I am Keerthi K Murthy, I have completed post graduation in Physics, with the specialization in the field of solid state physics. I have always consider physics as a fundamental subject which is connected to our daily life. Being a science student I enjoy exploring new things in physics. As a writer my goal is to reach the readers with the simplified manner through my articles.
Magnetic field and magnetic induction are two closely related concepts in electromagnetism, but they have distinct physical meanings and units. The magnetic field, denoted as $\mathbf{H}$, is a measure of the magnetic force per unit charge, while magnetic induction, denoted as $\mathbf{B}$, is a measure of the magnetic flux density. Understanding the differences and relationships between these two quantities is crucial for understanding various electromagnetic phenomena and applications.
Magnetic Field ($\mathbf{H}$)
The magnetic field, $\mathbf{H}$, is a vector field that describes the magnetic force per unit charge at every point in space. It is measured in amperes per meter (A/m) in the SI system. The magnetic field is often generated by moving charges, such as current-carrying wires, and it can exert a force on other charged particles or magnetic materials.
Theorem: Ampère’s Circuital Law
Ampère’s circuital law relates the magnetic field to the electric current that generates it. The law states that the line integral of the magnetic field around a closed loop is proportional to the electric current passing through the loop:
$\oint\mathbf{H}\cdot d\mathbf{l} = \mathbf{J}$
where $\mathbf{J}$ is the current density vector.
Physics Formula: Magnetic Field of a Long Straight Wire
For a long straight wire carrying a current $I$, the magnetic field at a distance $r$ from the wire is given by:
$\mathbf{B} = \mu_0\frac{I}{2\pi r}$
where $\mu_0$ is the magnetic permeability of free space, with a value of $4\pi\times 10^{-7}$ H/m.
Physics Example: Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
Consider a solenoid with $N$ turns and a cross-sectional area $A$. If a current $I$ is passed through the solenoid, it generates a magnetic field $\mathbf{B} = \mu_0nI$, where $n = N/L$ is the number of turns per unit length.
Physics Numerical Problem: Magnetic Field of a Long Straight Wire
A long straight wire carries a current $I = 10$ A. What is the magnetic field at a distance $r = 2$ cm from the wire?
Solution:
Using Ampère’s law, we have:
$\oint\mathbf{B}\cdot d\mathbf{l} = \mu_0I$
Simplifying, we get:
$B(2\pi r) = \mu_0I$
Solving for $B$, we get:
$B = \mu_0\frac{I}{2\pi r} = 4\pi\times 10^{-7}\frac{10}{2\pi\times 0.02} = 0.1$ T
Magnetic Induction ($\mathbf{B}$)
Magnetic induction, also known as magnetic flux density, is denoted as $\mathbf{B}$ and is measured in Tesla (T) in the SI system. It is a measure of the magnetic flux through a given area and is related to the magnetic field through the relationship $\mathbf{B} = \mu\mathbf{H}$, where $\mu$ is the magnetic permeability of the medium.
Theorem: Faraday’s Law of Induction and Lenz’s Law
Faraday’s law of induction states that the induced electromotive force (EMF) in a conductor is proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the conductor:
$\varepsilon = -N\frac{d\Phi}{dt}$
where $\varepsilon$ is the induced EMF, $N$ is the number of turns in the coil, and $\Phi$ is the magnetic flux through the coil.
Lenz’s law states that the direction of the induced current is such that it opposes the change in the magnetic field that induced it.
Physics Formula: Relationship between Magnetic Field and Magnetic Induction
The relationship between the magnetic field $\mathbf{H}$ and the magnetic induction $\mathbf{B}$ is given by:
$\mathbf{B} = \mu\mathbf{H}$
where $\mu$ is the magnetic permeability of the medium.
Physics Example: Induced EMF in a Changing Magnetic Field
Consider a solenoid with $N$ turns and cross-sectional area $A$. If a current $I$ is passed through the solenoid, it generates a magnetic field $\mathbf{B} = \mu_0nI$, where $n = N/L$ is the number of turns per unit length. If the current is changing, then there is a changing magnetic flux through the solenoid, which induces an EMF according to Faraday’s law:
Physics Numerical Problem: Induced EMF in a Changing Magnetic Field
A circular coil of radius $R = 10$ cm has $N = 100$ turns and is placed in a uniform magnetic field $\mathbf{B} = 0.5$ T directed perpendicular to the plane of the coil. If the magnetic field is decreasing at a rate of $d\mathbf{B}/dt = -0.1$ T/s, what is the induced EMF in the coil?
Solution:
Using Faraday’s law, we have:
$\varepsilon = -N\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = -N\pi R^2\frac{dB}{dt} = -100\pi(0.1)^2(-0.1) = 0.314$ V
Physics Numerical Problem: Induced EMF in a Moving Coil
A rectangular coil of width $w = 5$ cm and length $l = 10$ cm is moving with a velocity $\mathbf{v} = 2$ m/s in a uniform magnetic field $\mathbf{B} = 0.5$ T directed perpendicular to the plane of the coil. What is the induced EMF in the coil?
Solution:
The magnetic flux through the coil is given by:
$\Phi = \mathbf{B}\cdot\mathbf{A} = \mathbf{B}lw$
The rate of change of the magnetic flux is:
$\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = \mathbf{B}l\frac{dw}{dt} = \mathbf{B}lv$
Using Faraday’s law, we have:
$\varepsilon = -N\frac{d\Phi}{dt} = -N\mathbf{B}lv = -N(0.5)(0.1)(2) = -0.01$ V
Figures, Data Points, Values, and Measurements
Magnetic field strength: $\mathbf{H}$ is measured in A/m (ampere per meter) in the SI system.
Magnetic induction: $\mathbf{B}$ is measured in Tesla (T) in the SI system.
Magnetic permeability: $\mu$ is measured in Henry per meter (H/m) in the SI system.
Magnetic flux: $\Phi$ is measured in Weber (Wb) in the SI system.
Electromotive force: $\varepsilon$ is measured in Volts (V) in the SI system.
Current: $I$ is measured in Amperes (A) in the SI system.
Charge: $q$ is measured in Coulombs (C) in the SI system.
Velocity: $\mathbf{v}$ is measured in meters per second (m/s) in the SI system.
Electric field: $\mathbf{E}$ is measured in Volts per meter (V/m) in the SI system.
Force: $\mathbf{F}$ is measured in Newtons (N) in the SI system.
Magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields are closely related concepts in the realm of physics, with magnetic fields being a fundamental component of electromagnetic fields. Understanding the nuances between these two phenomena is crucial for physics students to grasp the underlying principles of electromagnetism. This comprehensive guide will delve into the technical details, formulas, and practical applications of magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields, providing a valuable resource for physics enthusiasts.
Magnetic Fields: Fundamentals and Measurements
Magnetic fields are created by the motion of electric charges, such as the flow of electric current in a wire or the spin of electrons within atoms. These fields are responsible for the magnetic forces that can attract or repel other magnetic objects. The strength of a magnetic field is typically measured in units of tesla (T) or gauss (G), with the Earth’s magnetic field having a strength of approximately 0.5 gauss (0.00005 tesla).
