Rank these forces (A through F) on the basis of the

magnitude of the torque they apply to the wrench,

measured about an axis centred on the bolt.

Largest to smallest: D, B=E, F, A, C=0

 Calculate the net torque about point O for the two forces
applied as in the figure. The rod and both forces are in
the plane of the page. Take positive torques to be
counterclockwise.

ANS: -28.0Nm
What is the magnitude of the net torque on the wheel due
to these three forces for an axis perpendicular to the wheel
and passing through its center?

ANS: 0.310Nm
 Calculate the net torque about this axis due to the three
forces shown in the figure if the magnitudes of the
forces are F1= 28.0N, F2 = 15.5N, and F3 = 15.8N .
The plate and all forces are in the plane of the page.

ANS: 0.886Nm
4.9 RESULTANT OF A DISTRIBUTED LOAD

Objective:
to determine an equivalent force for a distributed load
 APPLICATIONS (continued)

The sandbags on the beam create a distributed load.

How can we determine a single equivalent resultant

force and its location?
A few notes
• The symbol w is given as a load
distribution
– w has units of force/length
• The area under the curve gives the
resultant force of the entire load along the
length of the member
– R has the units we expect:
(force/length)∙(length) = force
 A Uniform Load
• c
 A Triangular Load
• a
 Example: Find the resultant of the distributed load shown in the
figure. Use your knowledge of moments to determine where
this equivalent force acts with respect to point A

• The distributed load in the figure is divided

into a rectangular (uniform) and a triangular
load

• The uniform load has resultant R1 with area

wL  (5kN / m)(4.5m)  22.5kN

• The triangular load has resultant R2 with area

pL (14kN / m)(4.5m)
  31.5kN
2 2
• We note again that the distributed loads are reduced to resultants
acting at the geometric center of the rectangle and the triangle (also
known as the centroid)

• The resultant force and the equivalent moment arm are found from
the combined analysis of the uniform and triangular loads: