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Resultant and Equilibrant Forces

Mendoza, P., Mesina, K*., Nodora, C., Nombre., M., Pineda, E., Pomantoc, G.
Group 6, 2A Pharmacy
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Santo Tomas

Abstract
Force, defined as a push or a pull, is a vector quantity. A vector quantity is a measure that is
completely characterized by both magnitude and direction. The term Resultant force is the
result of adding two or more vectors together. The presence of an additional force balancing the
resultant force is termed equilibrant and is acquired by getting the negative vector of the
resultant. In this experiment we made use of the component method involving the application
of the trigonometric ratios sine, cosine, and tangent as well as the Pythagorean theorem. The
values for the Experimental Resultant and Equilibrant forces were obtained by the application of
the generalization that collective forces are the resultant forces of the possible combinations of
any two forces and that any of the force that is not combined with the other two will be the
equilibrant force. The values for the Computed Resultant forces were obtained by the
application of the component method. Comparing the data of the Experimental Resultant forces
with that of the Computed Resultant forces we can observe that the values, although close to
each other, have discrepancies in terms of decimal point values as well as some integral values.

Theory The objectives of this experiment
In this experiment we made use of were to know the concept of a vector and
the component method in order to its relation to force, and to determine the
compute for the resulting forces and their resultant and equilibrant forces of various
corresponding equilibrants. This method combinations of given forces.
involves the application of the
trigonometric ratios sine, cosine, and Materials
tangent as well as the Pythagorean The materials used in this
theorem. The Formulas used were: experiment are the following:
! = a.) Force Table
! =
Suppose we have 2 forces F1 and F2.
To solve for the horizontal component:
!! = ! ! !! = ! !
To solve for the vertical component:
!! = ! ! !! = ! !
Thus,
! + ! = !
! + ! = ! ! + ! !
+ ! ! + ! !
b.) Hooked mass
The formula to solve for magnitude is
! + ! = (! )! + (! )!
The formula to solve for the direction is
!
= tan!!
!
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c.) Slotted weights

Table 2.2: Resultant Forces (Experimental)
Resultant Forces (Experimental)
R i Magnitude Direction
F a 241.6 g 89
F b 120 g 219
F c 195 g 299.1

d.) Washer Table 2.3: Equilibrant Forces (Experimental)
Equilibrant Forces (Experimental)
E i Magnitude Direction
F A 241.6 g 269.1
F B 120 g 39
F C 195 g 119.1

Table 2.4: Resultant Forces (Computed)
Resultant Forces (Computed)
e.) Yarn/Strings R i Magnitude Direction
F a 245.92 g 89.63
F b 121.63 g 215.82
F c 188.62 g 298.32

Table 2.5: Computations for Fa
Magnitude Direction
F 1 120 g 39
F 2 195 g 119.1
Horizontal Vertical
Component X Component Y
F 1 93.26 g 75.52 g

Results F 2 -94.84 g 170.39 g
The following tables below show SUM Fx= -1.58 g Fy= 245.91 g
the measurement obtained and computed Resultant Force
for Individual Forces, Resultant Forces Magnitude Direction
(Experimental), Equilibrant Forces 245.92 g -89.63+ 180=
(Experimental), Resultant Forces 90.37
(Computed), and computation for Fa to Fc
respectively:
Table 2.1: Individual Forces Table 2.6: Computations for Fb
Individual Forces Magnitude Direction
F i Magnitude Direction F 2 195 g 119.1
F 1 120 g 39 F 3 241.6 g 269.1
F 2 195 g 119.1 Horizontal Vertical
F 2 195 g 119.1 Component X Component Y
F 3 241.6 g 269.1 F 2 -94.84 g 170.39 g
F 1 120 g 39 F 3 -3.79 g -241.57 g
F 3 241.6 g 269.1 SUM Fx= -98.63 g Fy= -71.18 g
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Resultant Force The values for the Experimental