The strength of a magnetic field can be determined by measuring the force it exerts on a moving charge, as described by the Lorentz force equation:
$\vec{F} = q\vec{v} \times \vec{B}$
where $\vec{F}$ is the force exerted on the charge, $q$ is the charge, $\vec{v}$ is the velocity of the charge, and $\vec{B}$ is the magnetic field.
Magnetic fields can be visualized using magnetic field lines, which represent the direction and strength of the field. These field lines are typically depicted as originating from the north pole of a magnet and terminating at the south pole, forming a continuous loop.
Electromagnetic Fields: Characteristics and Measurements
Electromagnetic fields, on the other hand, are created by both electric and magnetic fields, and they are responsible for electromagnetic forces. These fields can be measured in units of volts per meter (V/m) or amperes per meter (A/m), depending on the specific quantity being measured.
The strength of an electromagnetic field can be determined by measuring the force it exerts on a stationary charge, as described by Coulomb’s law:
where $\vec{F}$ is the force exerted on the charge, $q_1$ and $q_2$ are the charges, $\epsilon_0$ is the permittivity of free space, $r$ is the distance between the charges, and $\hat{r}$ is the unit vector in the direction of the force.
Electromagnetic fields can be classified into different frequency ranges, including extremely low frequency (ELF) fields, radio frequency (RF) fields, and microwave fields. Each of these ranges has distinct properties and potential effects on living organisms.
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Fields
ELF fields have frequencies below 300 Hz and can penetrate deep into the body. These fields have been linked to various health effects, including cancer and neurological disorders.
Radio Frequency (RF) Fields
RF fields have frequencies between 3 kHz and 300 GHz and can cause heating of biological tissue. They have been associated with cancer and other health effects.
Microwave Fields
Microwave fields have frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz and are used in wireless communication devices. They have been linked to cancer, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems.
Practical Applications and Examples
Magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields have numerous practical applications in various fields, including:
Electricity Generation and Transmission: Magnetic fields are essential in the generation and transmission of electricity, as they are used in the operation of generators, transformers, and electric motors.
Medical Imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) rely on the interaction between magnetic fields and the human body to produce detailed images for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Telecommunications: Electromagnetic fields are the foundation of wireless communication technologies, such as radio, television, and cellular networks.
Particle Accelerators: Powerful magnetic fields are used in particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), to guide and control the motion of charged particles.
Magnetic Levitation: Magnetic fields can be used to levitate objects, as seen in maglev trains, which use electromagnetic forces to lift and propel the train above the tracks.
Numerical Examples and Calculations
Calculating the Magnetic Field Strength: Suppose a current-carrying wire has a current of 10 amperes (A) and the distance from the wire to the point of interest is 0.2 meters (m). Using the formula for the magnetic field strength around a current-carrying wire:
$B = \frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi r}$
where $\mu_0$ is the permeability of free space (4$\pi \times 10^{-7}$ T⋅m/A), $I$ is the current, and $r$ is the distance from the wire. Plugging in the values, we get:
Calculating the Electromagnetic Field Strength: Consider a power line with a voltage of 230 volts (V) and a current of 50 amperes (A). Assuming the distance from the power line is 10 meters (m), we can calculate the electromagnetic field strength using the formula:
The resulting electromagnetic field strength is 23 V/m and 0.1 G.
These examples demonstrate the application of the fundamental equations and formulas used to quantify magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields, providing physics students with a practical understanding of these concepts.
Conclusion
Magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields are intrinsically linked, with magnetic fields being a crucial component of electromagnetic fields. Understanding the nuances between these two phenomena, their measurements, and their practical applications is essential for physics students to grasp the underlying principles of electromagnetism. This comprehensive guide has provided a detailed exploration of the technical details, formulas, and examples related to magnetic fields and electromagnetic fields, equipping physics enthusiasts with a valuable resource for their studies and research.
Detailed Explanation of Neutral equilibrium Examples
In general, the neutral equilibrium can also be stated as “On application of the external force to an object, the system’s equilibrium position is slightly disturbed. Object tends to move to another position, where the system again attains the same equilibrium by achieving a stationary state in the new position without the influence of external force.” In this section, you will learn a detailed explanation of the above-mentioned neutral equilibrium examples.
Motion of sphere
The motion of the sphere on the horizontal surface attains neutral equilibrium when it moves to a new position away from its original position. An external force is required to move the sphere away. When the force is exerted, the sphere begins to move, and after reaching some distance, the sphere retards its motion, and it will remain in its new position without causing further motion. Thus, the motion of the sphere in the horizontal plane is one of the neutral equilibrium examples.
When an external force is applied to the ball, it begins to move, settling in the new position. The ball will remain in its new position until an external force triggers the ball to move. Thus ball acquires the equilibrium in its new position same as the previous position. The ball does not require any external agent to be stationary, so the equilibrium established is nothing but neutral equilibrium.
Dropping a heavy object from a certain height is one of the excellent neutral equilibrium examples because gravity influences the object to fall and to land on the surface. Due to the heavyweight, the object does not bounce back to its initial position, and it does not undergo further movement, so it will remain in a new position attaining the neutral equilibrium.
Egg-laying on the horizontal surface
The egg-laying on the surface has a neutral equilibrium because of its position. The egg remains in the same position without moving until any external force influences them to move. Even when the egg is made to move by applying force, it will again become stationary as soon as the external force is removed.
Roller
When the roller is disturbed from its previous position and made to move towards another position, the roller will remain in rest at its new position, neither returning to its previous position nor moving further; thus, neutral equilibrium is established.
A car parked on the road without the handbrake
If you park the car on the straight road without the handbrake, the car will be in a stationary state. Thus there is no external force acting on the car to hold it. So the neutral equilibrium comes into play when you park the car without applying the handbrake.
When the charged particle is suspended in the charged sphere, the charged particles never return to their previous position until an external force is exerted. The charged particles remain stationary without the influence of the external source; thus, the charged particle has neutral equilibrium inside the charged sphere.
Sliding a book on the table
To slide the book on the table of a horizontal surface, you exert some force. When you apply some force on the book to slide, it travels some distance and then becomes stationary and never returns to its previous position on its own; thus, neutral equilibrium is established.
Marbles will lay on the horizontal surface without any external force.When an external force acts on the marbles to move them to another position, it will remain in that position and do not move further on its ownand never return to its previous position without external force; thus, they have neutral equilibrium.
Pushing a heavy box
If you push a heavy box, it will keep on moving until you keep on pushing. As soon as you stop pushing, the box stops its motion and becomes stationary. If the box is filled with objects, they also become stationary as you stop pushing; thus, neutral equilibrium is established. The box and the object inside the box do not require any external support to hold them stationary.
The pencil easily rolls on the surface as soon as you touch it because of its shape. When the pencil rolls on the surface, it reaches another position where its motion is retarded. The pencil never returns back to its previous position on its own; thus, neutral equilibrium is set up.
Applying cream to the skin is one of the interesting neutral equilibrium examples because viscosity largely influences the cream. Creams such as sunscreen are vicious in nature; thus, the cream will spread over your skin until you spread them over. Viscosity restricts the cream from spreading over on its own. The cream will settle at the position and never movers forward if you stop spreading.
