Problem 3-26

If blocks D and F each have weight W

1
, determine the weight of block E if the sag is s. Neglect
the size of the pulleys.
Given:
W
1
5N :=
s 0.3m :=
a 0.4m :=
Solution:
Sum forces in the y direction
2
s
s
2
a
2
+
W
1
W 0 =
W 2
s
s
2
a
2
+
W
1
:= W 6N =
Problem 3-27
The block of mass M is supported by two springs having the stiffness shown. Determine the
unstretched length of each spring.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
M 30kg :=
l
1
0.6m :=
l
2
0.4m :=
l
3
0.5m :=
k
AC
1.5
kN
m
:=
k
AB
1.2
kN
m
:=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution:
Initial guesses: F
AC
20N := F
AB
30N :=
Given
+

F
x
=0;
l
2
F
AB

l
2
2
l
3
2
+
l
1
F
AC

l
1
2
l
3
2
+
0 =
+

F
y
=0;
l
3
F
AB

l
2
2
l
3
2
+
l
3
F
AC

l
1
2
l
3
2
+
+ M g 0 =
F
AC
F
AB

Find F
AC
F
AB
,
( )
:=
F
AC
F
AB

183.88
226.13

N =
Then guess L
AB
0.1m := L
AC
0.1m :=
Given F
AC
k
AC
l
1
2
l
3
2
+ L
AC

=
F
AB
k
AB
l
2
2
l
3
2
+ L
AB

=
L
AB
L
AC

Find L
AB
L
AC
,
( )
:=
L
AB
L
AC

0.452
0.658

m =
Problem 3-28
Three blocks are supported using the cords and two pulleys. If they have weights of W
A
= W
C
=
W, W
B
= kW,, determine the angle for equilibrium.
Given:
k 0.25 :=
Solution:
+

F
x
=0; W cos ( ) k W cos ( ) 0 =
+

F
y
=0; W sin ( ) k W sin ( ) + W 0 =
cos ( ) k cos ( ) =
sin ( ) 1 k sin ( ) =
1 k
2
cos ( )
2
1 k sin ( ) ( )
2
+ = 1 k
2
+ 2 k sin ( ) =
asin
k
2

:= 7.18deg =
Problem 3-29
A continuous cable of total length l is wrapped around the small pulleys at A, B, C, and D. If
each spring is stretched a distance b, determine the mass M of each block. Neglect the weight of
the pulleys and cords. The springs are unstretched when d = l/2.
Given:
l 4m :=
k 500
N
m
:=
b 300mm :=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution:
F
s
k b := F
s
150.00N =
Guesses
T 1N := 10deg := M 1kg :=
Given
2 T sin ( ) F
s
0 =
2 T cos ( ) M g + 0 =
b
l
4
sin ( ) +
l
4
=
b
l/4

l/4
T

Find T , M , ( ) :=
T 107.14N = 44.43deg = M 15.60kg =
Problem 3-30
Prove Lami's theorem, which states that if three concurrent forces are in equilibrium, each is
proportional to the sine of the angle of the other two; that is, P/sin =Q/sin =R/sin .
Solution:
Sine law:
R
sin 180deg ( )
Q
sin 180deg ( )
=
P
sin 180deg ( )
=
However, in general sin 180deg ( ) sin ( ) = , hence
R
sin ( )
Q
sin ( )
=
P
sin ( )
= Q.E.D.
Problem 3-31
A vertical force P is applied to the ends of cord AB of length a and spring AC. If the spring has an
unstretched length , determine the angle for equilibrium.
Given:
P 10N :=
0.2m :=
k 150
N
m
:=
a 0.2m :=
b 0.2m :=
Guesses
10deg := 10deg :=
T 1N := F 1N :=
x 0.1m :=
Given
T cos ( ) F cos ( ) + 0 =
T sin ( ) F sin ( ) + P 0 =
F k x ( ) =
a sin ( ) x sin ( ) =
a cos ( ) x cos ( ) + a b + =

T
F
x

Find , T , F , x , ( ) :=
T
F

10.296
9.377

N = 35.0deg =
Problem 3-32
Determine the unstretched length of spring AC if a force P causes the angle for equilibrium.
Cord AB has length a.
Given:
P 80N :=
60deg :=
k 500
N
m
:=
a 0.2m :=
b 0.2m :=
Guesses
0.1m := 10deg :=
T 1N := F 1N :=
x 0.1m :=
Given
T cos ( ) F cos ( ) + 0 =
T sin ( ) F sin ( ) + P 0 =
F k x ( ) =
a sin ( ) x sin ( ) =
a cos ( ) x cos ( ) + a b + =