Magnitude Direction Resultant forces were determined by the
121.63 g 35.82 + 180 = generalization that the resultant force is the
215.82 negative or opposite that of the equilibrant.
The obtained values were:
Table 2.7: Computations for Fc Fa= (241.6 g, 89)
Magnitude Direction Fb= (120 g, 219)
F 1 120 g 39 Fc= (195 g, 299.1)
F 3 241.6 g 269.1 The Experimental Equilibrant forces
Horizontal Vertical imply that the equilibrant is the force that is
Component X Component Y not included in the addition of two forces.
F 1 93.26 g 75.52 g The obtained values were:
F 3 -3.79 g -241.57 g FA= (241.6 g, 269.1)
FB= (120 g, 39)
SUM Fx= 89.47 g Fy= -166.05 g
FC= (195 g, 119.1)
Resultant Force
The formula to determine the
Magnitude Direction
horizontal and vertical components of each
188.62 g -61.68 + 360 =
force and the formula to determine its
298.32
direction was used to compute for the

values of Fa, Fb, and Fc and thus the data for
Discussion
the Computed Resultant Forces were
A ring on which three strings were
acquired. The obtained values were:
attached was mounted on the force table.
Fa= (245.92 g, 89.63)
Each end of its strings was designated to a
Fb= (121.63 g, 215.82)
pulley with a corresponding mass hanger.
Fc= (188.62 g, 298.32)
The ring was placed at the center and was
The addition of a 180 or a 360 in
balanced by putting weights on the three
the resulting computed direction for each
mass hangers. The obtained values were:
of the three forces is dependent on the
F1= (120 g, 39)
horizontal and vertical component values of
F2= (195 g, 119.1)
each force. If both components (X,Y) is a
F3= (241.6, 269.1)
positive value, the resulting direction value
is retained. However, if both are negative,
we add a 180 in the resulting direction
value. If the horizontal component (X) is
positive, and the vertical component (Y) is
negative, we add 360. If its otherwise, the
horizontal component (X) being negative
and the vertical component (Y) being
positive, we add a 180 in the resulting
direction value.

Conclusion
In this experiment we made use of
the component method involving the
application of the trigonometric ratios sine,
cosine, and tangent as well as the
Figure 2.1: Values obtained in a Cartesian
Pythagorean theorem to get the values for
plane.
the Computed Resultant forces and
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compare it to the values acquired for the 4. Use the component method to find the
Experimental Resultant forces. Comparing magnitude and direction of the resultant
the two sets of data, we can observe that of the concurrent forces given below:
the values, although close to each other, A = 2000 N at 0
also have discrepancies in terms of decimal B = 1500 N at 60
point values as well as some integral values. C = 1000 N at 150
D = 3800 N at 225
Question and Answer Table 2.8: Computations for Given A to D
X Component Y Component
1. Differentiate the resultant and the A 2000 N (cos0) 2000 N (sin0)
equilibrant of two forces. B 1500 N (cos60) 1500 N (sin60)
The term Resultant force is the C 1000 N 1000 N
result of adding two or more vectors (cos150) (sin150)
together. This happens when several D 3800 N 3800 N
different forces act on an object (cos225) (sin225)
simultaneously. The presence of an X Y
additional force balancing the resultant A 2000 N 0 N
force is termed equilibrant and is acquired B 750 N 1299 N
by getting the negative vector of the C -866 N 500 N
resultant. D -2687 N -2687 N

SUM -803 N -888 N
2. If three concurrent forces are in
Magnitude:
equilibrium, what is the relation between
any one of the three forces and the ! + ! = (! )! + (! )!
resultant of the other two forces?
Considering that the equilibrant ! + ! = (803 N)! + (888 N)!
force causes the forces to be in the state ! + ! = 1197.23
Direction:
of equilibrium, the sum of the equilibrant !!!
force and the resultant force is zero. This = tan!!
!!!
also implies that they have the equivalent 888 N
magnitude but the reverse direction. The = tan!!
803 N
collective forces are the resultant forces = 47.88
of the possible combinations of any two = 47.88 + 180
forces. Any of the force that is not = 227.88
combined with the other two will be the Resultant force = (1197.23 N, 227.88)
equilibrant force.
References
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