A bottle requires an external force to move, but it does not require any external force to be at rest. The bottle laying on the horizontal surface possesses neutral equilibrium bearing potential energy.
Cone resting on one side is balanced by all the forces acting on them as the resultant normal force is acting vertically upward, and the weight of the cone is acting vertically downward. Suppose the position of the cone is slightly displaced; all these forces balance and attain neutral equilibrium.
Sliding doors will be in neutral equilibrium before and after sliding. When you slide the door, it overcomes from the stationary state and moves to the other side. As soon as the door reaches the other side, it again acquires a stationary state until you exert some force on them to move.
Floating of a cylindrical log
A cylindrical log has a neutral equilibrium while floating because the log does not move further, and it does not return to its initial position until an external force triggers it.
A cup of hot tea at 80°C placed in a 20°C room reaches thermal equilibrium when both the tea and surrounding air stabilize at a mid-range temperature, say 25°C, due to heat transfer. This follows the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics, where if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third, they are in equilibrium with each other. The rate of heat exchange is proportional to the temperature difference, as per Fourier’s law of heat conduction.
The surrounding air molecules are convenient thermal equilibrium examples because the air molecule attains the temperature same as the surrounding temperature and is in equilibrium with nature. The surrounding temperature is transferred to the air molecule to balance the temperature.
Hot water in a thermos flask
Thermos flasks are isolated systems, so there will be no flow of heat out of the system. This is one of the good thermal equilibrium examples when the hot water is poured into the flasks. The temperature of the water is transferred to the flasks; thus, the equilibrium is established between the flasks and the water. When you open the lid of the flasks, the stream of water rushes out is because of the balance of thermal equilibrium.
If you pour a hot coffee into the cold cup, the cup becomes hot same as the coffee. The hotness of the coffee is transferred to the cup; thus, the coffee is in equilibrium with respect to the cup by transferring its temperature to the cup.
When automobiles are driven for a long time, the engine gets heated. As the automobile is retard from the motion and is under a stationary state, after some time, the engine cools down, and its temperature becomes equal to the surrounding temperature; thus, the state of equilibrium is attained by the engine with respect to the surrounding temperature.
Electronic devices
All electronic devices heated up while running. This heat is not permanent. The devices cool down after some time to be in equilibrium with the surrounding environment, thus satisfying the thermal equilibrium condition.
Products kept in the fridge.
If you keep any product overnight inside the refrigerator, it becomes cool. In this case, the coldness of the refrigerator is making the product cool. Thus the temperature of the refrigerator and the product will be the same. Hence the thermal equilibrium is generated between the refrigerator and the product.
If you hold any marble for a long time, the temperature of your hand and the marble will be equal. This can be well defined as the marble is in thermal equilibrium with the hand as the temperature of the hand is transferred to the marble until it becomes equal. Thus holding a marble in hand is one of the best thermal equilibrium examples.
Take a glass of water at room temperature and put some ice cubes in the same water. The ice gradually melts by exchanging its temperature with water. The exchange of the temperature between the water and the ice cubes takes place until both water and ice attain the same temperature, thus satisfying the equilibrium condition.
If you keep the ice cream out of the refrigerator for some time, it interacts with the surroundings, and a transfer of heat will occur. The ice cream melts until its temperature matches the surrounding temperature. Thus ice cream will be in equilibrium with the surrounding satisfying the thermal equilibrium.
Butters are very sensitive to temperature. When the butter comes into contact with different temperatures, the butter melts and tries to be in equilibrium with the surrounding. Thus melting the butter is one of the excellent thermal equilibrium examples.
Formation of Glaciers
At the poles, the permanent glaciers in the sea are one of the natural thermal equilibrium examples. Due to global warming, the temperature near the sea increases rapidly; thus, the ice melts, creating glaciers. The glaciers are in thermal equilibrium with the sea near the poles.
If you have a fever, you will check your body’s temperature using a thermometer. In this case, your body temperature is transformed to a thermometer consisting of mercury. As the heat is supplied, the mercury begins to rise until your body temperature, and the mercury becomes equal. When both the temperature becomes the same, there will be no transfer of heat from the body, and the rising mercury is also stopped. The point where the mercury has stopped its motion is recorded as your body’s temperature.
When the contact between your body and the thermometer is removed, the mercury begins to move downward and settles at its original position until it reaches zero. In both cases, the mercury is in equilibrium with the given surrounding. Before coming into contact with your body, the thermometer is in balance with the surrounding environment. When it comes to your body contact, the thermal equilibrium is set between the thermometer and your body. Once released from your body contact, the thermometer will attain equilibrium with the surrounding once again.
Human body
The human body, after death, will become cold is due to the thermal equilibrium. There will be a transfer of heat between the body, and the surrounding takes place to balance the temperature. This process takes only for little time after death to achieve thermal equilibrium.
The hand kept on a cold rail.
If you keep your hand on a cold rail, your hands get cold. The coldness of the rail is transferred to your hand to balance the temperature. Once the temperature of your hand and the rail becomes the same, the thermal equilibrium between the rail and hand is achieved.
Have you ever entered the AC room? If you have, then you have experienced your body becoming cold or hot depending on the temperature of the AC sets. Your body achieves the same temperature as the AC as you enter the room. Thus thermal equilibrium is set up between you and the room.
Mixing hot and the cold water
When you mix the hot water and the cold water, the hot water transfer its temperature to cold water, and the cold water gives its coldness to the hot water; thus, the exchange of temperature between them take place. This process takes place until no heat is left to exchange; thus, thermal equilibrium is generated.
Dynamic equilibrium simple refers to the physical system moving with a constant uniform velocity where net force and torque acting on the system will be zero.
In our daily life, we encounter many systems moving with constant velocity. Such dynamic equilibrium examples are listed below.
A detailed explanation of dynamic equilibrium examples
Any physical system possessing dynamic equilibrium, the linear acceleration and the angular acceleration will be so that the net force acting on the system is zero, obeying Newton’s second law of motion. The detailed explanation above listed dynamic equilibrium is given in this section.
The raindrop reaches the earth from the cloud at a certain velocity. The speed of the raindrop increases while reaching the earth is only because of the acceleration due to gravity. Each drop of rain moves with the same velocity. Due to air resistance and friction, the increase in speed of the raindrop is balanced to achieve constant velocity. So that raindrop attains the equilibrium condition. Thus raindrops are considered as one of the dynamic equilibrium examples.
If you open any chilled soft drink bottle like coco-cola, the drink will rise up by making some hisss sound. This is because soft drinks consist of carbon dioxide in both aqueous and gas forms. Before opening the bottle, the gaseous carbon dioxide and the aqueous carbon dioxide are balanced by the dynamic equilibrium. As soon as the bottle seal opened, the gaseous carbon dioxide dissolved in liquid carbon dioxide and spilt out of the bottle with bubbles.
A fan rotating with constant velocity is one of the excellent dynamic equilibrium examples. When the fan is rotating with constant velocity, the angular acceleration and the torque acting on the fan are nullified, thus balanced by the dynamic equilibrium.
