UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

EME 1501

TUTORIAL LETTER 201 – 2022

KEY TO ASSIGNMENTS 02 & 05

Question 1

The length of member BC in the Figure below is 60 mm. Determine the angle 𝜙

Solution

Applying Sine rule

sin 𝜙 sin 115°
=
20 mm 𝐴𝐵
sin 115°
𝜙 = sin−1 ( ∙ 200 mm)
𝐴𝐵
where,

𝐴𝐵 = √202 + 602 − 2(20)(60) cos 115° mm

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the system of forces given in the Figure below.
 A. Coplanar concurrent nonparallel forces system
B. Coplanar nonconcurrent nonparallel forces system
C. Noncoplanar concurrent nonuniform parallel forces system
D. Coplanar concurrent uniform parallel forces system
E. Noncoplanar concurrent parallel forces system

Solution:

Coplanar nonconcurrent nonparallel forces system

Question 3

The toggle mechanism shown (Figure below) moves to a final θ = 30°. What will be the approximate
length of AC if θ = 30°?

Solution

Apply Sine rule

sin ∠𝐶 sin 30°
=
8" 5"
8" ∙ sin 30°
∠𝐶 = 180° − sin−1
5"
Applying another Sine rule
sin ∠𝐵 sin 30°
=
𝐴𝐶 5"
𝐴𝐶 = 10" ∙ sin ∠𝐵 with
4"
∠𝐵 = sin−1 − 30°
5"

Question 4

The forces shown form a couple. Replace the shown couple with an equivalent couple acting at points A
and B.

Solution

(20 lb)(8 ft) = 𝐹 ∙ (4 ft)

𝐹 = 40 lb

𝐹𝐴 = 40 lb and 𝐹𝐵 = 40 lb

Question 5

Suppose 40 N is an acting force applied on the beam as shown in the Figure below. Determine
the MAGNITUDE and the DIRECTION of the force at A.
Solution

∑𝑀𝐴 = 0

12
𝐵𝑦 (2 m) − (40 N)(3 m) = 0
13
6
𝐵𝑦 = (40)(3) N, Upwards
13

∑𝐹𝑦 = 0

12
−𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 − (40 N) = 0
13
6 12 6
𝐴𝑦 = (40 N)(3) − (40 N) = (40 N), downward
13 13 13

OR

∑𝑀𝐵 = 0
 12
𝐴𝑦 (2 m) − (40 N)(1 m) = 0
13
12 1m 6
𝐴𝑦 = (40 N) × = (40 N), downward
13 2m 13

Question 6

Solve for the horizontal component of the force at pin B (See the Figure below).

Solution
3
B(11 ft) − 60 lb (3 ft) = 0
5

5
B= (60 lb)
11
4 5 4
B𝑥 = [ (60 lb)] = (60 lb), to the right
5 11 11

Question 7

A force of 100 lb is applied to the frame shown (See the Figure below). Calculate the load in member CE.

Solution
∑𝑀𝐴 = 0
G(10 ft) − (100 lb)(12ft) = 0
G = 120 lb
∑𝐹𝑦 = 0

Cy = 120 lb

∑𝐹𝑥 = 0
Cx = 180 lb

CE = √1202 + 1802 = 216 lb compression

Question 8

Determine the DRECTION of the load in member HC and HG of the truss shown in the Figure below.

Solution
FBD of a truss

6 kips 15 kips

A E
10 ft 20 ft 30 ft

Using method of sections

Freebody diagram of the left half

Using method of joints

Free body diagram of A

AB

A
AH

Free body diagram of B

B
BC

AB BH

Free body diagram of H

BH HC

AH HG
H

Therefore, the direction of HC and HG are compression and tension, respectively.

Question 9

Determine the load in member CH of the truss shown in the Figure below by using the method of
sections.
Solution

Using method of sections

FBD of a truss

6 kips 15 kips

A E
10 ft 20 ft 30 ft
∑𝑀𝐸 = 0
−𝐴(60 ft) + (6 kips)(50 ft) + (15 kips)(30 ft) = 0
𝐴 = 12.5 kips

Free body diagram of the left half

6 kips

𝐴 = 12.5 kips

∑𝐹𝑦 = 0

12.5 kips − 𝐻𝐶 sin 60° − 6 kips = 0

6.5 kips
𝐻𝐶 = = 7.51 kips, C
sin 60°

Question 10

Determine tension T of the pulley system of the Figure below.

Solution

6𝑇 = 60
𝑇 = 10 𝑘N

Question 11

Determine the load in members AB and BC in the Figure below.

Solution

∑𝐹𝑦 = 0

4 15
(𝐴𝐵) − (680) = 0
5 17
𝐴𝐵 = 750 N T

∑𝐹𝑥 = 0
8 3
𝐵𝐶 = (680) + (750)
17 5
𝐵𝐶 = 770 N T C

Question 12
Method which will allow forces and reactions to be determined in trusses without solving the entire
truss.

A. Method of joints
B. Method of members
C. Method of sections
D. Three force members
E. Two force members

Solution

Method of sections

Question 13

Suppose F = 20 kN with 𝜃 = 60° below the negative x-axis as depicted in the Figure below. Determine
the MAGNITUDE and the DIRECTION of the resultant force F. HINT: Use the correct significant figures.

