Mechanical equilibrium of a rod: proposal for the physics laboratory

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26512/rpf.v3i3.26277

Keywords:

Equilibrium conditions of a rigid body. Moment of a force. Physics teaching.

Abstract

This article describes a low coast and didactic experiment that aims to teach the concepts of resultants torque and forces concerning the physical conditions for the equilibrium of a body. A plastic ruler is pivoted in its left extremity and supports a weight at the other extremity. The ruler is kept horizontal by a third force applied through a dynamometer. The calculation of the intensity of the force in terms of the weight supported by the system and the dynamometer positions on the ruler agrees with the experimental results

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Author Biographies

Ubaldo Martins Neves, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Ubaldo M. Neves is a professor and researcher at the Federal University of São Carlos. He teaches physics, biophysics and math to engineering and biology students. He is interested in developing new sustainable materials as well as teaching natural science and mathematics.

Thiago Calsolari, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Thiago Calcolari is a physicist and acts as a Physics Technician at the Federal University of São Carlos, Lagoa do Sino campus.

References

ALONSO, M., FINN, E.J. Um curso Universitário-Mecânica. 2. ed., vol. 1, São Paulo, Bucher, 2014.

Graph [programa de computador- Versão 4.4.2, 2012)] Disponível livremente em: https://www.padowan.dk/download/ Acesso em junho de 2019.

Origin [programa de computador- Versão 8.5, 2010] OriginLab Corp., Northampton, MA, 2003.

SEARS, F., ZEMANSKY, M., Física. Vol.1, 12 ed., São Paulo, Pearson Addison Wesley, 2008.

Published

2019-12-21

How to Cite

NEVES, Ubaldo Martins; CALSOLARI, Thiago. Mechanical equilibrium of a rod: proposal for the physics laboratory. Journal of the Physics Teacher, [S. l.], v. 3, n. 3, p. 69–75, 2019. DOI: 10.26512/rpf.v3i3.26277. Disponível em: https://periodicos.unb.br/index.php/rpf/article/view/26277. Acesso em: 15 jul. 2025.