Experiment No.

4
Physics of Crane
Mentoy, Mar Christian1; Mohamad, Alshater2; Momongan, Rachel Ann3; Monta, Xyrel
Claude4; Naval, John Benedic5; Oblefias, John Frederick6; Parangue, Ike Edrian7
1

School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering

School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering
3
School of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering
4
School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
5-7
School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering
2

mentoymar@yahoo.com.ph
fireangel80@hotmail.com
3
lehcar18_rachel13@yahoo.com
4
xyrelim@yahoo.com
5
jeyb.naval@gmail.com
6
john_oblefias123@yahoo.com
7
ikeedrian@gmail.com
2

Abstract
1. Introduction
The significance of this study is to
know how equilibrium is applied into
construction cranes. Construction Cranes
can lift tons of loads and other materials in
constructing buildings. The application of
equilibrium has an important role in using
cranes because if the mass of the counter
weight is lighter than the lifted object the
crane may not function well or causing the
horizontal section to tip over. The proper
usage of the principles of a construction
crane is stated in the methodology section of
this study. The things that are to be observe
in this study is that the application of
equilibrium principle is helpful to a
construction crane.

cranes are only using the same concept of

the second condition of equilibrium
(Torque).
The construction cranes are used for
lifting loads for high displacements. The
arms are balanced without loads. It has one
longer arm and a short one. The longer arm
serves as the working arm that has a hook
that picks up the loads. The shorter arm
serves for counterweights.
The second condition of equilibrium
is observed when the working arm (longerarm) picks up some load, the counterweights
(shorter arm) acts as the solution for staying
in a balanced state of the construction crane.
But however, all construction cranes has
minimum lifting capacity and the load
shouldnt be exceed the minimum load
otherwise the crane will be unbalanced.

2. Methodology
2. B. Equations
There are many designs of
construction cranes in our modern
technology, but every type of construction

Torque Formula

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Experiment No. 4
=Fxd eq. 1

their distances are not equal to maintain

equilibrium.

Where,
F=Force applied and
d = Perpendicular distance of force from the
axis of rotation.
The Magnitude of torque is given by
=F dsin eq. 2
Where is the angle between the force
applied and the axis of rotation.
Torque Formula (Moment of Inertia and
Angular Acceleration)
torque = (moment of inertia)(angular
acceleration)
= I eq. 3
= torque, around a defined axis (Nm)
I = moment of inertia (kgm2)
= angular acceleration (radians/s2)
where I =

1
M R2
2

3. Results and Discussion

Table 1
Trial
1
2
3
Ave.
%Differenc
e

P1
26.62 g
25.04 g
23.60 g
25.09 g
1.163 %

P2
27.07 g
25.32 g
24.04 g
25.64 g
3.33%

As two pans have different weights

on both sides of the system/model balance,

Table 2
Trial
1
2
%Differenc
e

F computed
262.16 g
129.69 g
4.75 %

F measured
250 g
130 g
0.24 %

The force that is exerted by the

spring balance depends on its position and
inclination at a given system.
Table 3
WB (measured)
Ave. (computed)
% Difference

135.9 g
140.244 g
3.15 %

There are three trials in table 3 with

an increasing weight respectively. As the
weight increases, the distance between the
pan and axis of rotation decreases.
Some sources of error as seen in the
percent difference between the actual value
and
experimental
value:
inaccurate
measurement using the meter stick &
placing the pans at a right distance and air
resistance may have moved the balance
while the group is measuring it.
Relating what was done in the
experiment is that the crane maintains its
balance as additional weights are added
from time to time and counterweights are
seen from the shorter vertical arm. Torque is
one of the principles applied in the crane as
there are other factors like the strength of the
crane itself.
4. Conclusion
Therefore we conclude that there is a
torque when the construction crane is lifting
an object and it is in equilibrium. There is
equilibrium because of the countermeasure
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Experiment No. 4
acting on the other arm (short arm) of the
crane.
Acknowledgement
(Group 5 photos)

Reference
[1]https://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials
/torque/Q.torque.intro.html
[2]http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-istorque-definition-equation-calculation.html
[3]http://formulas.tutorvista.com/physics/tor
que-formula.html

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