NAME & ID

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

Problem 1:

The toggle switch consists of a cocking lever that is pinned to

a fixed frame at A and held in place by the spring which has
an unstretched length of 200 mm. Determine the magnitude of
the resultant force at A and the normal force on the peg at B
when the lever is in the position shown.

Strategy:
Apply the rule of cosines to find the stretched length of the
spring and find the spring force. Draw the free body diagram
and calculate the moment about point A to get the normal force on the peg. Apply the
equilibrium equation to find the reaction forces at A.

0.4 m
150o

L = 0.32 + 0.42 2(0.3)(0.4) cos150D = 0.6766m

L

0.3
m

sin sin150D
=
= 12.808D
0.3 0.67664
Fs = k s = 5(0.67664 0.2) = 2.3832 N

= 0 (2.3832sin12.808D )(0.4) + N B (0.1) = 0

N B = 2.113 N

0.3

= 0 Ax 2.3832 cos12.808D = 0

12.808o

Ax = 2.3239 N

0.1

= 0 Ay + 2.11327 2.3832sin12.808D = 0

Ax = 1.585 N
Ax

FA = 2.32392 + (1.585) 2 = 2.81N

NB
Ay

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MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

Problem 2:

The Uniform rod has a length l and weight W. it is supported

at one end A by a smooth wall and the other end by a cord of
length s which is attached to the wall as shown. Show that for

1/ 2

equilibrium it is required that h = s 2 l 2 / 3

Strategy:
Apply equations of equilibrium to obtain an expression for the tension in the cable and then
apply the law of sine and cosine to find h.

NA

l
= 0 T sin (l ) W sin ( ) = 0
2
W sin
T =
2sin

W
T

= 0 T cos( ) W = 0

W sin
cos( ) W = 0
2sin
sin cos( ) 2sin( ) = 0

Applying the law of Sine:

180
L

sin sin
h
=
sin = sin
h
s
s
h

sin cos( ) 2 sin( ) = 0

s

h
(1)
cos( ) = 2
s

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NAME & ID

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MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

Using the cosine law:

l 2 = h 2 + s 2 2hs cos( )
h2 + s 2 l 2
cos( ) =
2hs
Using equation (1) and (2) =>

(2)
2h h 2 + s 2 l 2
=
h=
s
2hs

s2 l 2
3

Problem 3:

The uniform load has a mass of 600 kg and is lifted

using a 30-kg strongback beam and four wire ropes
as shown. Determine the tension in each segment
of the rope and the force that must be applied to the
sling at A.

Strategy:
Due to symmetry, all wires are subjected to the same tension. This condition satisfies moment
equilibrium about x and y axis and force equilibrium along y axis.
Apply the force equilibrium along z axis to find the tension in the wires and the force at point
A.

4
= 0 4T ( ) 600(9.81) = 0
5
T = 1839.37 N = 1.84kN

3
W

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Mechatronics Engineering

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

The force F applied to the sling A must support the weight

of the load and the strongback beam.

W beam

= 0 F 600(9.81) 30(9.81) = 0

F = 6180.3 N = 6.18kN

W box

Problem 4:
The windlass is subjected to a load of 150
lb. Determine the horizontal force P needed
to hold the handle in the position shown,
and the components of the reaction at the
ball-and-socket joint A and the smooth
journal bearing B. The bearing at B is in
proper alignment and exerts only force
reactions on the windlass.

Strategy:
Draw the free body diagram and apply force and moment equilibrium for x, y and z axis and
find the unknown forces.

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NAME & ID
Mechatronics Engineering

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

= 0 (150)(0.5) P(1) = 0

P = 75lb

= 0 Ay = 0

= 0 (150)(2) Bz (4) = 0

Bz = 75lb

= 0 Az + 75 150 = 0 Az = 75lb

= 0 Bx (4) 75(6) = 0

Bx = 112.5lb = 112lb

= 0 Ax 112.5 + 75 = 0 Ax = 37.5lb

Problem 5:

The pole is subjected to the two forces

shown. Determine the components of
reaction at A assuming it to be a ball-andsocket joint. Also, compute the tension in
each of the guy wires, BC and ED.

Strategy:
Draw the free body diagram and then apply the equilibrium equation of force and moment
and find the unknowns.