The dynamic equilibrium in some contests is also defined as the amount of substance entering the system must be equal to the amount of substance leaving the system. The water sink is one among such dynamic equilibrium examples. When you simply open the faucet, the water comes out, and it leaves through the drain. The amount of water coming out of the faucet and amount of water draining is equal, and it is proportional to the height of the water standing on the sink. The water stands in the sink until the amount of water entering the water become equal to the amount leaving through the drain. This situation seems static, but it is a dynamic equilibrium.
The aircraft flying in the sky is the best dynamic equilibrium example. The four forces balance the successful flying of aircraft; the first one is lift acting in the upward direction of the plane and the force of gravity acting downward, the thrust acting as a forward force, and the air drag is acting as the backward force. These four forces balance each other to set the equilibrium condition. Since the aircraft is under constant motion, thus the equilibrium is dynamic.
To weigh the things, we use a balance scale. This balance scale works only in equilibrium conditions. If you put an object at one of the platforms of the balance scale and you need to put the same amount of material on another platform of the scale to weigh correctly. When the weights at both platforms become equal, the scale achieves the dynamic equilibrium.
If you have ever been stuck in traffic, you would have felt the dynamic equilibrium. The vehicles in the traffic usually move with constant velocity. If the traffic is on the bridge or flyover, the number of the vehicle entering the bridge and living the bridge will be equal. Thus vehicles in the traffic are under dynamic equilibrium.
The static air is one of the best dynamic equilibrium examples. The static air causes each particle in the air to move with constant velocity; thus, the whole room will be under dynamic equilibrium as there is no flux in the room. The room will be in dynamic equilibrium with respect to the particle’s movement.
If you try to fill the water in a bucket having a hole, the bucket will be in dynamic equilibrium. As you fill the water, it will flow out of the bucket through the hole.
A diver jumped from the plane.
If a parachute driver just jumped out of the plane, he will be accelerated due to gravity. The two forces influence the diver; the force of gravity makes the diver accelerate downward while the airlift makes the diver move upward. Thus the diver achieves the constant velocity and hence sets the dynamic equilibrium examples.
Rotation of the second needle of the clock
The second needle in the clock rotates continuously. The continuous rotation of the second needles is the best dynamic equilibrium examples because the second needle moves with constant angular velocity; thus, the torque and the angular acceleration will be zero.
A Bowling ball is a game of rolling the ball on the ramp that hits the pin. The moving the balls are dynamic equilibrium examples because the ramp is frictionless, so the ball attains the constant velocity so that the net force will be zero as the acceleration is nullified.
When the coconut falls from the tree, the coconut’s velocity is due to gravity. When the coconut just begins to fall, the coconut will be under dynamic equilibrium. The coconut attains dynamic equilibrium because the two forces influence the coconut while falling. The upward force balances the downward force to acquire equilibrium conditions to zero net force.
Constructing bridges and buildings
The construction of hall buildings and the bridges are the best dynamic equilibrium examples as the engineers use the dynamic equilibrium condition in construction. While constructing, all the forces need to be balanced to keep the stead of the building. The structure of the building is balanced against the applied force; thus, dynamic equilibrium is exerted.
Every physical property is classified into two other properties based on the nature of dependency on the amount of substance. One is the intensive property, and the other one is an extensive property.
In the previous article, we know how the temperature is considered the physical property as they only define the amount of heating and cooling. In the general sense, every substance has a certain temperature irrespective of shape, size, and texture, then how is temperature an extensive property?
Before going to answer this question, let us learn the definition of intensive and extensive property.An intensive property is independent on the mass of the material. An intensive property does not alter even if the amount of the substance changes, while an extensive property is highly mass-dependent—the property of the substance changes when the amount of the substance changes.
Now its time to study detailed facts about how temperature is a physical property and the consequences regarding the extensive property of temperature.
The extensive property deals with the change in the temperature with the change in the amount of substance. Let us consider an example of a glass of water to illustrate is temperature an extensive property or not.
Take a full glass of water, check the temperature let us say it has acquired room temperature. Divide the water equally by pouring half the water into another glass and checking the temperature. Suppose the temperature of both halves filled glass of water is the same as that of a full glass of water before pouring. In that case, the property is intensive; if the temperature of half-filled glasses of water is reduced to half of the whole glass of water, then the property is extensive. If you have done it practically, the temperature of the water before and after dividing is the same. Thus temperature is not extensive property.
The change in temperature is referred to change the application of heat energy. By increasing the amount of heat supplied to the substance, it will gain temperature, and by decreasing the amount of heat, the substance loses the temperature.
Since the change in temperature is always associated with the heat supply, so let us take the heat energy to answer the above question; is temperature an extensive property even if the temperature changes. Heat supply corresponds to the internal energy of the substance possessing kinetic energy. However, the variation in the heat supply correlated to the change in the kinetic energy of the substance. Since kinetic energy is proportional to the mass and the velocity, the heat indirectly depends on the mass; thus, heat energy is an extensive property of the substance.
We know that temperature change is due to a change in the heat energy, but the difference in temperature does not depend on the mass of the substance. For better understanding, let us take an example of water which is well explained below.
If a liter of water is kept to boil, the water begins to evaporate; even if you boil half a liter of water to boil, it will get evaporated. The evaporation of the water takes place due to changes in the temperature. But the change in temperature does not cause due to external factors such as shape and structure. But it is only due to the internal motion of the water molecule by the application of heat; thus, the temperature is not influenced by the external aspects, so change in temperature is not an extensive property.
Many people get confused heat by temperature. Temperature is always due to the internal motion of the substance, which is not affected by the external appearance and quantity of the substance.
Heat is not a property; it is the energy required for the substance to attain temperature. So temperature and heat are interlinked with one another.
Heat always depends on the external appearance of the substance, such as shape, size, mass, and texture. Heat is a variable path entity.
At absolute zero temperature, no heat is transferred from the substance.
Even if the amount of heat transferred to the system to attain the temperature is kept constant, the temperature varies. So that even though heat is extensive, the temperature is intensive property.
Give some examples of the extensive property of the substances?
The substances whose physical behavior is dependent on external appearance and properties are
Mass
Volume
Entropy
Enthalpy
Internal energy
Heat capacity
Size and amount of the substance
Why can the temperature not be an extensive property?
The extensive property only depends on the amount of substance and the mass, while the temperature is independent of both quantities.
When a substance possesses a certain temperature, it does not depend on the mass and amount of the substance. The temperature of the substances remains the same even if you remove some amount from them. So that temperature is not an extensive property of a substance.
Heat is an extensive nature of the material; explain why?
Heat is the energy that can be transferred from one material to another material. To transfer the heat, the material’s mass, density, and size are highly influential.
The heat is a transfer from one material to another material that takes place in such a way that the material with different densities and mass undergoes heat transfer. One gain the heat, and consequently, another material loses its heat. Thus the transfer of heat energy is caused by the bulk property of the material; heat is extensive.
How can you distinguish between extensive and intensive property?
Both intensive and extensive properties of the materials are based on the nature of dependency on the other physical entities such as mass, amount, size, and shape of the material.
Any material property depending on the external feature rather than internal behavior property is known as extensive. While any material property influenced only by the internal nature and external factors of the material does not matter, such properties are known as intensive property.
