MAE 96: Statics and Strength of Materials

Fall 2016 - Prof. Gupta Homework

Assignment 1 Solutions
Problem 1
Two tow trucks lift a motorcycle out of a ravine following an accident. If the 100-kg motorcycle is in equilibrium in the position shown, what are the tensions in cables AB and AC?

We need to find unit vectors eAB and eAC . For equilibrium,

Then write:
TAB + TAC + W = 0
TAB = TAB eAB
In component form, we have
and TAC = TAC eAC .
P
Finally, write and solve the equations of equiP Fx = 0.651TAB + 0.664TAC = 0
librium.
Fy = +0.759TAB + 0.747TAC 981 = 0
Solving, we get:

For the ring at A.

TAB = 658 N and TAC = 645 N

From the known locations of points A, B,

and C,
eAB = |rrAB
AB |
eAC = |rrAC
AC |
rAB = 3i + 3.5j m
|rAB | = 4.61 m
rAC = 4i + 4.5j m
|rAC | = 6.02 m
eAB = 0.651i + 0.759j
eAC = 0.664i + 0.747j
TAB = 0.651TAB i + 0.759TAB j
TAC = 0.664TAC i + 0.747TAC j
W = mgj = (100)(9.81)j N
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Problem 2
The unstretched length of the spring AB is 660 mm, and the spring constant k = 1000 N/m.
What is the mass of the suspended object?

Use the linear spring force-extension relation Substitute and collect like terms
to find the magnitude of the tension in spring
P
Fx = (|TAB | cos |TAC | cos )i = 0,
AB. Isolate juncture A. The forces are the
weight and the tensions in the cables. The
P
Fy = (|TAC | sin + |TAB | sin
angles are:
|W|)j = 0.
tan =

350
600

= 0.5833 = 30.26

tan =

350
400

= 0.875 = 41.2

Solve:
|TAC | =

The angle between the x axis and the spring

is . The tension is:

cos
|TAB |
cos

and |W| =

sin(+)
|TAB |.
cos

The tension |TAB | is found from the linear

TAB = |TAB |(i cos + j sin ).
spring force-deflection relation. The spring
extension is:
The angle between the x axis and AC is
p
(350)2 + (600)2 660 = 694.62
L
=
(180 ). The tension is:
660 = 34.62 mm
TAC = |TAC |(i cos(180)+j sin(180)) =
|TAC |(i cos + j sin ).
The weight is:
W = 0i |W|j.
The equilibrium conditions:
P
F = W + TAB + TAC = 0

The tension is:

|TAB | = kL = (1000)(0.03462) = 34.6 N
For = 30.26 and = 41.2 ; the weight is:
(34.6) = 43.62 N
|W| = 0.948
0.752
The mass is:
m = |W|
=
|g|

43.62
9.81

= 4.447 kg

Problem 3
The system is in equilibrium. What are the coordinates of A?
of the x, y coordinate system is at the pulley
B, so that the coordinate x of the point A
is positive. Define the positive distance as
shown, so that:

= tan .
Similarly,
h+
= tan .
bx
Reduce to obtain:
x = b h cot cot .
Substitute into the first equation to obtain:
x = 12 (b h cot ).

Determine from geometry the coordinates x,

y. Isolate the cable juncture A. Since the
frictionless pulleys do not change the magnitude of cable tension, and since each cable is
loaded with the same weight, arbitrarily set
this weight to unity, |W| = 1. The angle between the cable AB and the positive x axis is
; the tension in AB is:

Multiply this equation by tan and use =

x tan to obtain:
=

tan
(b
2

h cot ).

The sign of the coordinate y is determined

as follows: Since the coordinate x is positive,
the condition (b h cot ) > 0 is required;
with this inequality satisfied (as it must be,
|TAB | = i cos + j sin .
or the problem is invalid), is also positive,
The angle between AC and the positive x axis as required. But the angle is in the first
quadrant, so that the point A is below the
is (180 ); the tension is:
pulley B. Thus y = and the coordinates
TAC = |TAC |(i cos + j sin ).
of the point A are:
The weight is:
x = 12 (b h cot )
|W| = 0i 1j.
The equilibrium conditions are:
y = 21 (b tan h)
P
F = TAB + TAC + W = 0.
= 30
Substitute and collect like terms,
P
P Fx = (cos cos )i = 0
Fy = (sin + sin 1)j = 0
From the first equation cos = cos . On
the realistic assumption that both angles are
in the same quadrant, then = . From the
second equation sin = 21 or = 30 . With
the angles known, geometry can be used to
determine the coordinates x, y. The origin
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Problem 4
Prior to its launch, a balloon carrying a set of experiments to high altitude is held in place by
groups of student volunteers holding the tethers at B, C, and D. The mass of the balloon,
experiments package, and the gas it contains is 90 kg, and the buoyancy force on the balloon
is 1000 N. The supervising professor conservatively estimates that each student can exert at
least a 40-N tension on the tether for the necessary length of time. Based on this estimate,
what minimum numbers of students are needed at B, C, and D?
The
P equations of equilibrium are:
P Fx = 0.667FAB +0.570FAC 0.873FAD = 0
Fy = 0.333FAB 0.456FAC 0.436FAD +
117.1
P =0
Fz = 0.667FAB 0.684FAC +0.218FAD = 0
Solving, we get:
FAB = 64.8 N 2 students
FAC = 99.8 N 3 students
FAD = 114.6 N 3 students

