48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Engineering Mechanics
Particle Equilibrium Example Problems
600 N
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 1
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
600 N Given: The car is towed at constant
speed by the 600 N force
and the angle is 25°.
Find: The forces in the ropes AB
and AC.
Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for point A.
2. Apply the EofE to solve for the forces in ropes AB and AC.
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 2
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
EXAMPLE PROBLEM (continued)
600 N
FBD at point A
A
25° 30° Applying the scalar EofE at A, we get;
+ Fx = 0
FAB FAC
FAC cos 30° – FAB cos 25° = 0
+ Fy = 0
-FAC sin 30° – FAB sin 25° + 600 = 0
Solving the above equations, we get;
FAB = 634 N
FAC = 664 N
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 3
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Think about and check the answers!
600 N
FAB = 634 N
FBD at point A
A FAC = 664 N
25° 30°
FAB and FAC are at similar angles, therefore should
FAB FAC be similar magnitudes OK
FAC at slightly greater angle to vertical than FAB ,
therefore, for sum of forces in horizontal direction
to be zero, FAC should be slightly greater magnitude
than FAB OK
Re-applying the scalar EofE at A, we get;
+ Fx = 664 cos 30° – 634 cos 25° = 0.44 0 OK
+ Fy = -664 sin 30° – 634 sin 25° + 600 = 0.06 0 OK
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 4
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Alternative solution
FBD at point A Particle A is in equilibrium,
therefore F = 0
600 N
30°
A
25° 30° FAC Line of action
of FAB
FAC 600 N
FAB
Line of action
FAB of FAC
25°
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 5
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Alternative solution Sine rule
C
a b
F=0
B A Cosine rule
c
30° Using Sine rule
60°
FAC
600 N 55°
65° FAB
25°
FAB = 634 N, FAC = 664 N as before
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 6
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
Alternative solution
600 N
If using alternative method:
A - Free Body Diagram must still be
drawn first
25° 30° - Equation(s) of equilibrium must be
shown to justify drawing closed
FAB FAC vector triangle
- Vector triangle must be drawn
F=0 - Trigonometric equations must be
used (i.e. NOT just drawn to scale
30° and measured)
FAC
600 N
FAB
25°
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 7
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
EXAMPLE
Given: Sack A weighs 20 N.
and geometry is as
shown.
Find: Forces in the cables and
weight of sack B.
Plan:
1. Draw a FBD for Point E.
2. Apply EofE at Point E to solve
for the unknowns (TEG & TEC).
3. Repeat this process at C.
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 8
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
EXAMPLE (continued)
FBD for link E. Note the assumed
directions for the two cable tensions.
Note that terms in equation
match labels on FBD
The scalar EofE are:
+ Fx = TEG sin 30º – TEC cos 45º = 0
+ Fy = TEG cos 30º – TEC sin 45º – 20 N = 0
Solving these two simultaneous equations for the two unknowns:
TEC = 38.6 N
TEG = 54.6 N
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 9
48610 Introduction to Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
EXAMPLE (continued)
Now move on to link C. A
FBD for C should look like the
one to the left.
The force that the cable EC exerts
on link C is equal and opposite to
the force TEC acting on link E
(found previously)
The scalar EofE are:
Fx = 38.64 cos 45 – (4/5) TCD = 0
Fy = (3/5) TCD + 38.64 sin 45 – WB = 0
Solving the first equation and then the second yields
TCD = 34.2 N and WB = 47.8 N .
© Terry Brown, Faculty of Engineering and IT, UTS 10