How do you say the temperature is not depending on the external features while the heat is?
The transfer of heat from one material to another material is different. For example, let us consider heating water and iron.
If you supply the same amount of heat to both water and iron, the receiving ability of the iron and water is different. Iron gets heated more quickly than water due to its size and state. So it is evident that the amount of heat transferred to the iron and water depends on the size and the state of the substance, which is the external factor. But in the case of temperature, the same amount of heat supply causes the iron and water to achieve different temperatures due to their intermolecular structure and bond, which is the internal property of the substance.
What do you mean by absolute zero temperature?
Absolute zero temperature is the lowest possible temperature of a thermodynamic system.
At absolute zero temperature, every system possesses the lowest energy, and the motion of the atom relative to all other atoms is completely stopped; thus, the corresponding temperature in the scale is measured to be zero. Any object cannot achieve the temperature below the absolute zero temperature because every atom has retarded its motion, and no thermal motion is left to stop below this temperature.
We are familiar with the magnets which attract ferromagnetic material such as iron; it is the basic property of magnetism. By this, you may have a question that is magnetism a physical property?
Magnetism is a material property due to the exertion of force on the other material to attract or repel them. Magnetism deals with the physical interaction of the material. So in this post, let us discuss is magnetism a physical property and how is magnetism a physical property in detail.
Before going to answer the above-mentioned question, is magnetism a physical property? Let us learn the origin of magnetism. Material is made of several individual small particles called an atom. Each and every atom in the material consists of electrons that partially carries the electric charges. The motion of these electric charges is responsible for a material possessing magnetism.
The exciting property of the magnet is attraction and repulsion. Every magnet has two poles, the south and the north pole. When two opposite poles of magnets come closer, they are attracted by one another meanwhile, and if two like poles of magnets comes closer, they repel each other.
Attracting the unlike poles and repelling the like poles does not make any difference in the composition. The two magnets are able to sustain their magnetism even if they repel by the like pole or if they may get attracted by the like pole. And there is no chemical reaction take place by the magnetic property of the material. Thus magnetism is purely a physical property of the material.
Not every object possesses magnetism. The material must be attracted by the magnetic field to possess magnetism. The ferromagnetic materials are largely influenced by the magnetic field. In the process of magnetization, the motion of the orbital electron acquires kinetic energy; thus, the electron is influenced by the magnetic field to achieve the magnetic property.
Every material possesses some physical property that describes the nature of that material differs from other materials. Magnetism is the unique property exerted due to electron motion.
Electric current and magnetic moments of a particle in the atom gives the magnetic field. The metals which are highly influenced by the magnetic field can undergo magnetization to become permanent magnets. These magnets attract the material of iron. Attracting an object does not cause a change in the composition of an object, and it does not involve any chemical reaction. Thus, magnetism describes the special nature of the substance.
The magnetic property of the material is mainly due to the alignment of the atoms and their electronic configuration. Being attracted by the magnets does not change the electronic configuration of the iron; this gives evidence for magnetism as a physical property.
When the iron is placed near the magnet which radiates the magnetic field lines to cause the orbital electrons of the iron piece to acquire kinetic energy by causing the motion of iron towards the magnet. In general, we say that magnet attracts iron.
Every magnet possesses two poles; the north pole and the south pole. It is impossible to achieve a magnetic monopole. Even if you break a magnetic into two pieces, you will end up with two poles again.
Electron in an atom possesses both spin up and spin down state, which is responsible for the magnetic property. They exert a force on the charged particle in the atom to spin. All the atoms must possess the same orientation.
The strength of the magnets can be varied by varying the distance. If the distance between the magnet and the iron piece is large, the iron piece is less attracted by the magnet.
Magnetism is highly influenced by physical factors such as temperature and pressure. By increasing the temperature, the thermal motion of the electron causes to change in the alignment of the material and for pressure it is vice-versa.
We can also achieve temporary magnetism by applying electric current or by pacing the soft metal near the magnetic field. The temporary magnets made by passing electric current is often known as electro-magnets.
Magnetic field in the electro-magnets. Image credits: Pixabay
Any property which does not affect chemical behaviour and describes the physical nature of the material is considered to be physical property.
Temporary magnetism is obtained by either passing the electric current or by placing it in a permanent magnetic field for a long time, which makes soft metal achieve temporary magnetism. Bypassing the electric current, spinning of the orbital electron takes place; this alters the only physical property of the atom, not chemical property such as pH composition. Thus temporary magnetism is also physical property.
Is change in magnetism a physical property?
Magnetism is also can be changed. The change in magnetism refers to variation in the amount of attraction and repulsion of the metal.
Varying the distance leads to a change in magnetism. Magnetism is more when the magnet and the metal are closer. The varying distance is a change in the physical entity. It has nothing to do with chemical behavior; thus, a change in magnetism is also a physical property.
Is magnetism an intensive property or extensive property?
Magnetism is an intensive property.
When an iron piece is attracted by a magnet, the magnetism is not focused on the size and shape of either iron or magnet. And also, magnetism is not fond of how much amount of metal is attracted towards the magnet. Even if you place a small pin near the magnet, it will attract the pin irrespective of size, shape, and amount.
On what factor does change in magnetism depends?
The magnetism mainly depends on the two factors, they are
Temperature –rise in the temperature causes thermal motion of the charged particle; hence regular alignment of the atomic system of magnetic material is disturbed.
Applied magnetic field strength –stronger the magnetic field strength, the greater will be the magnetization.
What are factors affecting the field strength of a magnet?
There are several factors that may affect the magnetic field strength as they are applied to the magnets; they are
Heat –for certain magnetic materials, heat causes them to lose magnetization.
The magnetic field strength is highly suffered by the radiation damage if a high energy beam strikes them.
The close contact with other magnets highly affects the field strength of the magnets.
The supply of strong electric current in proximity can damage the field strength.
The magnet can also get corrosion due to humidity, which affects the field strength.
What is the importance of physical property?
Physical properties always characterize the physical behavior and nature of the matter. It also describes the defined state of the matter.
Most necessarily, physical property is important to understand how to handle and store the material. In some cases, physical properties are helpful to know the occurrence of the chemical reaction. So physical properties also act as indicators of the chemical reaction.
Temperature is the property of a material that measures the hotness and coldness of the material. The temperature of the material specifies the spontaneous flow of heat; then a question arises: Is temperature a physical quantity?
The temperature of the material is associated with the internal motion of the molecules so that the molecules acquire kinetic energy. As the temperature is concerned with the internal property of the material, we are trying to give why and how is temperature a physical property through this post.
The temperature is a physical property because it only gives the molecules of the material to possess kinetic energy, which causes random motion of the molecules inside the material, but it does not affect the molecular configuration which is associated with the composition. Since there is no change in the composition of the substance due to temperature; hence it is a physical property.
Each and every material possesses a certain temperature that describes its general property to explain how the temperature is physical by considering the thermometer as an example. The thermometer is a measuring device used to check the temperature of the substance.
The thermometer consists narrow glass tube which has mercury at the bottom of the tube. When the heat is supplied, the mercury expands and acquires kinetic energy and begins to rise. If the temperature falls, the mercury also falls back. In this process, the electronic configuration of the mercury does not change; only the mercury molecules attain kinetic energy causing the internal motion.