Solution

x-components y-components

4/5 (50kN) = 40 kN 3/5 (50kN) = 30 kN

(1/√2) (40kN) = 28.28 kN −(1/√2) (40kN) = −28.28 kN

−(20kN) cos 60° = −10 kN −(20kN) sin 60° = −17.32 kN

 ∑𝑭𝒙 = 58.28 kN ∑𝑭𝒚 = −15.6 kN

2
𝐹𝑅 = √(∑𝐹𝑥 )2 + (∑𝐹𝑦 ) = 60.3 kN

θ 58.28
𝑅 15.6 kN

sin 90° sin 𝜃

=
60.33 15.6
15.6 sin 90°
sin 𝜃 =
60.33
𝜃 = 15° below positive x-axis

OR

Since the resultant is in the fourth quadrant, the direction is 345o

OR
15.6
tan 𝜃 =
58.28
𝜃 = 15.0°, measured clockwise from the positive x axis

Answer: 60.3 kN, 15o below the positive x-axis

Question 14

Determine the horizontal and vertical components of each vector in the figures below.
Solution

In Figure A,

𝑟 = √82 + 152 = 17
15 8
𝑥= (34 mph) and 𝑦 = (34 mph)
17 17

For Figure B,

𝑥 = (28 ft/sec) cos(−115°) and 𝑦 = (28 ft/sec) sin(−115 °)

Question 15

Forces acting on the same point and in the same plane.

A. Three-force members

B. Coplanar concurrent force system

C. Coplanar non-concurrent force system

D. Two-force members

E. Coplanar forces

Solution

Coplanar concurrent force system

Question 16

Solve for the resultant of the force system shown in the figure below acting at the origin by drawing a
vector triangle and using either the sine law or cosine law.

Solution

𝛽
𝛼

𝑅 = √202 + 262 − 2(20)(26) cos 𝛼

5 3
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝛼 = 180° − (tan−1 + tan−1 )
12 4
5
𝜃 = 𝛽 − tan−1
12
20 N ∙ sin 𝛼
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝛽 = sin−1 ( )
𝑅

Question 17

The MAGNITUDE of ∑Fy the forces system shown in the Figure below are ….
Solution

15°

𝑟 = √122 + 52 = 13
12
∑𝐹𝑦 = 70 lb sin 10° + (104 lb) + 90 lb sin 15° + 80 lb
13
or
12
∑𝐹𝑦 = 90 lb cos 75° + (104 lb) + 70 lb cos 80° + 80 lb
13

Question 18
Which of the following forces in the Figure below has the moment about point A equals 54 Nm,
Anticlockwise …? (NB. Each section represents 9 m2). NB. Elaborate on your answer in terms of
calculations.

Solution
8 15
(34 N) ∙ 9 m − (34 N) ∙ 3 m = 54 Nm
17 17
Therefore, the force 34 N has the moment about point A equal to 54 Nm, Anticlockwise.

Question 19

The bending moment in the beam at point A is equal to the moment of the 800-N force about point A.

(a) Calculate the moment about point A (Figure below).

(b) What MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION of force P could be applied at the same location,
perpendicular to the beam, and still produce the same moment?
Solution

(a) 𝑀𝐴 = 800 N (5 m sin 38°) = 2460 Nm , Clockwise

(b) 𝑃 (5 m) = 2463 Nm

𝑃 = 493 N, 52° above the negative x-axis

Question 20

For the system shown in the Figure below, the following moment of point A and point B are compared
as follows

Solution

A couple has the same moment of any point. Therefore

MA = MB = −(8 N)(2 m) = 16 Nm, Clockwise

Question 21

Determine the resultant and indicate the angle or slope for the right-angle force system in the figure
below
Solution

𝑹 = √𝟐𝟎𝟐 + 𝟏𝟓𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓 𝐍

3
4 R

Question 22

A crate is pushed up a slope by a force of 80 N. Find the component parallel to the slope and

the component perpendicular to the slope.

Solution
 58°
70°

20°

he component parallel to the slope

𝐹𝑥 = 80 N cos 32°, 20° above the positive x axis

The component perpendicular to the slope

𝐹𝑦 = 80 N sin 32°, 70° below the positive x axis

Question 23

Use the x- and y-axes for the algebraic signs of the components to find the resultant of forces of 24 lb
and 10 lb as shown in the figure below.

Solution

Force X Y

24 lb +24 lb ∙ sin 15° +24 lb ∙ cos 15°

10 lb +10 lb ∙ sin 75° −10 lb ∙ cos 75°

Sum 𝑅𝑥 = +24 lb ∙ sin 15° + 10 lb ∙ sin 75° 𝑅𝑦 = +24 lb ∙ cos 15° − 10 lb ∙ cos 75°

𝑅 = √𝑅𝑥2 + 𝑅𝑦2 = 26 lb and 𝜃 = 22.6° above the positive x-axis

Question 24

When viewed from above, a worker slides a cabinet by applying the forces shown ii the figure below.
Determine the moment about corner A.

Solution

hoosing anticlockwise positive and clockwise negative

𝑟 = √122 + 52 = 13
12
𝑀=+ (39 lb)(32 in. ) + (60 lb)(20 in. )
13
The direction of the moment of the two forces is anticlockwise since each moment of each force is
positive.

Question 25

Calculate the moment or torque tightening the pipe in the Figure below.
Solution

Choose anticlockwise positive and clockwise negative

𝑟 = √122 + 52 = 13 and 𝑟 = √152 + 82 = 17

5 8 12 15
𝑀=+ (39 lb) ∙ (17 in. ) − (39 lb) ∙ (17 in. )
13 17 13 17
The direction of the moment of the force is clockwise since moment of x component of force is greater
than that of y components of force and therefore negative.