0.49!
! = 39.8!"
!"# = 0.3
!!
2(0.3 !) (0.49 !)(39.8!" 5!")
=
39.8!"
2
!! = 0.75 !
% Error =
!!!"#!$%&'( !"#$%!!"#$% !"#$%
!"#$% !"#$%
% Error =
!.!" !!!.!" !
!.!" !
x 100
x 100
% Error = 13 %
In activity 4, the weight of the
aluminum bar was derived through
the given formula above. After
getting the theoretical weight of the
bar by directly weighing it on a
platform balance, the group has
garnered a 13% error. Although
going past the 10% error mark, the
weights of the bar using two
different methods are not all that far.
Albeit the case, this may be due to
the inaccuracy of reading the spring
scale.
5. Conclusion
In the first activity in the experiment,
we used the force table and component
method by comparing the tension
exerted on two pans and we obtained
the equilibrant force on the third pan
with a low percentage error.
6. Applications
1. State the first condition of
equilibrium. If a body is in
equilibrium, are there no forces
acting on it?
The first condition of equilibrium
is that the net force in all
directions must be zero. However
this does not mean that there are
no forces acting on the body. It
just means that the forces are all
equal and opposite, just like the
one done on Activity 2.
2. The Russell traction system
shown below is used for a
fractured femur. Identify the
forces acting on the femur. If the
weight hang is 5.0 kg, find the
force needed to immobilise the
femur. What will supply this
force?
3. What happens to the centre of
gravity of a person under the
following situations: (a) His
upper right extremity is
amputated? (b) he carries all his