We cannot predict the temperature of the substance unless a change in physical property occurs. If a substance changes its shape, texture, color, hardness or size by varying the temperature, then we can say that change in temperature is a physical property.
Let us consider the example of iron or steel. Iron is a very hard material, and it is very tough to mold than to give the desired shape. When you heat the iron or steel above 460°C, the iron or steel glows with red color and also becomes soft and easy to mold. The change in the temperature of the iron or steel causes them to change in color and lose hardness, these two changes of iron and steel is nothing but the change in the physical property, which can be reversible when you cool them. Thus the change in temperature is also associated with the physical property.
How Is a change in temperature a physical property?
Heating and cooling any substance causes a change in the temperature. Since we know that temperature is nothing but the internal motion of the molecule, then arises a doubt that is the temperature a physical property if the internal motion of the molecule changes?
The answer to this question can be specified by considering the example of water. Water boils at 100°C and freezes below 4°C. This boiling and freezing of the water refer to a change in the temperature of the water. When the water boils, the vapors are formed. Here water transformed its state from liquid to gas, but the composition of the water remains the same as the molecule possessing 2-hydrogen and an oxygen atom held by a strong bond. Only the physical state of the molecule is changed. It is the same in the case of the formation of ice from water. When the water freezes below 4°C, the liquid water turns into the ice of solid-state.
Change in temperature of water
In both cases, the change in the temperature is due to the change in the motion of the molecules. If the molecular velocity is considered as the physical property, then change in temperature is also a physical property as the temperature is highly influenced by molecular motion.
If a chemical compound undergoes a chemical reaction with an increase or decrease in temperature, then how can we say temperature as a physical property?
Basically, chemical reactions are supposed to happen even without changing the temperature. In some compounds, the variation of temperature makes the chemical reaction occur quickly. If you raise the temperature, more heat energy causes the bond with the neighbouring molecule, so the reaction time has reduced. The change in the temperature associated with the molecule only provides more kinetic energy to the molecule and breaks the bond with the neighbour atom. After breaking the bond, the chemical property of the individual atom remains the same. Thus it is also considered as the physical property.
There are some cases in which the chemical reaction causes release the of heat. The release of heat is nothing but a change in the temperature. In that case, a chemical reaction is responsible for the change in the temperature, and the temperature has nothing to do with the chemical reaction; hence the change in temperature, in this case, is also considered as the physical property.
What are factors affect the temperature of the substance?
The factor that affects the temperature of the substance more is the movement of the molecule.
If the motion of the molecule in the substance is more, the kinetic energy acquired by them will be more; this leads to the substance achieving high temperature. If the motion of the molecules is slower, the kinetic energy acquired by them will be less, leading to achieving less temperature.
Does change in temperature cause change in other physical properties?
The change in physical properties and the temperature are always associated with one another. Some time variation in temperature causes changes in the physical property, while on the other hand, the change in physical property leads to a change in temperature.
The change in the temperature is largely influenced by the variation of pressure and volume. This leads to change in the other physical properties such as texture, shape, size, solubility, color, hardness etc. For example, lead chloride. Lead chloride is insoluble in cold water but is soluble in hot water. Here the temperature of the water varied, which led to a change in the solubility of lead chloride.
Why is temperature a physical property?
The temperature of an object is variable and reversible and also always characterizes physical change such as the melting, boiling, freezing point and state of the substance.
Any property associated with the physical appearance, measurement, observable and do not involve in the chemical reaction is called as physical property. Temperature is also a measurable quantity and sensible that specifies a substance’s physical nature.
How do you measure temperature?
There are three units to measure the temperature; they are
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Kelvin
What are the factors that highly affect the physical state of the matters?
There are specific properties of matters which is responsible for the change in the physical state of the matter; they are
Temperature –increase in the temperature, the matter can be transformed from solid to liquid to gas meanwhile decreasing the temperature a liquid can be turned to solid and gas can turn into liquid.
Pressure –by increasing the pressure, gas is transformed into a liquid, and liquid can be transformed into a solid. In the case of a decrease in pressure, it is vice versa.
Intermolecular force –if the intermolecular force between the matter is strong, then the state of the matter will be solid as the intermolecular space between the atoms become very less. If intermolecular force is moderate, then the matter acquires a liquid state, and if it is very much less, then the matter attains a gaseous state as the intermolecular space is too large.
Is temperature an extensive or intensive property?
Temperature is often referred to as the intensive property, as every object possess certain temperature irrespective of shape, size and amount.
The temperature of the substance does not depend on the amount of substance present in it. If you take a cup of milk at 30°C and a cup of water at 30° and if you mix them, the mixture of water and milk also have the same temperature of 30°C.
The physical properties of a substance indeed help you to describe the nature and state of the substance. Color is one of the nature of the substance, then is color a physical property?
Color is a property of a substance. It is rather considered as the sensation. In most cases, the substance’s color does not cause any reaction with the other substance; thus, color is considered as the physical property.
The color of an object can be seen and also be measured. The color of the object comes from the reflection of the light on the surface that is illuminated on it. The entire phenomenon of color takes place on the surface of the object due to absorption, reflection, or emission of the electromagnetic spectra, and hence color is the physical property.
How Is color a physical property?
When a material absorbs light of a particular wavelength from the spectra and the remaining wavelength is reflected from the surface resulting reflected wavelength gives the color for that material.
While determining the color of the material, it does not undergo any change in the composition or does not react with the other material to form a new compound. Only the absorption and reflection of the light wave takes place and hence exhibits the physical property.
Image describing how is color a physical property.
For better understanding, let us assume that a band of the color spectrum falls on the material, absorbing the wavelength of 540 and 460 nm and reflecting the wavelength of 680nm. The resulting color of the material is red because red has a wavelength of 700-635nm. The absorbed colors are green and blue because the wavelength of green is 560-520nm and blue is 490-450nm. As the green and blue colors are absorbed by the material and red is reflected, the composition of the material does not alter; hence the color is the physical property of the material.
In the previous section, we described the color as a physical property, but we are still unaware of the change in color is a physical property or not. We can get the answer by considering fading the color of the material as an example.
If you consider your fabric, some fabrics fade and bleed their dye and lose color. This is nothing but a change in color. Even if the color is faded, the composition of the fabric remains unchanged; the cotton fabric remains as a cotton fabric; it does not become silk or nylon fabric even after color fading. Since the change in the color does not affect the composition of the material, the color change is the physical property.
The color change is the most effective way to specify the occurrence of the change in the characteristics. To specify the change in color as physical property or not, let us consider the following examples.
The copper(II) hydroxide is in blue color; if you heat the copper hydroxide solution, eventually, you will get the black solution of copper oxide. Here the chemical reaction has occurred, which is indicated by the change in color of the solution.
In the same way, if you add blue or black color to the water, the water turns into blue or black color. This is indeed a physical change as the water is turned into a mixture of ink by not changing the composition of either ink or water.
From the above two examples, we can say that color change is the visual perceptual nature of the material, which indicates the change but does not cause the change. Hence the change in color is the physical property of the material.
