ENGR 213: Statics

Fall 2011
Homework Set #1
DUE: Wednesday 09/14/2011

2.6, 2.11, 2.17, 2.30, 2.32, 2.47, 2.52, 2.59, 2.63, 2.69, 2.75, 2.81,
2.83, 2.87, 2.93, 2.103, 2.114, 2.123, 2.137

2.6 The 300-lb force is to be resolved into components along lines

a-aand b-b. (a) Determine the angle  by trigonometry
knowing that the component along line b-bis to be 120 lb. (b)
What is the corresponding value of the component along a-a?

SOLUTION

Using the triangle rule and law of sines:

R =300 lb
Fbb′ =120 lb 
(a) From the law of sines,
60 
120 lb 300 lb

sin  sin 60 Faa′

sin  = 0.34641
 = 20.268◄
(a)
  180  60  20.268  99.732

Faa 300 lb

sin 99.732 sin 60
Faa′ = 341 lb◄

We can also solve this problem using the rectangular

components.
R
Fbb′ =120 lb
 R x  Faax  Fbbx
R  F
 y aay  Fbby Faa′
i.e.,
 300 cos    Faa  120 cos 60

 300 sin   120 sin 60

From the 2nd equation, we can solve for , as

sin  = 0.34641
 = 20.3◄
Then, from the first equation, we have

Faa  300 cos   120 cos 60  300 cos 20.3  120 cos 60  341

Faa′ = 341 lb◄

2.11 A steel tank is to be positioned in an excavation.
Knowing that  20°, determine by trigonometry (a)
the required magnitude of the force P if the resultant R
of the two forces applied at A is to be vertical, (b) the
corresponding magnitude of R.

SOLUTION

We can also solve this problem using the rectangular

components. y

 R x  0  P cos 20  425 cos 30 R

 R  R  425 sin 30  P sin 20
 y x

From the 1st equation, we can solve for P, as

425 cos 30

P  391.68 lb
cos 20
P = 391.68 lb◄
Then, from the 2nd equation, we have

R  425 sin 30  P sin 20  425 sin 30  391.68 sin 20  346.46 lbf

R = 346.46 lb◄
2.17 Solve Problem 2.4 by trigonometry.
PROBLEM 2.4 Two forces are applied at Point B of
beam AB. Determine graphically the magnitude and
direction of their resultant using (a) the parallelogram
law, (b) the triangle rule.

SOLUTION

We can also solve this problem using the rectangular components.

R x  (3 kN) cos 60  (2 kN) cos 40  1.3125 kN

R y  (3 kN)sin 60  (2 kN)sin 40  3.0321 kN

R R x2  R y2  (1.3125 kN) 2  ( 3.0321 kN) 2  3.30 kN

Ry  3.0321
  tan 1  tan 1  66.6
Rx 1.3125
R = 3.30 kN 66.6◄

2.30 Cable AC exerts on beam AB a force P directed along line AC. Knowing that P must have a 350-lb
vertical component, determine (a) the magnitude of the force P, (b) its horizontal component.
 y

P
Py = 350 j 55
x
A Px
SOLUTION

(a)
Py  P cos 55
Py 350 lb
P   610.2 lb
cos 55 cos 55
P = 610.2 lb◄
(b)
Px  P sin 55  (610.2 lb) sin 55  499.8 lb
Px = 499.8 lb◄

2.32 Determine the resultant of the three forces of Problem 2.24.

PROBLEM 2.24 Determine the x and y components of each of
the forces shown.

SOLUTION
2.47 Knowing that 20, determine the tension (a) in cable AC, (b) in rope BC.

SOLUTION

Or use components

 Fx  0 :  T AC sin 5  TBC cos 20  0

 Fy  0 : T AC cos 5  TBC sin 20  1200 lb  0

Solve for TAC and TBC, we have

TAC = 1244 N◄
TBC = 115.4 N◄
2.52 A welded connection is in equilibrium under the action of the four forces shown. Knowing that
FA5 kN and FD 6 kN, determine the magnitudes of the other two forces.

