DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Engineering mechanics (1REM)

Assignment 1
1. Define force. Explain the characteristics of force.
2. Explain the different classifications of force system.
3. State Newton’s laws of motions.
4. State and explain three principles of mechanics.
5. State and prove parallelogram law.
6. State and explain Lami’s theorem.
7. Explain the concept of Free Body Diagram in solving engineering problems with
examples.
8. Determine the resultant and equilibrant of the given system of forces as shown in Fig.
1(b).

9. The 26 kN force is the resultant of two forces. One of which is as shown in Fig. 2(b).
Determine the other force.

10. Four coplanar forces acting at a point are showing in Fig. 1(b). One of the forces is
unknown and its magnitude is as shown by F. The resultant is 500N and is along
positive (+ve) X-axis. Determine the force F and its inclination  with respect to X-
axis.
11. A string PQRS is attached to two fixed points P and S in a horizontal ceiling. Two
weights of W kN and 8 kN are attached to the string at Q & R respectively. The
weights rest with the portions PQ and RS inclined at 30° and 45° respectively to the
vertical as shown in Fig. 1(c). Determine the magnitude of the weight W, tensions in
portions PQ, QR and RS of the string.

12. A 300 N sphere is supported by the pulley and a 200 N weight passing over a pulley.
Find out P and  as shown in Fig. 2(c).

13. Compute the tensions in the string AB, BC and CD as shown in Fig. 1(c).

14. Two spheres each of radius 100mm and weight 5 kN is in a rectangular box as shown
in Fig. 2(c). Determine the reactions at all the points of contact.

15. Two spheres P and Q rest between two vertical walls as shown in Fig. 2(b). The
diameter of smaller sphere P is 320 mm and weight is 1150 N. The diameter of larger
 sphere Q is 480 mm and the weight is 3450 N. The distance between the walls is 720
mm. Assuming the contact surfaces to be smooth, determine the reactions at the contact
points A, B and C.

16. Two cylinders A and B of diameters 8 cm and 12 cm respectively are held in

equilibrium by separate strings as shown in Fig. 4(b). Cylinder B rests against vertical
wall. If the weights of cylinder A and B are 20 N and 40 N respectively, determine the
tension in strings and reactions at all contact points.