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Force vector:

G
F1 = 860{cos 45D i sin 45D k} = 608.11i 608.11k N
G
F2 = 450{ cos 20D cos 30D i + cos 20D sin 30D j sin 20D k}
= 366.21i + 211.43 j 153.91k N

(6 0)i + (3 0) j + (0 6)k
G
FED = FED

(6) 2 + (3) 2 + (6) 2

2 1
2
= FED [ i j k]
3
3
3
(6 0)i + (4.5 0) j + (0 4)k
G
FBC = FBC

(6) 2 + (4.5) 2 + (4) 2

12
9 8
= FBC [ i
j k]
17 17
17

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

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Force Equilibrium:

F =0
2
12
= 0; Ax + 608.11 366.11 FED + FBC = 0 (1)
3
17
1
9
Fy = 0; Ay + 211.43 3FED 17 FBC = 0 (2)
2
8
Fz = 0; Az 608.11 153.91 3 FED 17 FBC = 0 (3)

Moment Equilibrium:

G
G G
G
= 0 4k FBC + 8k ( F1 + F2 ) + 6k ( FED ) = 0

36
FBC = 0 (4)
17
48
M y = 0; 1935.22 4FED + 17 FBC = 0 (5)

= 0; 1691.45 + 2FED +

Solving Eqs. (4) and (5):

FBC = 205.09 N ,

FED = 628.57 N

Substituting the results into Eqs. (1), (2) and (3):

Ax = 32.4 N , Ay = 107 N , Az = 1277.58 N = 1.28kN

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

PAGE
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NAME & ID
Mechatronics Engineering

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Problem 6:

Eight identical 20 30 -in rectangular plates, each weighing 50lb, are held in a vertical plane
as shown. All connections consist of frictionless pins, rollers, or short links. For each case,
determine whether (a) the plate is completely, partially or improperly constrained, (b) the
reactions are statically determinate or indeterminate, (c) the equilibrium of the plate is
maintained in the position shown. Also, wherever possible, compute the reactions.

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NAME & ID
Mechatronics Engineering

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

PAGE
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NAME & ID
Mechatronics Engineering

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 7:

Determine the force in each

member of the truss and state if
the members are in tension or
compression. Set P1=100 lb,
P2=200 lb P3=300 lb.

SOLUTION:
FBD of the entire truss:

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NAME & ID

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

100 lb
Ax

10 ft

= 0;

10 ft
200 lb

Ay

E
10 ft
300 lb

200(10) + 300(20) RD cos 30o (30) = 0 RD = 307.9 lb

= 0; Ay 100 200 300 + 307.9 cos 30o = 0 Ay = 333.4 lb

= 0; Ax 307 sin 30o = 0 Ax = 154.0 lb

30o

Joint A:
FAB

100 lb
154.0 lb

1
1

FAF

333.4 lb

1
FAB = 0 FAB = 330 lb (C)
2
1
Fx = 0; 154.0 + FAF 2 (330) = 0 FAF = 79.4 lb (T)

= 0; 333.4 -100

ANS
ANS

RD

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NAME & ID

DATE

Mechatronics Engineering

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Joint B:
B

330 lb

= 0;

= 0;

FBC

1
FBF

1
(330) FBF = 0 FBF = 233.3 lb (T)
2
1
(330) FBC = 0 FBC = 233.3 lb (C)
2

ANS
ANS

Joint F:
233.3 lb

FFC
1

79.37 lb

FFE

200 lb

1
FFC 200 + 233.3 = 0 FFC = 47.14 lb (C)
2
1
(47.14) + FFE 79.37 = 0 FFE = 113 lb (T)

= 0; -

ANS

= 0;

ANS

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NAME & ID

DATE

Mechatronics Engineering

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Joint E:
FEC

113 lb

FED

300 lb

F
F

= 0; FEC = 300 lb (T)

ANS

= 0; FED = 113 lb (T)

ANS

Joint C:

233.3 lb

C
1

47.14 lb

FCD

300 lb

= 0;

= 0;

1
1
FCD = 0 FCD = 377.1 lb (C) ANS
(47.14) + 233.3
2
2
1
1
(47.14) 300 +
(377.1) = 0 Check!
2
2

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NAME & ID

DATE

Mechatronics Engineering

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 8:

Determine the force in each member of the truss and

state if the members are in tension or compression. Hint
the horizontal force component at A must be zero. Why?