T
F
x

Find , T , F , x , ( ) :=
T
F

69.282
40

N = 0.266m =
Problem 3-33
The flowerpot of mass M is suspended from three wires and supported by the hooks at B and C.
Determine the tension in AB and AC for equilibrium.
Given:
M 20kg :=
l
1
3.5m :=
l
2
2m :=
l
3
4m :=
l
4
0.5m :=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution:
Initial guesses:
T
AB
1N := T
AC
1N :=
10deg := 10deg :=
Given
T
AC
cos ( ) T
AB
cos ( ) + 0 =
T
AC
sin ( ) T
AB
sin ( ) + M g 0 =
l
1
cos ( ) l
2
cos ( ) + l
3
=
l
1
sin ( ) l
2
sin ( ) l
4
+ =
T
AB
T
AC

Find T
AB
T
AC
, , ,
( )
:=

53.13
36.87

deg =
T
AB
T
AC

156.96
117.72

N =
Problem 3-34
A car is to be towed using the rope arrangement shown. The towing force required is P. Determine
the minimum length l of rope AB so that the tension in either rope AB or AC does not exceed T.
Hint: Use the equilibriumcondition at point A to determine the required angle for attachment, then
determine l using trigonometry applied to triangle ABC.
Given:
P 3000N :=
T 3750N :=
30deg :=
d 1.2m :=
Solution:
The initial guesses
T
AB
T :=
T
AC
T :=
30deg :=
l 0.6m :=
Case 1: Assume T
AC
T :=
Given
+
F
x
=0; T
AC
cos ( ) T
AB
cos ( ) 0 =
+

P T
AC
sin ( ) T
AB
sin ( ) 0 =
F
y
=0;
l
sin ( )
d
sin 180deg ( )
=
T
AB

l
1

Find T
AB
, l ,
( )
:= T
AB
3.437kN = 19.11deg = l
1
0.794m =
Case 2: Assume T
AB
T :=
Given
+
F
x
=0; T
AC
cos ( ) T
AB
cos ( ) 0 =
+

P T
AC
sin ( ) T
AB
sin ( ) 0 =
F
y
=0;
l
sin ( )
d
sin 180deg ( )
=
T
AC

l
2

Find T
AC
, l ,
( )
:= T
AC
4.204kN = 13.85deg = l
2
0.866m =
l min l
1
l
2
,
( )
:= l 0.794m =
Problem 3-35
Determine the mass of each of the two cylinders if they cause a sag of distance d when
suspended from the rings at A and B. Note that s =0 when the cylinders are removed.
Given:
d 0.5m :=
l
1
1.5m :=
l
2
2m :=
l
3
1m :=
k 100
N
m
:=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution:
T
AC
k l
1
d +
( )
2
l
2
2
+ l
1
2
l
2
2
+

:=
T
AC
32.84N =
atan
l
1
d +
l
2

:=
45deg =
M
T
AC
sin ( )
g
:=
M 2.37kg =
Problem 3-36
The sling BAC is used to lift the load W with constant velocity. Determine the force in the sling and
plot its value T (ordinate) as a function of its orientation , where 0 90 .
Solution:
W 2 T cos ( ) 0 =
T
1
2
W
cos ( )
:=

Problem 3-37
The lamp fixture has weight W and is suspended fromtwo springs, each having unstretched
length L and stiffness k. Determine the angle for equilibrium.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
W 45N :=
L 1.2m :=
k 75
N
m
:=
a 1.2m :=
Solution :
The initial guesses: T 1N := 10deg :=
Given
Spring T k
a
cos ( )
L

=
+

F
y
=0;
2T sin ( ) W 0 =
T

Find T , ( ) := T 33.0N = 43.0deg =

Problem 3-38
The uniformtank of weight W is suspended by means of a cable, of length l, which is attached
to the sides of the tank and passes over the small pulley located at O. If the cable can be
attached at either points A and B, or C and D, determine which attachment produces the least
amount of tension in the cable.What is this tension?
Given:
W 1000N :=
l 1.8m :=
a 0.3m :=
b 0.6m :=
c b :=
d 2a :=
Solution:
Free Body Diagram : By
observation, the force F has to
support the entire weight of the
tank. Thus, F =W. The tension in
cable is the same throughout the
cable.
Equations of Equilibrium
F
y
=0;
W 2 T sin ( ) 0 =
Attached to CD
1
acos
2a
l

:=
1
70.53deg =
Attached to AB
2
acos
2 b
l

:=
2
48.19deg =
We choose the largest angle (which will produce the smallest force)
max
1

2
,
( )
:= 70.53deg =
T
1
2
W
sin ( )
:= T 530.3N =
Problem 3-39
A sphere of mass m
s
rests on the smooth parabolic surface. Determine the normal force it exerts
on the surface and the mass m
B
of block B needed to hold it in the equilibrium position shown.
Given:

m
s
4kg :=
a 0.4m :=
b 0.4m :=
60deg :=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution :
k
a
b
2
:=
Geometry : The angle
1
which the surface make with the horizontal is to be determined first.
tan
1
( )
dy
dx
= 2 k x =
evaluated at x a :=

