EXPERIMENT 3
9-
6. Applications
1. 1. State the first condition for
equilibrium. If a body is in
equilibrium, are there no forces
acting on it?
The first condition of
equilibrium states that the
vector sum of all the forces
acting on that body must be
zero for a body to be
in equilibrium. If a body is in
equilibrium, it is not necessary
that there are no forces acting
on it but there could be several
forces acted upon it, however,
are balanced thats why the
body is said to be in
equilibrium.
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 immobilize
the femur. What will supply the
force?
The tension T in the cable is:
T=m*g=5*9.8=49N
X and Y components:
F1: 49N at 12 degrees NW:
Fx1=-49*cos(12)=-47.9N and
Fy1=49*sin(12)=10.2N
F2: 49N at 12 degrees SW:
Fx2=-49*cos(12)=-49.7N and
Fy2=-49*sin(12)=-10.2N
F3: 49N at 26 degrees WN:
Fx3=-49*sin(26)=-21.5N and
Fy3=49*cos(26)=44.0N
Summation of Fx:
Fx1+Fx2+Fx3=-47.9-47.
21.5=-117N
Summation of Fy:
Fy1+Fy2+Fy3=10.2-
10.2+44.0=44.0N
Resultant:
F=sqrt(117^2+44^2)=125N
angle:
theta=inverse tan(44/117)=20.6
degrees.
So the the force pulling on the
leg will be 125N at an angle of
20.6N above the horizontal.
3. What happens to the center of
gravity of a person under the
following situations? a.) His
upper right extremity is
amputated. b.) He carries all his
books using the right arm only.
a. When his upper right
extremity is amputated the
center of gravity of a person
will shift to the left a little bit
and slightly downward.
b. When he carries all his books
using the right arm only then
center of gravity will shift
slightly up and right.
4. Devise a way by which you
could determine your center of
gravity.
Balancing Act: a person could
recline on a piece of wood in
two directions: parallel and
perpendicular to the board.
With either measurement, the
person would move from one
side to the next. The point
where the body is in
equilibrium, in each axis,
would be the center. The axes
will meet at a point, and that
 point will be the center of
gravity.

5. In general, the womens centers

of gravity tend to be lower than
mens. Can you explain why?

The womens center of gravity

tends to be lower than the
mens because of the skeletal
structure. Women have a bigger
pelvis area because they will
need the extra support when the
time that they become
pregnant, and their bodies will
be supporting a baby. This
makes the center of gravity of
women slightly lower because
more of their body mass is
concentrated at the lower
portion of their body.