Practice Statics in Physics

Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.

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Quick Recap

Statics is the study of objects in equilibrium, where the net force and net torque are both zero.

If something is not speeding up, slowing down, or rotating more, the pushes and twists must balance.

Showing a random 20 of 50 problems.

Example 1

medium
A 10 kg sign hangs from a wire at 30โˆ˜30^\circ above horizontal and a horizontal strut. Find the wire tension's required vertical component (g=10โ€‰m/s2g = 10\,\text{m/s}^2).

Example 2

medium
A 20 N weight hangs from the middle of a horizontal rope whose two halves each make 30โˆ˜30^\circ below horizontal. Find the tension in each half.

Example 3

hard
A 6060 kg person walks out on a uniform 44 m, 2020 kg diving board cantilevered from the left end. How far from the support can the person walk if the board tip can hold 500500 N downward before snapping? (g=10g = 10 m/s2^2.)

Example 4

challenge
A 11 m uniform rod of mass 22 kg is balanced on a knife-edge at 0.30.3 m from the left end. A 55 N force pushes vertically downward at the right end. Find the location of an additional 1010 N downward force on the left side that keeps the rod balanced. (g=10g = 10 m/s2^2.)

Example 5

easy
A picture hangs from two equal wires, each making the same angle, sharing a 40โ€‰N40\,\text{N} weight. Find the vertical component each wire supports.

Example 6

medium
A sign weighing 8080 N hangs from a wire making 40โˆ˜40^\circ above the horizontal and a horizontal strut. Find the tension in the wire.

Example 7

easy
A sign hangs in equilibrium pulled left by 12โ€‰N12\,\text{N} and right by an unknown horizontal force. Find that force.

Example 8

challenge
A 4 m uniform beam (weight 100โ€‰N100\,\text{N}) is hinged at the wall and held horizontal by a cable at the far end at 30โˆ˜30^\circ above the beam. Find the cable tension (take torques about the hinge).

Example 9

medium
A 4040 N picture hangs from two wires meeting overhead at an angle of 120โˆ˜120^\circ between them. Find the tension in each wire (symmetric).

Example 10

easy
An object is in static equilibrium. What must be true of the net force and net torque on it?

Example 11

medium
A uniform beam (weight 80โ€‰N80\,\text{N}, length 4โ€‰m4\,\text{m}) is supported at 1โ€‰m1\,\text{m} from the left end and at the right end. Find the right support force (take torques about the left support point).

Example 12

easy
A torque of 10โ€‰N\cdotpm10\,\text{Nยทm} clockwise acts on a balanced beam. What counterclockwise torque is needed for rotational equilibrium?

Example 13

easy
A 100 N weight rests symmetrically on two identical supports. By symmetry, find each support's force.

Example 14

easy
For an object in static equilibrium, both the net force and the net __________ must be zero.

Example 15

medium
A uniform 2 m beam weighing 40โ€‰N40\,\text{N} rests on a support at its left end and one at its right end. Find the force on the right support (weight acts at center).

Example 16

easy
A box hangs from a single vertical rope. If the box weighs 50โ€‰N50\,\text{N} and is in equilibrium, find the rope tension.

Example 17

hard
A uniform 300300 N, 55 m ladder leans against a frictionless wall; the floor coefficient is ฮผs=0.4\mu_s = 0.4. Base 33 m from wall, top 44 m up. Will it slip?

Example 18

medium
A uniform 33 m beam weighs 6060 N and is supported by a pivot 11 m from the left and a vertical cable at the right end. Find the cable tension.

Example 19

medium
A horizontal 66 m massless beam is pinned at the wall and held at the far end by a cable at 40โˆ˜40^\circ above the beam. A 9090 N weight hangs at 44 m from the wall. Find the cable tension.

Example 20

medium
A 30 N weight hangs from the middle of a rope whose two halves each make 30โˆ˜30^\circ below horizontal. Find the tension in each half (symmetric).
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