Static Equilibrium Elizabeth Soyka

In Perfect Balance

After a thorough analysis of vertical and horizontal forces and movement through moments, my classmate and I were able to perfectly balance a 1 pound cube with only the support of wooden dowels and strings- no glue, no mechanical fasteners, and no mere "luck" making it happen. By angling the dowels away from each other, we were able to create greater tension through the strings while also generating a more dynamic model. After experimenting with different positions of the dowels and various string patterns, we found just the right combination that would keep each force equal to zero, prohibiting any motion in either direction.

Model built by myself and Kennedy Lambe.
Diagrams depicting our vision for the model and how tension and compression would work together.
Free body diagram supporting design.
A second free body diagram to check for accuracy.

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