Solutions to Practice

Problems, Module 2:
Engineering Mechanics
By Shaun Patrick P. Albao, BSChE – 2A
 Solutions to Practice Problems: Engineering
Mechanics
• In this presentation, I am going to present 3 solutions from the selected
practice problems in order to apply the theories and principles of moment of a
force and couple in solving engineering problems, illustrate the Varignon’s
theorem, demonstrate the equilibrium forces of 2D and 3D systems.
• To avoid confusion, this presentation uses the following convention:
 Small letters for scalar quantities, like – t for time.
 Bold letters to denote vector quantity, like vector A.
 Capital letters for the magnitude of vector, such as – A.
 Finding the moment of
space forces about a point

Considering the figure below,

determine the moment P about point
C where the magnitude of the force
P is 100 N. Also if the magnitude of
force Q is 250 N, determine the
moment of Q about origin O.
 Solution: Let us use vector method to solve this  Given: Required:
problem so that the calculation of the moment is
straightforward. To employ the vector method, we must
first express the force P in vector form.
 
Writing the line of action of the force in vector form, we
have…

Expressing the latter in its unit vector, we have…

Multiplying the magnitude of the force with its unit vector, we

arrive with the force vector P.

  25 30 18 25 00 30 00 18 00
𝐏= P 𝛌 𝐀𝐁=100 − ( 43
𝐢−
43
𝐣+
43
𝐤 N =− )
43
𝐢−
43
𝐣+
43
𝐤N
  
Finding the components of the moment,
 
Since we will use the cross we have…
product to compute the
moment about C, our next
step is to choose the vector
r and to write it in vector
form (remember that r must
be a vector from point C to
any point on the line of
action of P). From the
figure, we see that there are
two convenient choices for
r: either the vector from the
C to A or the vector from C
 
Note:
to B. Choosing the latter,
we have…

𝐂
  𝐂 =− 25.1163𝐢− 34.8837 𝐤 N ∙ m
Solution: Likewise, let us use vector method to solve  Given: Required:
this problem so that the calculation of the moment is
straightforward. Again, we first express the force Q in
vector form.
 Writing the line of action of the force in vector form, we have…

Expressing the latter in its unit vector, we have…

Multiplying the magnitude of the force with its unit vector, we

arrive with the force vector Q.
 
Since we will use the cross  
Finding the components of the moment,
product to compute the we have…
moment about O, our next
step is to choose the vector
r and to write it in vector
form (remember that r must
be a vector from point O to
any point on the line of
action of Q). From the
figure, we see that there are
two convenient choices for
r: either the vector from the
O to B or the vector from O
to D. Choosing the latter,
𝐂
  𝐎 =− 78.0381 𝐣 N ∙ m
we have…
 
Note:
Finding the moment of a
space force about an axis

The magnitude of the force P is

480 N. Determine the moment of
P about the axis CD. Express the
result in vector form.
 
Given: Required:
Solution: In this problem, we are going to use vector
method so that the calculation of the moment is
straightforward. To employ the vector method, we must
first express the force P in vector form.

 
Writing the line of action of the force in vector
form, we have…

Expressing the latter in its unit vector, we

have…

Multiplying the magnitude of the force with its

unit vector, we arrive with the force vector P.

 
 
Next we calculate the moment of P about any
convenient point on the axis CD. Inspection of the
figure reveals that there are only two convenient
points from which to choose—points C and D. Let
us choose point C. Since we will use the cross
product to compute the moment about C, our next
step is to choose the vector r and to write it in
vector form (remember that r must be a vector
from point C to any point on the line of action of
P). From the figure, we see that there are two
convenient choices for r: either the vector from the
C to B or the vector from C to A. Choosing the
latter, we have…

 Expressing the line of axis in vector form, we

have…

We only need the unit vector, so we have…

  
Note:

  compute for the magnitude of the moment about an axis, we use the scalar triple product method where
To
its value can be found through evaluating the determinant of a matrix.

We multiply its magnitude with the unit vector of the axis to get the vector form of the moment.

𝐂
  𝐂𝐃 =−74.6394 𝐢 −95.9648 𝐤 N ∙ m
Finding the tensions in an
equilibrium of concurrent
force systems.

From the figure below, compute

the tensile force in each chords A,
B, and D.
Solution: To solve this problem, we need to divide the  Given Figure: Required:
figure into two free-body diagrams: one at the
intersection of tensile forces C, D and the 400 lb force,
the other one at the intersection of the tensile forces A,
B, C and the 300 lb force. Let’s focus on the first
diagram. Since there are only three forces, we can use a
force triangle. Using geometry, we can find its angles
necessary for sine law.
 Using Sine Law, we have…

30°
 
C
400
lb
75° 75°
 
   D=207.0552lb
D
 In solving the remaining forces A and B, we use the component method
in which we arbitrarily choose the orientation of the horizontal and
vertical axes so that one of the axes is in the line of action of the
unknown force. In this problem, we’ll let the x-axis go through A.
+y
B

A 45
  ° +x

60°
 

C = 400 lb
300 lb
 
 
B=914.16
  20lb
 A=846.41 01lb
That’s all. Have a good
day!