The color is considered the physical property because it is based on the properties such as absorption, reflection, and emission of the light spectra.
Color is the perceptual property because it is relative to the sensation and is the intuitive property of the material; hence we can easily distinguish the color when the spectrum of light interacts with the photoreceptor cells of our eyes.
Humans have the ability to perceive the colors in the visible light region of wavelength varying approximately from 390 nm to 750 nm. Above and below these wavelengths, we could not recognize them.
The visualization of the color depends on the wave velocity. The object is said to have color if and only if the reflected light wave must travel at the speed of light c in a vacuum.
The color of the object is not only due to the reflection of lightspectra, but some of the material undergoes transmission and emission of the light spectrum, which causes the color of the material.
Some objects which have opaque surfaces do not reflect the light, but they undergo scattering. The scattering wavelength determines the colors of such objects.
Some object scatters all the wavelength of illuminated light with equal strength; such object appears white, while some object absorbs all the wavelength of the illuminated light, such object possess black color.
Is color an intensive property or extensive property?
Suppose the property of the substance is independent of its amount or proportion. In that case, such property is called intensive property, while if the property depends on the amount of the substance used in the process, such property is called extensive property.
Most of the time, color is considered as the intensive property as you can distinguish the color of the matter of any size, shape, or texture. But in some cases, the color depends on the shape also. For example, a thin sheet of gold appears reddish, not like gold. This color difference depends on our eyesight and how the brain can recognize it.
Does solubility lead to color change as a physical property?
Some substances, when they dissolve in the solvent, lead to a change in color; this is considered as the physical property.
Since solubility is also a physical property, if any solute dissolved in solvent leads to a change in the color possessing the color of solute is a physical property. If the color of the solution is different from the color of the solution as well as solvent, then there must be a chemical reaction, which is identified by the color change; in such cases, the color change is an indicational physical property.
What is meant by visual perception property?
A physical property of the matter specifying the interpretation of the surrounding environment is called a perceptual property.
If the property defines the visualization of the surrounding environment as day-time vision, night vision, and twilight vision by using the visible spectrum in the environment in which an object reflects the illuminated light is called a visual perception property.
Is it possible for a material to change its color by varying the temperature without affecting its physical property?
There are some cases in which the color change occurs due to a rise or fall in the temperature leads to the color change without affecting the physical behavior of the material.
The heating of iron is the best example. When you heat the iron rod, it turns red. The iron becomes soft, but its chemical property, such as composition, remains the same. Even if you cool the rod, it regains its original hardness and color. So rise or fall in the temperature of specific material does not affect the physical properties.
Rusting of iron leads to color change; how does color change remain a physical property as rusting is the chemical process?
The iron gets rust due to exposure to moisture and air. The rusting causes the iron to oxidize to give iron oxide.
When the iron got rusted, the rusted area became reddish. The color of the rust indicates the chemical reaction has occurred with the iron. If you clean the rusted area with petrol, it vanishes in the beginning stage, so the color change due to chemical reaction becomes reversible.
Static equilibrium refers to a state of balance in which an object or a system is at rest and all forces acting on it are balanced. In other words, the net force and net torque acting on the object are both zero. This state of balance ensures that the object remains in a stable position without any external disturbance.
To illustrate this concept, let’s consider a simple example. Imagine a book sitting on a table. In order for the book to be in static equilibrium, the downward force of gravity acting on the book must be balanced by an equal and opposite force exerted by the table. If these forces are not balanced, the book will either fall or move.
Image by SG0039 – Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Licensed under CC0.Image by SMZinovyev – Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Licensed under CC0.Image by SilverStar – Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Commons, Licensed under CC BY 2.5.
Static Equilibrium Equation Examples
To find static equilibrium, we can use equations that relate the forces and torques acting on an object. Let’s explore some basic and complex examples of static equilibrium equations.
Basic Examples of Static Equilibrium Equations
Example 1: Consider a beam supported at two ends. To find the equilibrium, we can use the equation ΣF = 0, where ΣF represents the sum of the forces acting on the beam. By setting this equation to zero, we can solve for the unknown forces and determine if the beam is in static equilibrium.
Example 2: Let’s imagine a simple pulley system with two masses connected by a rope. To find the tension in the rope, we can use the equation ΣT = 0, where ΣT represents the sum of the tensions acting on the rope. By setting this equation to zero, we can calculate the tension and determine if the system is in static equilibrium.
Complex Examples of Static Equilibrium Equations
Example 1: Consider a structure with multiple beams and supports. To find the static equilibrium, we need to analyze the forces acting on each beam and support and ensure that their sum is zero. By solving a system of equations, we can determine the unknown forces and verify if the structure is in static equilibrium.
Example 2: Let’s say we have an object on an inclined plane. To find the equilibrium, we need to consider the forces acting on the object, such as gravity, normal force, and friction. By applying the equations that relate these forces, we can determine the conditions for static equilibrium and whether the object will remain at rest.
How to Know Where the Equilibrium Shifts
In some cases, the equilibrium of an object or system can shift due to external influences. It is essential to understand how to identify and analyze these shifts in equilibrium.
Identifying the Shift in Equilibrium
To identify a shift in equilibrium, we need to compare the forces and torques before and after the external influence. If the net force or net torque changes, it indicates a shift in equilibrium.
Factors Influencing the Shift in Equilibrium
Several factors can influence the shift in equilibrium, including changes in external forces, alterations in the object’s shape or position, and variations in the supporting structures. These factors can cause the equilibrium to shift towards a new position or even disrupt the balance altogether.
Impact of Equilibrium Shift on Static Equilibrium
When the equilibrium shifts, the object or system will experience a change in its position or stability. It is crucial to understand the new equilibrium conditions and analyze the effects of the shift on the forces and torques acting on the object. This analysis helps us assess the stability and predict the behavior of the system in its new equilibrium state.
Calculating Force in Static Equilibrium
Force plays a significant role in static equilibrium, and calculating the forces acting on an object is essential to determine its equilibrium.
Understanding the Role of Force in Static Equilibrium
In static equilibrium, all forces acting on an object must balance each other out. This means that the sum of the forces in any direction must be zero. By calculating the forces, we can determine if the object is in equilibrium or if an external force is causing it to move.
Step-by-step Guide to Calculate Force
To calculate the forces in static equilibrium, follow these steps:
Identify all the forces acting on the object.
Resolve each force into its horizontal and vertical components.
Set up equations for the sum of forces in each direction.
Solve the equations to find the unknown forces.
Verify if the forces balance each other out by summing them and checking if the total is zero.
Worked-out Examples on Force Calculation
Let’s work through an example:
Example: Consider a box resting on a table. The weight of the box is 50 Newtons, and there is a horizontal force of 20 Newtons pushing the box to the right. Determine the force exerted by the table to keep the box in static equilibrium.
Solution: – The weight of the box acts downward, so its vertical component is 50 Newtons. – Since the box is not moving vertically, the table must exert an equal and opposite force of 50 Newtons. – The horizontal force of 20 Newtons is countered by an equal and opposite force of 20 Newtons exerted by the table.
By calculating the forces, we can see that the box is in static equilibrium as the sum of forces in both the vertical and horizontal directions is zero.
