AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

Tutorial 2
Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies

1. The bracket BCD is attached to a control cable at B and hinged at C. Refer to the loading
shown below in fig. 1, determine
(a) the tension in the cable,
(b) the reaction at C.

Fig. 1

2. In fig. 2, the uniform rod AB has a weight of 15 lb and the spring is unstretched at θ = 0◦ .
Determine the stiffness k of the spring, if θ = 30◦ .

Fig. 2

3. A load of logs weighting W = 25 kN is raised by a crane. In fig. 3, the combined weight of the
truck and driver and the weight of the boom ABC are indicated. Determine the reaction at each
of the two
(a) front wheels H,
(b) rear wheels K.

Fig. 3

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AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

4. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the minimum force P needed to pull the 50 kg roller
over the smooth step, as shown in fig. 4.

Fig. 4

5. A skeletal diagram of the lower leg and a mechanical system to model it are shown in fig. 5. It
can be noted that this portion of the leg is lifted by the quadriceps muscle attached to the hip
at A and to the patella bone at B.This bone slides freely over cartilage at the knee joint. The
quadriceps is further extended and attached to the tibia at C. Using the mechanical system,
determine the tension in the quadriceps at C and the magnitude of the resultant force at the
femur (pin), D, in order to hold the lower leg in the position shown. The lower leg has a mass
of 3.2 kg and a mass center at G1 ; the foot has a mass of 1.6 kg and a mass center at G2 .

Fig. 5

6. A slender rod AB, of weight W , is attached to blocks A and B that move freely in the guides
as shown in fig. 6. The constant of the spring is k, and it is unstretched when θ = 0◦ .

(a) Derive an expression in W, k, l and θ that must be satisfied when the rod is in equilibrium.
Neglect the weight of the blocks.
(b) Determine the value of θ when W = 75 lb, l = 30 in. and k = 3 lb/in.

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AM1100: Engineering Mechanics April-June 2021

Fig. 6

7. The lever ABC of a component of a machine is hinged at B, and is subjected to a system of

coplaner forces as shown in fig. 7. Neglecting friction, calculate the magnitude of the force (P )
to keep the lever in equilibrium. Also determine the magnitude and direction of the reaction at
B.

Fig. 7

8. A light string ABCDE whose extremity A is fixed, has weights W1 and W2 attached to it at B
and C. It passes round a small smooth peg at D carrying a weight of 300 N at the free end E
as shown in fig. 8. If in the equilibrium position, BC is horizontal and AB and CD make 150◦
and 120◦ with BC, find

(a) Tensions in the portion AB, BC and CD of the string, and

(b) Magnitudes of W1 and W2 .

Fig. 8