SOLUTION:
Joint C:
800 lb

y
FCB

60o

x
FCD

F
F

= 0; FCB 800 cos 60o = 0 FCB =400 lb (C)

ANS

= 0; FCD 800sin 60o = 0 FCD =693 lb (C)

ANS

Joint B
y
600 lb
400 lb
x

B
4
FBA 3

FBD

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MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

3
FBD 400 = 0 FBD =666.7 lb (T)
5
4
Fy = 0; FBA 5 (666.7) 600 = 0 FBA =1133 lb (C)

= 0;

ANS
ANS

PROBLEM 9:
Determine the force developed in member GB and GF of the bridge truss and state if these
members are in tension or compression.

FBD:

G 4 ft

F 4 ft

E
10 ft

D
Ax

Ay

10 ft

B
600 lb

800 lb

10 ft

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= 0;

- 600(10) - 800(18) + Dy (28) = 0 Dy =728.571 lb

= 0; Ax = 0

= 0; Ay 600 800 + 728.571 = 0 Ay = 671.429 lb

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Consider Section a-a

G

FGF

FGB

Ax

10 ft

FAB
10 ft
a

Ay
Take moment about the joint B:

M
F

= 0;

- 671.429(10) + FGF (10) = 0 FGF =671.429 lb (C) ANS

= 0; 671.429 FGB =0 FGB =671.429 lb (T)

ANS

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NAME & ID

DATE

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

PROBLEM 10:
For the truss shown determine:
a. The force in members DG and FH and indicate if the members are in tension or
compression. Hint: Use section a-a
Ans. FDG = 3.60kN C, FFH = 3.60kN T
b. The force in members IL, GJ, and HK and indicate if the members are in tension or
compression. Hint: Begin with pins I and J and use section b-b
Ans. FIL = 3.60kN C, FHK = 3.60kN T, FGJ = 0.833kN C

SOLUTION:
Free-Body Diagram of the Truss:

Equilibrium Equations:

+ Fx = 0 :

Ax = 0

Ax

+ Fy = 0 :

Ay

Ay + N = 6.4kN

+ 2 MA = 0:
(1)(1.6 ) ( 3.2 )(1.2 ) ( 2.4 )( 8 ) (1.2 )( 6.4 ) ( 8 )(1) + ( N )( 9.6 ) = 0
Therefore, N = 3.2kN
Using (1): Ay = 6.4 N Ay = 3.2kN

(1)

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NAME & ID

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MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

Mechatronics Engineering

Or, noticing the symmetry of the structure: Ay = N

Using (1): Ay =

6.4
Ay = N = 3.2kN
2

a. Free-Body Diagram of Section a-a:

+ 2 MF = 0 :

FDG

FDG = 3.60kN C

FDE
FEF

( 2.4 )( FDG ) ( 3.2 )( 3.2 ) + (1.6 )(1) = 0

FFH

Ans.

+ 2 MD = 0 :

( 2.4 )( FFH ) (1.6 )(1) + ( 3.2 )( 3.2 ) = 0

FFH = 3.60kN T

Ans.

Ay
b. Joint I:
By inspection FGI = FIL and FIJ = 1.2kN C
Joint J:
By inspection FGJ ( C ) = FHJ (T )

(2)

Free- Body Diagram of Section b-b:

+ Fx = 0 :

FIL
1.2m

FGJ

1.2m

FHJ

1.2kN

FIL FHK +

4
( FGJ FHJ ) = 0
5

FIL FHK = 0

FHK

(3)

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NAME & ID

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Mechatronics Engineering

MTE 119 STATICS

HOMEWORK 5
SOLUTIONS

+ 2 MJ = 0 :

( 3.2 )( 3.2 ) (1.2 )( FIL + FHK ) (1.6 )(1) = 0

so, FIL + FHK = 7.2

(4)

(3) in (4):

FIL = 3.60kN C

Ans.

FHK = 3.60kN T

Ans.

Finally, +

3.2 1 1.2

FGJ + FHJ =

= 0:

3
( FGJ + FHJ ) = 0
5

5
3

Using (2):

FGJ = FHJ =

5
FGJ = 0.833kN C
6

Ans.

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