EEE201 E NGINEERING M ECHANICS AND M ATERIAL SCIENCE
Study Problems
Resultant Forces, Moments and Couples
1. Determine the 𝑥 and 𝑦 components of the resultant of forces shown.
2. Two blocks 𝐴 and 𝐵 of equal weighing 2000 N are lying on inclined planes as shown. Both blocks are
connected by a uniform horizontal rod of weight 800 N. If the coefficient of friction for all surfaces is 0.29,
determine the value of force 𝑃 to impend the block 𝐴 upward
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3. Two structural members 𝐴 and 𝐵 are bolted to a bracket as shown. Knowing that both members are in
compression and that the force is 15 𝑘N in member A and 10 𝑘N in member 𝐵, determine by trigonometry
the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the forces applied to the bracket by members 𝐴 and 𝐵.
4. Determine the resultant of a force system consisting forces shown from an angular point of a regular
hexagon acting towards the other angular points in a regular order.
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5. Two cables are tied together at 𝐶 and loaded as shown below. Knowing that 𝑃 = 360 N, determine
(a) the tension in cable 𝐴𝐶,
(b) the tension in cable 𝐵𝐶.
6. For the system of blocks, find force 𝑃 required to move the lower block A and tension in the cable 𝐶.
Take coefficient of friction for all contact surfaces to be 0.3.
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7. Two cables are tied together at 𝐶 and loaded as shown. Draw the free-body diagram needed to determine
the tension in 𝐴𝐶 and 𝐵𝐶.
8. A 200-kg crate is to be supported by the rope-and-pulley arrangement shown. Determine the magnitude
and direction of the force 𝑃 that must be exerted on the free end of the rope to maintain equilibrium. (Hint:
The tension in the rope is the same on each side of a simple pulley.)
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9. A chairlift has been stopped in the position shown. Knowing that each chair weighs 250 N and that the
skier in chair 𝐸 weighs 765 N, draw the free-body diagrams needed to determine the weight of the skier in
chair 𝐹 .
10. Two cables tied together at 𝐶 are loaded as shown. Knowing that the maximum allowable tension in
each cable is 800 N, determine
(a) the magnitude of the largest force P that can be applied at 𝐶,
(b) the corresponding value of 𝛼.
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11. Determine the values of the moments about 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 and 𝐷 for the force system acting on lever 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷
as shown.
12. A 300 N force 𝑃 is applied at point 𝐴 of the bell crank shown.
(a) Compute the moment of the force P about O by resolving it into horizontal and vertical components.
(b) Using the result of part 𝑎, determine the perpendicular distance from 𝑂 to the line of action of 𝑃 .
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13. A crate of mass 80 kg is held in the position shown. Determine
(a) the moment produced by the weight W of the crate about 𝐸,
(b) the smallest force applied at 𝐵 that creates a moment of equal magnitude and opposite sense about 𝐸.
14. A winch puller 𝐴𝐵 is used to straighten a fence post. Knowing that the tension in cable 𝐵𝐶 is 1040 N
and length 𝑑 is 1.90 m, determine the moment about 𝐷 of the force exerted by the cable at 𝐶 by resolving
that force into horizontal and vertical components applied
(a) at point 𝐶,
(b) at point 𝐸.
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15. A 300-N force is applied at 𝐴 as shown. Determine (a) the moment of the 300-N force about D, (b) the
smallest force applied at B that creates the same moment about D.
(a) the moment of the 300-N force about 𝐷,
(b) the smallest force applied at B that creates the same moment about 𝐷.
16. Rod 𝐴𝐵 is held in place by the cord 𝐴𝐶. Knowing that the tension in the cord is 1350 N and that
𝑐 = 360 mm, determine the moment about 𝐵 of the force exerted by the cord at point A by resolving that
force into horizontal and vertical components applied
(a) at point 𝐴,
(b) at point 𝐶.
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17. Determine the resultant moment produced by the forces about point 𝑂.
18. Three loads are applied as shown to a light beam supported by cables attached at 𝐵 and 𝐷. Neglecting
the weight of the beam, determine the range of values of 𝑄 for which neither cable becomes slack when
𝑃 = 0 N.
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19. Determine the resultant moment produced by the forces about point 𝑂.
20. A rod 𝐴𝐵, hinged at 𝐴 and attached at 𝐵 to cable 𝐵𝐷, supports the loads shown. Knowing that
𝑑 = 200 mm, determine
(a) the tension in cable 𝐵𝐷,
(b) the reaction at 𝐴.
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21. Determine reaction of hinge (at 𝐴) and roller support bearing (at 𝐵) of simple supported beam as shown.
22. Bar 𝐴𝐶 supports two 400-N loads as shown. Rollers at 𝐴 and 𝐶 rest against frictionless surfaces and a
cable 𝐵𝐷 is attached at 𝐵. Determine
(a) the tension in cable 𝐵𝐷,
(b) the reaction at 𝐴.
(c) the reaction at 𝐶
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23. Two parallel 40-N forces are applied to a lever as shown. Determine the moment of the couple formed
by the two forces.
24. A lever of negligible weight is hinged at 𝐴 and supports a load of 220 𝑘N as shown. Determine the value
of force 𝑃 by which lever can be held in equilibrium.
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Solutions
1. 𝐹𝑥 = 608 N; 𝐹𝑦 = −240 N
2. 2279.5 N
3. 21.8 𝑘N, ⦪ 73.4◦
4. 18.24 N, ⦨ 83.04◦
5. (a) 312 N. (b) 144 N.
6. 324.80 N
7. 𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 8.28 𝑘N & 𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 11.1 𝑘N
8. 723.6 N, ⦨ 53.4◦
9. 6510 N
10. (a) 𝑃max = 1080.9 N (b) ⦪ 𝛼 = 82.5◦
11. 𝑀𝐴 = 45.33 𝑘Nm clockwise, 𝑀𝐵 = 0.03 𝑘Nm anticlockwise, 𝑀𝐶 = 38.04 𝑘Nm clockwise,
𝑀𝐷 = 30.0 𝑘Nm anticlockwise
12. (a) 20.5 Nm anticlockwise, (b) 68.4 mm
13. 196.2 Nm clockwise, (b) 199.0 N ⦩ 59.5◦
14. (a) 760 Nm anticlockwise, (b) 760 Nm anticlockwise
15. (a) 41.7 Nm anticlockwise, (b) 147.4N ⦨ 45.0◦
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16. (a) 292 Nm clockwise, (b) 292 Nm clockwise
17. 2.46 𝑘Nm clockwise
18. 1.25 𝑘N ≤ 𝑄 ≤ 27.5 𝑘N
19. 1253.5 Nm anticlockwise
20. (a) 190.9 N, (b) 142.3𝑁 ⦨ 18.43◦
21. 𝑅𝐴 = 31.05 𝑘N ⦫ 14.9◦ ; 𝑅𝐸 = 8.0 𝑘N ↑
22. (a) 1432 N, (b) 1100 N ↑, (c) 1400 N ←
23. 6.19 Nm clockwise
24. 115.9 𝑘N
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