1
atan 2 k a ( ) :=
1
63.435deg =
Free Body Diagram : The tension in the cord is the same throughout the cord and is equ
to the weight of block B, m
B
g.
The initial guesses: m
B
200kg := F
N
200N :=
Given
+
F
x
=0; m
B
g cos
( )
F
N
sin
1
( )
0 =
+

F
y
=0;
m
B
g sin
( )
F
N
cos
1
( )
+ m
s
g 0 =
m
B
F
N

Find m
B
F
N
,
( )
:= F
N
19.655N =
m
B
3.584kg =
Problem 3-40
The pipe of mass M is supported at A by a system of five cords. Determine the force in each
cord for equilibrium.
Given:
M 30kg := c 3 :=
d 4 :=
g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
60deg :=
Solution:
Initial guesses:
T
AB
1N := T
AE
1N :=
T
BC
1N := T
BD
1N :=
Given
T
AB
sin ( ) M g 0 =
T
AE
T
AB
cos ( ) 0 =
T
BD
c
c
2
d
2
+
T
AB
sin ( ) 0 =
T
BD
d
c
2
d
2
+
T
AB
cos ( ) + T
BC
0 =
T
AB
T
AE
T
BC
T
BD

Find T
AB
T
AE
, T
BC
, T
BD
,
( )
:=
T
AB
T
AE
T
BC
T
BD

339.8
169.9
562.3
490.5

N =
Problem 3-41
The joint of a space frame is subjected to four forces. Strut OA lies in the x-y plane and strut OB
lies in the y-z plane. Determine the forces acting in each of the three struts required for
equilibrium.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
F 2kN :=

1
45deg :=

2
40deg :=
Solution:
F
x
=0; R sin
1
( )
0 =
R 0 :=
F
z
=0; P sin
2
( )
F 0 =
P
F
sin
2
( )
:=
P 3.11kN =
F
y
=0; Q P cos
2
( )
0 =
Q P cos
2
( )
:=
Q 2.38kN =
Problem 3-42
Determine the magnitudes of F
1
, F
2
, and F
3
for equilibrium of the particle.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
F
4
800N :=
60deg :=
30deg :=
30deg :=
c 3 :=
d 4 :=
Solution :
The initial guesses: F
1
100N := F
2
100N := F
3
100N :=
Given
F
1
cos ( )
0
sin ( )

F
2
c
2
d
2
+
c
d
0

+ F
3
cos ( )
sin ( )
0

+ F
4
0
sin ( )
cos ( )

+ 0 =
F
1
F
2
F
3

Find F
1
F
2
, F
3
,
( )
:=
F
1
F
2
F
3

800
147
564

N =
Problem 3-43
Determine the magnitudes of F
1
, F
2
, and F
3
for equilibrium of the particle.
Units Used:
kN 1000N :=
Given:
F
4
8.5kN :=
F
5
2.8kN :=
15deg :=
30deg :=
c 7 :=
d 24 :=
Solution:
Initial Guesses:
F
1
1kN := F
2
1kN := F
3
1kN :=
Given
F
1
cos ( )
0
sin ( )

F
2
c
2
d
2
+
c
d
0

+ F
3
1
0
0

+ F
4
sin ( )
cos ( )
0

+ F
5
0
0
1

+ 0 =
F
1
F
2
F
3

Find F
1
F
2
, F
3
,
( )
:=
F
1
F
2
F
3

5.60
8.55
9.44

kN =
Problem 3-44
Determine the magnitudes of F
1
, F
2
and F
3
for equilibrium of the particle F ={-9i - 8j -5k}.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
F
9
8
5

kN :=
a 4m :=
b 2m :=
c 4m :=

1
30deg :=

2
60deg :=

3
135deg :=

4
60deg :=

5
60deg :=
Solution:
Initial guesses: F
1
8kN := F
2
3kN := F
3
12kN :=
Given
F
1
cos
2
( )
cos
1
( )

cos
2
( )
sin
1
( )

sin
2
( )

F
2
cos
3
( )
cos
5
( )
cos
4
( )

+
F
3
a
2
b
2
+ c
2
+
a
c
b

+ F + 0 =
F
1
F
2
F
3

Find F
1
F
2
, F
3
,
( )
:=
F
1
F
2
F
3

8.26
3.84
12.21

kN =
Problem 3.45
The three cables are used to support the lamp of weight W. Determine the force developed in
each cable for equilibrium.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
W 800N := b 4m :=
a 4m := c 2m :=
Solution:
Initial Guesses:
F
AB
1N := F
AC
1N := F
AD
1N :=
Given
F
AB
0
1
0