SOLUTION
2.59 For the structure and loading of Problem 2.48, determine (a) the value of  for which the tension
in cable BC is as small as possible, (b) the corresponding value of the tension.

SOLUTION

TBC must be perpendicular to F AC to be as small as possible.

Alternative Solution: Use the rectangular components:

(a) From the equations of equilibrium, we have (use the coordinate system in the FBD)

 Fx  0 : FAC sin 30  TBC sin   300 sin 20  0

 Fy  0 : FAC cos 30  TBC cos   300 cos 20  0

We can solve FAC and TBC in terms of  from the above linear system:

300 sin 50 300 sin(  20)

TBC  FAC 
sin(  30) sin(  30)

300 sin 50

It is easy to see from TBC  that when  = 60, sin( +30) becomes maximum and TBC
sin(  30)
becomes minimum.

(b) TBC can be calculated from

300 sin 50 300 sin 50

TBC  
sin(  30) sin(60  30)

TBC = 230 lb◄

2.63 Collar A is connected as shown to a 50-lb load and can
slide on a frictionless horizontal rod. Determine the
magnitude of the force P required to maintain the
equilibrium of the collar when (a) x  4.5 in., (b) x 15 in.

SOLUTION

Or use the rectangular components

y 50 lb

20

x
P x

 Fx  0 : 50 cos   P  0
x
P  50 cos  50
x 2  20 2
P = 10.98 lb for x = 4.5in◄
P = 30.0 lb for x = 15 in◄
2.69 A load Q is applied to the pulley C, which can roll on the cable ACB. The pulley is held in the
position shown by a second cable CAD, which passes over the pulley A and supports a load P.
Knowing that 750 P N, determine (a) the tension in cable ACB, (b) the magnitude of load Q.

SOLUTION

2.75 A horizontal circular plate is suspended as shown from three wires that are attached to a support at
D and form 30angles with the vertical. Knowing that the tension in wire CD is 60 lb, determine
(a) the components of the force exerted by this wire on the plate, (b) the angles  x, yand  zthat
the force forms with the coordinate axes.

y
30°

O C

z  = 120°
x
SOLUTION

(a) For the information given, we have  y  30 and   120

Fx  F sin  y cos   (60 lb) sin 30 cos120  15 lb Fx = −15.00 lb◄
F y  F cos  y  (60 lb)cos30  51.96 lb Fy = −51.96 lb◄
Fz  F sin  y sin   (60 lb) sin 30 sin 120  25.98 lb Fz =
25.98 lb◄

(b) Angles:

cos  x  Fx / F  15 / 60  0.25 x = 104.5°◄

cos  y  F y / F  51.96 / 60  0.866 y = 30°◄
cos  z  Fz / F  25.98 / 60  0.433 z = 64.3°◄
2.81 A force acts at the origin of a coordinate system in a direction defined by the angles  x 70.9and
 y 144.9°. Knowing that the z component of the force is –52.0 lb, determine (a) the angle z, (b)
the other components and the magnitude of the force.

SOLUTION

(a) Since
cos 2  x  cos 2  y  cos 2  z  1
We have

cos 2  z  1  cos 2  x  cos 2  y

Since Fz = 52 lb < 0, cos2z < 0, we have

cos z   1  cos 2  x  cos 2  y   1  cos 2 70.9  cos 2 144.9  0.47282

z = 118.2◄
(b)
Fz  52.0 lb
F   109.978 lb
cos  z  0.47282
Fx  F cos  x  (109.978 lb)cos70.9
Fy  F cos  y  (109.978 lb)cos114.9
Fx = 36.0 lb◄
Fy = 90.0 lb◄
F = 110.0 lb◄

2.83 A force F of magnitude 210 N acts at the origin of a coordinate system. Knowing that Fx 80 N,
z151.2, and Fy < 0, determine (a) the components Fy and Fz, (b) the angles x and y.