Fy = 1000 (90)(9.81) T = 0
T = 117.1 N
A(0, 8, 0)
B(16, 0, 16)
C(10, 0, 12)
D(16, 0, 4)
We need to write unit vectors eAB , eAC , and
eAD .
eAB = 0.667i 0.333j + 0.667k
eAC = 0.570i 0.456j 0.684k
eAD = 0.873i 0.436j + 0.218k
We now write the forces in terms of magnitudes and unit vectors:
FAB = 0.667FAB i 0.333FAB j + 0.667FAB k
FAC = 0.570FAC i 0.456FAC j 0.684FAC k
FAD = 0.873FAD i0.436FAC j+0.218FAC k
T = 117.1j (N)
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Problem 5
The cable AB keeps the 8-kg collar A in place on the smooth bar CD. The y axis points
upward. What is the tension in the cable?

The coordinates of points C and D are C (0.4, We have three equation in four unknowns.
0.3, 0), and D (0.2, 0, 0.25). The unit vector We get another equation from the condition
from C toward D is given by:
that the bar CD is smooth. This means that
eCD = eCDx i + eCDy j + eCDz k = 0.456i the normal force has no component parallel
to CD. Mathematically, this can be stated
0.684j + 0.570k.
as FN eCD = 0. Expanding this, we get:
The location of point A is given by xA =
FN x eCDx + FN y eCDy + FN z eCDz = 0.
xC + dCA eCDx , with similar equations for yA
We now have four equations in our four unand zA . From the figure, dCA = 0.2 m.
knowns. Substituting in the numbers and
From this, we find the coordinates of A are
solving, we get:
A (0.309, 0.162, 0.114). From the figure, the
TAB = 356.6 N FN x = 240.4 N
coordinates of B are B (0, 0.5, 0.15). The
unit vector from A toward B is then given
FN y = 183.7 N FN z = 28.2 N
by:
eAB = eABx i + eABy j + eABz k = 0.674i +
0.735j + 0.079k.
The tension force in the cable can now be
written as:
TAB = 0.674TAB i + 0.735TAB j + 0.079TAB k.
From the free body diagram, the equilibrium
equations are:
FN x + TAB eABx = 0,
FN y + TAB eABy mg = 0,
and FN z + TAB eABz = 0.
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Problem 6
Cable AB is attached to the top of the vertical 3-m post, and its tension is 50 kN. What are
the tensions in cables AO, AC, and AD?

Get the unit vectors parallel to the cables us- The tensions in the cables are expressed in
ing the coordinates of the end points. Ex- terms of the unit vectors,
press the tensions in terms of these unit vecTAB = |TAB |eAB = 50eAB kN
tors, and solve the equilibrium conditions.
TAC = |TAC |eAC
The coordinates of points A, B, C, D, O are
TAD = |TAD |eAD
found from the problem sketch: The coordiTAO = |TAO |eAO
nates of the points are A(6, 2, 0), B(12, 3, 0),
TheP
equilibrium conditions are:
C(0, 8, 5), D(0, 4, 5), O(0, 0, 0).
F = 0 = TAB +TAC +TAD +TAO = 0.
The vector locations of these points are:
Substitute
and collect like terms,
rA = 6i + 2j + 0k,
P
Fx = (0.9864(50) 0.6092|TAC |
rB = 12i + 3j + 0k,
0.7422|T
AD | 0.9487|TAO |)i = 0
rC = 0i + 8j + 5k,
P
rD = 0i + 4j 5k,
Fy = (0.1644(50) + 0.6092|TAC | +
rO = 0i + 0j + 0k.
0.2481|TAD | 0.3162|TAO |)j = 0
The unit vector parallel to the tension acting P
Fz = (+0.5077|TAC | 0.6202|TAD |)k = 0
between the points A, B in the direction of
B is by definition:
rA
.
eAB = |rrBB r
A|
This set of simultaneous equations in the unknown forces may be solved using any of sevPerform this for each of the unit vectors
eral standard algorithms. The results are:
eAB = +0.9864i + 0.1644j + 0k
|TAO | = 43.3 kN |TAC | = 6.8 kN
eAC = 0.6092i + 0.6092j + 0.5077k
eAD = 0.7442i + 0.2481j 0.6202k
|TAD | = 5.5 kN
eAO = 0.9487i 0.3162j + 0k
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