Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Mechanics

(1): Determine the x and y, components of F1 , and F2 acting on the boom shown in
figure. Express each force as a Cartesian vector.

(2): A tower guy wire is anchored by means of a bolt at A. The tension in the wire is
2500 N. Determine (a) the components Fx , Fy , Fz of the force acting on the bolt,
(b) the angles  x ,  y ,  z defining the direction of the force.

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 Chapter 2: Forces in Space; Equilibrium of a
Rigid Body
(1): A 90 lb. load is suspended from the hook shown in figure. If the load is
supported by two cables and a spring having a stiffness k = 500 lb/ ft. Determine the
force in the cables and the stretch of the spring for equilibrium. Cable AD lies in the
x-y plane and cable AC lies in the x-z plane.

(2): Determine the force in each cable used to support the 40 lb. crate shown in
figure.

(3): A fixed crane has a mass of 1000 kg and is

used to lift a 2400-kg crate. It is held in place
by a pin at A and a rocker at B. The center of
gravity of the crane is located at G. Determine
the components of the reactions at A and B.

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(4): A 5  8 -ft sign of uniform density weighs 270 lb and is supported by a ball-and-
socket joint at A and by two cables. Determine the tension in each cable and the
reaction at A.

(5): The movable bracket shown may be

placed at any height on the 3 in. diameter
pipe. If the coefficient of static friction
between the pipe and bracket is 0.25,
determine the minimum distance x at which
the load W can be supported. Neglect the
weight of the bracket.

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 Problems
z
A
Problem (1) :

The shown rod AB is 1.5 m

subjected to 200 N
1m
vertical force. Determine
the reaction at the ball- E
1.5 m
and-socket support A and y
the tension in the cables 200 N 2m
BD and BC.
2m D
x B
C

Problem (2) :

Express each force as a

Cartesian vector and then
determine the resultant force.
Find the magnitude and
coordinate direction angles
of the resultant force.

Problem (3) : Three loads are applied to a beam as shown. The beam is supported
by a roller at A and by a pin at B. Neglecting the weight of the beam, determine the
reactions at A and B when P = 15 kips.

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 2 ft
Problem (4) :
3 ft
The boom supports
2 ft
a load of W=89 lb.
Determine the
6 ft
components of the
reaction at A and
3 ft
the tension in the 3 ft
2 ft
cables BC and DE.

z
Problem (5) : D

A 4  6 meters plate of weight

W=9 kN is kept in a horizontal 6m
plane using three cables A
2m
intersecting at one point D.
Determine the tension in each B y
cable. 2m

C
3m 3m
x

Problem (6) : A 200-kg cylinder is hung by means of two cables AB and AC ,

which are attached to the top of a vertical wall. A horizontal force P perpendicular to
the wall holds the cylinder in the position shown. Determine the magnitude of P and
the tension in each cable.

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Problem (7) :

A 10-ft boom is acted upon

by the 840-lb force shown.
Determine the tension in each
cable and the reaction at the
ball-and-socket joint at A.

Problem (8) :

A 2.4-m boom is held by a

ball-and-socket joint at C and
by two cables AD and AE.
Determine the tension in each
cable and the reaction at C.

Problem (9) :

The uniform 10-kg rod AB is

supported by a ball-and-socket
joint at A and by the cord CG
that is attached to the midpoint
G of the rod. Knowing that the
rod leans against a frictionless
vertical wall at B, determine
(a) the tension in the cord,
(b) the reactions at A and B.

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 Chapter 3: Distributed Loads

(1): Find the resultant of the distributed load indicated in the figure

10 kN/m

4 kN/m

6m

(2): The horizontal wind force acting on the windward face AB of a multistory
building is idealized by the tri-linear load diagram shown in the figure. Find the
magnitude and position of the resultant wind force on AB.
B
10 kN/m

20 m

6 kN/m

20 m

4 kN/m

30 m

3 kN/m
A

280 lb/ft

(3): Determine the equivalent

concentrated loads and external 120 lb/ft
reactions for the simply supported
beam which is subjected to the
distributed load shown.
A B

4 ft 6 ft

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 6 kN/m

(4): Replace the loading by a single

resultant force, and specify the
location of the force on the beam 15 kN
measured from point o . M  500 kN.m

o
7.5 m 4.5 m

(5): Replace the loading by an equivalent force and couple moment acting at point
O.

(6): The column is used to support the floor which exerts a force P  3000 lb on the
top of the column. The effect of soil pressure along its side is distributed as shown.
Replace this loading by an equivalent resultant force and specify where it acts along
the column, measured from its base A . P
80 lb/ft

9 ft

A 200 lb/ft
240 N/m

w  60 x 2 N/m

(7): Determine the magnitude

and location of the equivalent
resultant force acting on the
shaft in the figure:
o B
2m
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(8): A bookshelf holding 11 books is supported by brackets at points A and B. The
weights and thicknesses of the books are given in Table 1. Determine the support
reactions.
Table 1: Weights and thicknesses of books

(9): The beam is subjected to the distributed loading. Determine the length b of the
uniform load and its position a on the beam such that the resultant force and couple
moment acting on the beam are zero, where w1  40 lb/ft , w2  60 lb/ft , c = 10 ft
and d = 6 ft

(10): Determine the equivalent resultant force and its location, measured from point
O.

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 Problems
Problem 1: The beam supports the distributed load caused by the sandbags.
Determine the resultant force on the beam and specify its location measured from
point A, where a  3 m, b  3 m, c  1.5 m
w3  2.5 kN/m
w1  1.5 kN/m
w2  1 kN/m

a b c

Problem 2: Replace the distributed loading by an equivalent resultant force and

specify its location, measured from point A.
800 N/m

200 N/m

A B

2m 3m

Problem 3: Replace the distributed loading by an equivalent resultant force and

specify its location on the beam, measured from point B.
800 lb/ft

500 lb/ft

A
12 ft B 9 ft

10
 3m

Problem 4: Replace the loading 7.5 kN/m

by an equivalent resultant force and
3m
couple moment acting at point O.

4.5 m

20 kN/m

Problem 5: Determine the

resultant force and specify
where it acts on the beam
measured from A.

Problem 6: Replace the

distributed loading with an
equivalent resultant force and
specify its location on the
beam measured from point A .

Problem 7: Determine the equivalent resultant force acting on the bottom of the
wing due to air pressure and specify where it acts, measured from point A, where a =
3 ft, w( x)  k x 2 and k  86 lb/ft 3

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