SOLUTION
2.87 A frame ABC is supported in part by cable DBE that passes through a frictionless ring at B.
Knowing that the tension in the cable is 385 N, determine the components of the force exerted by
the cable on the support at D.

SOLUTION

Since the coordinates of the points D and B are D(0, 510, 280) and B(480, 0, 600), we have

DB  ( 480 mm)i  ( 510 mm) j  (320 mm)k

DB  ( 480 mm) 2  ( 510 mm) 2  (320 mm) 2  770 mm

DB (480 mm)i  ( 510 mm) j  (320 mm)k

F  Fλ DB  F  (385 N)
DB 770 mm
 ( 240 N)i  (255 N) j  (160 N)k

F = (240 N)i  (255 N)j + (160 N)k ◄

2.93 Knowing that the tension is 425 lb in cable AB and
510 lb in cable AC, determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant of the forces exerted at A
by the two cables.

FAB FAC
SOLUTION

Since the coordinates of the points A, B and C are A(40,

45, 0), B(0, 0, 60) and C(60, 0, 60), we have
R
AB  ( 40 in.)i  ( 45 in.) j  (60 in.)k
AB  ( 40 in.) 2  ( 45 in.) 2  (60 in.) 2  85 in.

AC  (100 in.)i  ( 45 in.) j  (60 in.)k

AC  (100 in.) 2  (45 in.) 2  (60 in.) 2  125 in.

Therefore,
AB ( 40 in.)i  ( 45 in.) j  (60 in.)k
TAB  T AB λ AB  T AB  ( 435 lb)
AB 85 in.
 (200 lb)i  ( 225 lb) j  (300 lb)k

AC (100 in.) i  ( 45 in.) j  (60 in.)k

TAC  T AC λ AC  T AC  (510 lb)
AC 125 in.
 ( 408 lb)i  (183.6 lb) j  (244.8 lb)k
and
R  TAB  TAC  (608 lb)i  (408.6 lb) j  (544.8 lb)k

Hence,
R (608 lb) 2  (408.6 lb) 2  (544.8 lb) 2  912.92 lb
and
Rx 608 lb
cos x    0.66599
R 912.92 lb
x = 48.2◄
Ry  408.6 lb
cos y    0.44757
R 912.92 lb
y = 116.6◄
Rz 544.8 lb
cos  z    0.59677
R 912.92 lb
z = 53.4◄

2.103 A crate is supported by three cables as shown. Determine the weight of the crate knowing that the
tension in cable AB is 750 lb.
 B
y
D
TAB
C
x
z TAC TAD

SOLUTION

Free Body Diagram. Consider the joint A as a free body as shown. This point is subjected to four
forces, three of which are of unknown magnitude.

Resolve Forces. Using the coordinate system shown, resolve all forces into Cartesian components.

AB  ( 36 in.)iˆ  (60 in.) ˆj  ( 27 in.) kˆ AB = 75 in.

AC  (60 in.) ˆj  (32 in.)kˆ AC = 68 in.
AD  ( 40 in.)iˆ  (60 in.) ˆj  ( 27 in.)kˆ AD = 77 in.
and
 AB (36 in.)iˆ  (60 in.) ˆj  ( 27 in.)kˆ
T AB  T AB ˆ AB  T AB  (750)
AB 75 in.
 (360 lb)iˆ  (600 lb) ˆj  ( 270 lb)kˆ
 AC
T AC  T AC ˆ AC  T AC  (0.88235 ˆj  0.47059 kˆ)T AC
AC
 AD
T AD  T AD ˆ AD  T AD  (0.51948iˆ  0.77922 ˆj  0.35065kˆ)T AD
AD

W  Wˆj

Equations of Equilibrium. Since A is in equilibrium, we must have

    
F  0: T AB  T AC  T AD  W  0

ˆ  ( 600 lb) ˆ
 (360 lb)i j ˆ
 ( 270 lb)k  ( 0.88235 ˆ
j  0.
ˆ  0.77922 ˆ
 ( 0.51948i j ˆ )T
 0.350 65k  Wˆ
j  0
AD