F
AC
1
0
0

+
F
AD
a
2
b
2
+ c
2
+
c
b
a

+ W
0
0
1

+ 0 =
F
AB
F
AC
F
AD

Find F
AB
F
AC
, F
AD
,
( )
:=
F
AB
F
AC
F
AD

800
400
1200

N =
Problem 3-46
Determine the force in each cable needed to support the load W.
Given:
a 0.8m :=
b 0.6m :=
c 0.2m :=
d 0.2m :=
e 0.6m :=
W 500N :=
Solution:
Initial guesses:
F
CD
600N := F
CA
195N := F
CB
195N :=
Given
F
CA
c
2
e
2
+
c
e
0

F
CB
d
2
e
2
+
d
e
0

+
F
CD
a
2
b
2
+
0
b
a

+ W
0
0
1

+ 0 =
F
CD
F
CA
F
CB

Find F
CD
F
CA
, F
CB
,
( )
:=
F
CD
F
CA
F
CB

625.0
197.6
197.6

N =
Problem 3-47
Determine the stretch in each of the two springs required to hold the crate of mass m
c
in the
equilibriumposition shown. Each spring has an unstretched length and a stiffness k.

Given:
m
c
20kg :=
2m :=
k 300
N
m
:=
a 4m :=
b 6m :=
c 12m :=
Solution:
Initial Guesses
F
OA
1N :=
F
OB
1N :=
F
OC
1N :=
Given
F
OA
0
1
0

F
OB
1
0
0

+
F
OC
a
2
b
2
+ c
2
+
b
a
c

+ m
c
g
0
0
1

+ 0 =
F
OA
F
OB
F
OC

Find F
OA
F
OB
, F
OC
,
( )
:=
F
OA
F
OB
F
OC

65.378
98.066
228.822

N =

OA
F
OA
k
:=
OA
218mm =

OB
F
OB
k
:=
OB
327mm =
Problem 3-48
If the bucket and its contents have total weight W, determine the force in the supporting cables DA,
DB, and DC.
Gi ven:
W 200N :=
a 3m :=
b 4.5m :=
c 2.5m :=
d 3m :=
e 1.5m :=
f 1.5m :=
Solut ion:
The initial guesses:
F
DA
10N := F
DB
20N := F
DC
30N :=
Given
F
x
=0;
b e
b e ( )
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
DA
e
e
2
d
2
+ c f ( )
2
+
F
DC
0 =
F
y
=0;
f
b e ( )
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
DA
c f
e
2
d
2
+ c f ( )
2
+
F
DC
+ F
DB
0 =
F
z
=0;
a
b e ( )
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
DA
d
e
2
d
2
+ c f ( )
2
+
F
DC
+ W 0 =
F
DA
F
DB
F
DC

Find F
DA
F
DB
, F
DC
,
( )
:=
F
DA
F
DB
F
DC

100.0
11.1
155.6

N =
Problem 3-49
The crate which of weight F is to be hoisted with constant velocity from the hold of a ship
using the cable arrangement shown. Determine the tension in each of the three cables for
equilibrium.
Units Used:
kN 10
3
N :=
Given:
F 2.5kN :=
a 3m :=
b 1m :=
c 0.75m :=
d 1m :=
e 1.5m :=
f 3m :=
Solution:
The initial guesses
F
AD
3kN := F
AC
3kN := F
AB
3kN :=
Given
c
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AD

d
d
2
e
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
+
d
d
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB
+ 0 =
b
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AD

e
d
2
e
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
+
f
d
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB
+ 0 =
a
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AD

a
d
2
e
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
+
a
d
2
f
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB
+ F + 0 =
F
AD
F
AC
F
AB

Find F
AD
F
AC
, F
AB
,
( )
:=
F
AD
F
AC
F
AB

1.548
0.463
0.98

kN =
Problem 3-50
The lamp has mass m
l
and is supported by pole AO and cables AB and AC. If the force in the
pole acts along its axis, determine the forces in AO, AB, and AC for equilibrium.
Given:
m
l
15kg := d 1.5m :=
a 6m := e 4m :=
b 1.5m := f 1.5m :=
c 2m := g 9.81
m
s
2
:=
Solution :
The initial guesses:
F
AO
100N :=
F
AB
200N :=
F
AC
300N :=
Given
Equilibrium equations:
c
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AO

c e +
c e + ( )
2
b f + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB

c
c
2
b d + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
0 =
b
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AO

b f +
c e + ( )
2
b f + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB
+
b d +
c
2
b d + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
+ 0 =
a
c
2
b
2
+ a
2
+
F
AO

a
c e + ( )
2
b f + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AB

a
c
2
b d + ( )
2
+ a
2
+
F
AC
m
l
g 0 =
F
AO
F
AB
F
AC

Find F
AO
F
AB
, F
AC
,
( )
:=
F
AO
F
AB
F
AC

319
110
86

N =