Calculating Torque for Static Equilibrium
In addition to forces, torque is another crucial element in static equilibrium. Torque measures the tendency of a force to cause rotation and is essential for analyzing objects that can rotate.
Concept of Torque in Static Equilibrium
Torque is the product of the force applied to an object and the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to the point of force application. It is represented by the equation:
where (\tau) represents torque, R is the distance, and F is the force.
Method to Calculate Torque
To calculate torque in static equilibrium, follow these steps:
Identify the point of rotation or the axis.
Determine the force acting on the object.
Find the perpendicular distance between the point of force application and the axis of rotation.
Calculate the torque using the equation (\tau = R \times F).
Verify if the net torque acting on the object is zero.
Examples of Torque Calculation in Static Equilibrium
Let’s work through an example:
Example: Consider a see-saw with a fulcrum in the middle. A person weighing 60 kilograms sits 2 meters away from the fulcrum on one side, while a person weighing 70 kilograms sits 1 meter away on the other side. Calculate the torques exerted by each person and determine if the see-saw is in static equilibrium.
Solution: – The torque exerted by the person weighing 60 kilograms is calculated by multiplying the weight by the distance: (\tau_1 = 60 \times 9.8 \times 2) (assuming acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s²). – The torque exerted by the person weighing 70 kilograms is calculated in the same way: (\tau_2 = 70 \times 9.8 \times 1). – To determine if the see-saw is in static equilibrium, we need to compare the torques. If the torques are equal, the see-saw is in equilibrium.
By calculating the torques, we can determine if the see-saw is in static equilibrium and analyze the forces and distances involved.
Finding Mass in Static Equilibrium
mass is another important factor to consider when dealing with static equilibrium. Determining the mass of an object can help us understand its stability and balance.
Importance of Mass in Static Equilibrium
The mass of an object affects its behavior in static equilibrium. Heavier objects require more force to maintain balance, while lighter objects may be easily tipped over. By finding the mass, we can assess the stability of the object and predict its behavior.
Procedure to Determine Mass
To find the mass in static equilibrium, follow these steps:
Identify the forces and torques acting on the object.
Analyze the equilibrium conditions and equations related to mass.
Set up equations that balance the forces and torques.
Solve the equations to find the mass.
Examples on Finding Mass in Static Equilibrium
Let’s work through an example:
Example: Consider a beam supported at one end with a mass of 10 kilograms. The beam is in static equilibrium, but the position of the support needs to be adjusted. Determine the new position of the support that maintains the static equilibrium.
Solution: – To find the new position of the support, we need to analyze the torques acting on the beam. – The torque exerted by the beam’s weight is calculated by multiplying the mass by the acceleration due to gravity and the distance from the support. – By setting the sum of torques to zero, we can find the new position of the support.
By finding the mass and adjusting the position of the support, we can ensure that the beam remains in static equilibrium.
Checking Static Balance
static balance is an essential aspect of static equilibrium and involves assessing the stability and balance of an object. Let’s explore some techniques to check static balance.
What is Static Balance?
Static balance refers to the even distribution of mass and forces in an object, resulting in a stable position without any tendency to tip or rotate. It involves analyzing the distribution of weight and ensuring that the center of mass is aligned with the base of support.
Techniques to Check Static Balance
To check static balance, consider the following techniques:
Visual Inspection: Visually assess the symmetry and alignment of an object to determine if it appears balanced. Look for any irregularities or signs of tipping or leaning.
Plumb Line Test: Hang a plumb line or string from different points on the object and observe if it hangs vertically. A balanced object will have the string aligned with the center of mass.
Pivot Test: Place the object on a pivot point or fulcrum and observe if it remains stable. A balanced object will stay in position without tipping or rotating.
Relation between Static Balance and Static Equilibrium
static balance and static equilibrium are closely related. static equilibrium refers to the balance of forces and torques acting on an object, while static balance specifically focuses on the even distribution of mass and stability. Achieving static balance is essential for achieving static equilibrium.
By checking static balance, we can ensure that an object is ready to enter a state of static equilibrium.
Static Equilibrium of a Lever
A lever is a simple yet powerful tool that operates based on the principles of static equilibrium. Let’s explore the static equilibrium of a lever and how to find it.
Role of a Lever in Static Equilibrium
A lever is a rigid bar that rotates around a fixed point called the fulcrum. It helps us magnify forces and achieve mechanical advantage. In static equilibrium, the forces and torques acting on a lever must balance each other out.
Steps to Find Static Equilibrium of a Lever
To find the static equilibrium of a lever, follow these steps:
Identify the forces and torques acting on the lever.
Determine the locations of the forces and the fulcrum.
Set up equations that balance the forces and torques.
Solve the equations to find the unknowns, such as the forces or distances.
Verify if the forces and torques balance each other out.
By following these steps, we can analyze the equilibrium of a lever and understand its stability and balance.
Examples of Static Equilibrium in a Lever
Let’s work through an example:
Example: Consider a seesaw with two people sitting on either end. The person on the left weighs 50 kilograms and is sitting 2 meters away from the fulcrum, while the person on the right weighs 70 kilograms and is sitting 1 meter away. Determine if the seesaw is in static equilibrium.
Solution: – To find the static equilibrium, we need to calculate the torques exerted by each person. – The torque exerted by each person is calculated by multiplying their weight by the distance from the fulcrum. – By comparing the torques, we can determine if the seesaw is in static equilibrium.
By analyzing the forces and torques in a lever, we can determine if it is in static equilibrium and predict its behavior.
Calculating Tension in Static Equilibrium
Tension is an essential force to consider in static equilibrium, especially in systems involving ropes, cables, or pulleys. Let’s explore the concept of tension and how to calculate it.
Understanding the Concept of Tension in Static Equilibrium
Tension is a pulling force transmitted through a flexible object, such as a rope or cable. In static equilibrium, the tension in a rope must be balanced to maintain the stability and balance of the system.
Steps to Calculate Tension
To calculate tension in static equilibrium, follow these steps:
Identify the forces and objects connected by the rope or cable.
Analyze the equilibrium conditions and equations related to tension.
Set up equations that balance the forces and torques.
Solve the equations to find the tension in the rope or cable.
Examples of Tension Calculation in Static Equilibrium
Let’s work through an example:
Example: Consider a system with two masses connected by a rope. The masses are in static equilibrium, and the angle between the rope and the horizontal is 30 degrees. Calculate the tension in the rope.
Solution: – To calculate the tension, we need to analyze the vertical and horizontal components of the forces involved. – By using trigonometry, we can determine the vertical and horizontal forces acting on each mass. – By setting up equations that balance the forces, we can solve for the tension.
By calculating the tension in the rope, we can ensure that the system remains in static equilibrium and analyze the forces involved.
And there you have it! A comprehensive guide on how to find static equilibrium. By understanding the concept of static equilibrium, analyzing forces, torques, and masses, and performing calculations, we can determine the stability, balance, and behavior of objects and systems. Whether you are studying physics, engineering, or any other field that involves mechanics, mastering static equilibrium is a fundamental skill that will enhance your understanding and problem-solving abilities. So, go ahead and apply these principles to various scenarios, and explore the fascinating world of static equilibrium!