Factoring the iˆ, ˆ ˆ

j and k terms, we have

(0.51948T AD  360 lb)iˆ  (0.88235T AC  0.77922T AD  W  600 lb) ˆj

 (0.47059T  0.35065T
AC  270 lb)kˆ  0
AD

Equating to zero the coefficients of iˆ, ˆ ˆ

j and k :
  Fx  0 : 0.51948T AD  360 lb  0
 Fy  0 : 0.88235T AC  0.77922T AD  W  600 lb  0
 Fz  0 : 0.47059T AC  0.35065T AD  270 lb  0

We can then solve for TAD from Eq. (1), TAC from Eq. (3), and then W from Eq. (2).

TAD = 693 lb
TAC = 1090.1 lb
W = 2101.8 lb◄
 2.114 A horizontal circular plate weighing 60 lb is suspended as shown from three wires that are
attached to a support at D and from 30 angles with the vertical. Determine the tension in each wire.

Wĵ

D
TA
TC
TB
TA TC
TB

TAh TCh

z x z x

W ĵ

(a) (b) (c)

SOLUTION I

Free Body Diagram. Consider the joint D as a free body as shown Fig. (b). This point is subjected to
four forces (three from wires and one from the ceiling), three of which are of unknown magnitude. It
easy to see that the magnitude of the force from the ceiling equals W.

Resolve Forces. Using the coordinate system shown, resolve all forces into Cartesian components.
From the free body diagram, we see that the given parameters are y and  (measure from x) for each
force. From the definition of these two angles we have

Ay = 150, A = 140 ; By = 150, B = 40; Cy = 150, C = 60

Therefore, we have

T A  T A (sin 150 cos 140iˆ  cos150 ˆj  sin 150 sin 140kˆ )

TB  TB (sin 150 cos 40iˆ  cos 150 ˆj  sin 150 sin 40kˆ )

TC  TC [sin 150 cos( 60)iˆ  cos150 ˆj  sin 150 sin( 60) kˆ]

Equations of Equilibrium. Since D is in equilibrium, we must have

    
F  0: T AB  T AC  T AD  W  0

Or use components,

 Fx  0 : T A sin 150 cos140  TB sin 150 cos 40  TC sin 150 cos(60)  0
 Fy  0 : T A cos150  TB cos150  TC cos150  W  0
 Fz  0 : T A sin 150 sin 140  TB sin 150 sin 40  TC sin 150 sin(60)  0
or
 Fx  0 :  0.76604T A  0.76604TB  0.5TC  0
 Fy  0 : T A  TB  TC  W / cos 150  69.282
 Fz  0 : 0.64297T A  0.64297TB  0.86603TC  0

We can then solve for TA, TB and TC from the equations simultaneously:
TA = 29.5 lb◄
TB = 10.25 lb◄
TC = 29.5 lb◄
SOLUTION II

Free Body Diagram. We can also consider the plate as a free body as shown Fig. (c). The plate is
subjected to four forces (three from wires and one from the weight), three of which are of unknown
magnitude.

Resolve Forces. Using the coordinate system shown in Fig. (c), resolve all forces into Cartesian
components. From the free body diagram, we see that the given parameters are y and  (measure from
x) for each force. From the definition of these two angles we have

Ay = 30, A = 40 ; By = 30, B = 220; Cy = 30, C = 120

We can then solve the problem, following the same procedure as in Solution I.
2.123 A container of weight W is suspended from ring A, to which cables AC and AE are attached. A
force P is applied to the end F of a third cable that passes over a pulley at B and through ring A and that
is attached to a support at D. Knowing that W = 1000N, determine the magnitude of P. (Hint: The
tension is the same in all portions of cable FBAD.)

