TORQUE: SECOND CONDITION

OF EQUILIBRIUM
Merebeth Ann V. Pedroso, PHY11L/A2

Abstract
In this experiment, the students are required to (a) analyze systems in equilibrium
using the second condition and (b) distinguish some of the second condition of equilibriums
use and significance. Torque is the ability of a force to change the rotational motion of a
particle. Having a zero total torque in a system signifies that the system is in equilibrium.
This is the second condition of equilibrium. This happens when the lever arm of the rotating
body is zero, or the arm did not rotated at all.
Keywords: torque, second condition of equilibrium

Introduction
The ability of a force to rotate a particle is called torque. It is the vector product of the
vector position and the force acting on a particle.
dL
=r x
F =rFsin=
dt
Where r is the vector position, F is the force applied on the particle and

(1)

is the

angle of the force from the radial component of force. Dl is the equivalent of the change in
angular momentum and dt is the change in time.
Torque for a body which rotates about a circular path is directly proportional to the
angular acceleration and the bodys moment of inertia.
=I

(2)

Where I is the rigid bodys moment of inertia and is its angular acceleration.
If the body does not rotate about its axis of rotation, the length of the lever arm
produced is zero. This is the second condition of equilibrium. There is no motion produced
when the lever arm stay at rest and will not move about its axis.
The objectives of this experiment are to: a) analyze systems in equilibrium using the
second condition and b) distinguish some of second condition of equilibrium use and
significance.
1

Methodology

The materials used for this experiment are: model balance, weights, a meter stick, a
protractor, weight pans and a spring balance.
The model balance is calibrated by proper alignment on the iron stand and the angle
guide. The model balance must retain that balanced position before adding the weights.
On the first pan, labeled P1 a 10g weight was placed over it. The second pan was
adjusted accordingly so that the system will be in equilibrium. The length L 1 from P1 to the
center of gravity of the model balance was measured by meter stick. The length from the
center to the P2 was also measured and recorded. After this part of Trial 1, a weight has been
placed on P2. Similarly, the system was adjusted to equilibrium using the first pan. The length
of the P1 on the left side is recorded as L 3 while the length of the pan from the right side is
measured as L4. These procedures were done for three trials with three different weights
placed on the pan.
The computation of the mass for the P1 and P2:

P1=

L4
( L1 W 1 +L2 W 2)
L2 L3L1 L4

P2=

(3)

L3
( P W 1 )
L4 1

(4)
Where P1 is the weight of the first pan, P2 is the weight of pan 2; L1 and L3 is the
length of the P1 from the axis of rotation (first then second part of the trials respectively). L2
and L4 is the length from the P2 to the axis of rotation (first then second part of the trials
respectively).
The second part of the experiment is the determination of the force needed to be in
equilibrium. For the first trial, 50g weight was placed on P 1, the spring balance was
positioned so that the model balance would stay in equilibrium; the angle of inclination did
not exceed 900. The angle of inclination of the hook from the model balance was measured.
L1 was measured from pan 1 to the axis of rotation; L2 is the horizontal distance from the
hook to the iron stand. The force is computed using Equation the second condition of
equilibrium. The second trial used the same procedure as the first trail but the hook was
placed on the right side of the model balance.

The last part of the experiment performed was to determine the weight of the beam.
The second hole in the beam was used as the slot to balance the whole system. A 50g weight
was placed on P1. The pan was positioned so that the system will be in equilibrium. The
distance of the new axis of rotation from P1 and the beam was measured, L1 and L2
respectively. Several trials were repeated with different mass on the pan.

Results and Discussion

Table 1. Determining the Weight of the Pans
Actual Value of Pan 1 P1= 24.8 g
Actual Value of Pan 2 P2= 24.8 g
Trial
L1
W1=10 g
1
17.5 cm
W2 = 5 g
W1 = 15 g
2
12.8 cm
W2 = 25 g
W1 = 30 g
3
10.0 cm
W2 = 20 g

L2

L3

L4

P1(computed)

P2(computed)

25.3 cm

22.3 cm

18.0 cm

21.78 g

20.788 g

20.5 cm

15.3 cm

8.0 cm

26.68 g

26.03 g

23.0 cm

22.7 cm

13.2 cm

25.7 g

24.22 g

24.76 g
0.16 %

23.68 g
4.73 %

Average
Percent Difference

Table 2. Determining the Force Needed to be in Equilibrium

Trial
1
2

L1

L2

W1 + P1

22.3 cm
22.7 cm

7.4 cm
14.5 cm

74.8 g
74.8 g

Fcomputed

Fmeasured

282.2 g
1246 g

280 g
120 g

%
difference
0.78%
3.76%

Table 3. Determining the Weight of the Beam

Trial
1
2
3

L1
13.9 cm
12.0 cm
10.9 cm

L2
7.6 cm
7.6 cm
7.6 cm

W1 + P1
WB (Computed)
WB (Measured)
74.8 g
136.8 g
84.8 g
133.9 g
136.6 g
94.8 g
137.8 g
Average Weight of Beam, WB = 136.2 g
Percent Difference = 0.32%

The first part of the experiment, the positions of Pan 1 and Pan 2 varies depending on the
weight they contain. The pan with the heavier mass must be placed closer to the axis of
rotation. Consequently, the empty pan which will be moved to compensate the heaviness of
the first pan must be positioned away from the axis.
3

From Equation 1, the torque is dependent on the sine component of the angle of inclination.
The nearer the angle of inclination to zero, the higher stability there is for the system. The
more it approaches zero, the more it reaches the second condition of equilibrium which will
not move the lever arm.
To determine the weight of the beam, the axis of rotation was moved to the second hole in
the model balance. This will shift center of gravity of the beam so that it does not pass
through the new axis of rotation.

Conclusion
The objectives of this experiment are to: a) analyze systems in equilibrium using the
second condition and b) distinguish some of second condition of equilibrium use and
significance.
The second condition of equilibrium requires that the total torque of the system be
zero. This can be achieved by not having the lever be stable. In systems where two
unbalanced mass are placed on either end of the lever arms, the heavier mass is placed closer
to the axis of rotation. The second condition of equilibrium could also be achieved by having
the angle of inclination be approaching zero. The axis of rotation can affect the center of
gravity of a system.

References
BOOK
[1] Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A., & Ford, A. (2008). UNIVERSITY PHYSICS with Modern
Physics (12th ed.). California: Pearson.