B E

C TAE
TAB
D
z TAC x

TAD= P AD
A

SOLUTION

Free Body Diagram. Consider the joint A as a free body as shown. This point is subjected to five
forces, three of which are of unknown magnitude. Please note that the magnitude of the force in cable
AB and AD are identical and equal to P.

Resolve Forces. Using the coordinate system shown, resolve all forces into Cartesian components.

AB  ( 0.78 m)iˆ  (1.6 m) ˆj AB = 1.78 m

AC  (1.6 m) ˆj  (1.2 m)kˆ AC = 2.0 m
AD  (1.3 m)iˆ  (1.6 m) ˆj  (0.4 m) kˆ AD = 2.1 m.
AE  ( 0.4 m)iˆ  (1.6 m) ˆj  ( 0.86 m)kˆ AE = 1.86 m
and
 AB
T AB  T AB ˆ AB  P  P ( 0.4382iˆ  0.8989 ˆj )
AB
 AC
T AC  T AC ˆ AC  T AC  T AC (0.8 ˆj  0.6kˆ)
AC
 AD
T AD  T AD ˆ AD  P  P (0.6190iˆ  0.7619 ˆj  0.1905kˆ)
AD
 AE
T AE  T AE ˆ AE  T AE  T AE ( 0.2151iˆ  0.8602 ˆj  0.4624kˆ)
AE

W  Wˆj

Equations of Equilibrium. Since A is in equilibrium, we must have

     
F  0: T AB  T AC  T AD  T AE  W  0

ˆ  0.8989 ˆ
P ( 0.4 382i j )  T AC ( 0.8 ˆ
j ˆ) 
 0. 6 k P ( 0. 6
 T AE ( 0.21 51ˆ  0.8 602 ˆ
i j ˆ )  Wˆ
 0.46 24k j 

Factoring the iˆ, ˆ ˆ

j and k terms, we have
 (0.1808P  0.2151T AE )iˆ  (1.6608P  0.8T AC  0.8602T AE  W ) ˆj
 (0.1905P  0.6T  0.4624T )kˆ  0
AC AE

Equating to zero the coefficients of iˆ, ˆ ˆ

j and k :

 Fx  0 : 0.1808P  0.2151T AE  0
 Fy  0 : 1.6608P  0.8T AC  0.8602T AE  1000 N  0
 Fz  0 : 0.1905P  0.6T AC  0.4624T AE  0

We can then solve for TAC, TAE and P from the above linear equations

TAC = 124.8 N
TAE = 317.5 N
P = 377.5N◄
2.137 Collars A and B are connected by a 525-mm-long wire and can be slide freely on frictionless
rods. If a force P = (341 N)j is applied to collar A, determine (a) the tension in the wire when y = 155
mm, (b) the magnitude of the force Q required to maintain the equilibrium of the system.

y
NAz NAx

TAB
z x TBA

Q
NBx
NBy

SOLUTION
From geometry, the coordinates of points A and B are A(0, 0.155, 0) and B(0.2, 0, z), we have
(0.525 m) 2  (0.2 m) 2  (0.155 m) 2  z 2 z = 0.460 m

Use the collar A as a free body, as shown, we have

AB  (0.2 m)i  yj  zk  (0.2 m)i  (0.155 m) j  (0.46 m)k
AB (0.2 m)i  (0.155 m) j  (0.46 m)k
λ AB    0.38095i  0.29524j  0.87619k
AB 0.525 m
Therefore,

TAB  T AB λ AB  T AB (0.38095i  0.29524j  0.87619k )

TBA  TAB  T AB (0.38095i  0.29524j  0.87619k )

For equilibrium of collar A, we have

 Fy  0 : P  T ABy  P  0.29524T AB  0
P 341 N
T AB    1155 N
0.29524 0.29524
TAB = 1.155 kN◄
For equilibrium of collar B, we have

 Fz  0 : Q  TBAz  Q  0.87619T AB  0
Q  0.87619T AB  (0.87619)(1155 N)  1012 N
Q = 1.012 kN◄