Department; Mechanical Engineering Academic

Year: 2024-25
Subject: 22MEG32 Engineering Mechanics Semester- III section :B
Assignment -I
Unit-I – Force and Force Systems and Equilibrium of Particles
1. What is engineering mechanics?

Engineering Mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences that is concerned with the
state of rest or motion of bodies that are subjected to the action of forces.

Mechanics addresses equilibrium and the motion of matter.

2. State the Gravitational Law of Newton.

Law of Universal Gravitation states that the force between two particles with masses m1
and m2 at a distance r apart is an attraction that operates along the joining line of the two
particles, with magnitude of F is

F = the mutual force of attraction between two particles

G = a universal constant known as the constant of gravitation

m1, m2 = the masses of the two particles

r = the distance between the centers of the particles

3. State the (i) Parallelogram law of forces (ii) triangular law of forces.
(i) Parallelogram law of forces
If two forces, acting simultaneously on a particle, be represented in magnitude and
direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram ; their resultant may be represented
 in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram, which passes through
their point of intersection.

R 2  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos 
Q sin 
tan  
P  Q cos 

Triangular law of forces.

If two forces F1 and F2 acting simultaneously acting on a body can be represented

by the two sides of triangle (in magnitude and direction) taken in order (head to tail) then
the third side(closing side) represents the resultant in the opposite order.

A B C
 
sin  sin  sin 
where A,B and C are the sides of triangle and the angles being opposite to these sides
being respectively as α,β and γ .

4. Distinguish the following system of forces with a sketch.

a) Coplanar b) Collinear c) Concurrent

a) Coplaner: All the forces of a system lie in the same plane.

Collinear: All the forces of a force system are acting in one line.
 Concurrent: All the forces of a system pass through a common point of application.

5. State Lami’s theorem with a neat sketch

If three coplanar forces acting at a point be in equilibrium, then each force is proportional
to the sine of the angle between the other two

6. State the Polygon Law of forces

If a number of forces acting simultaneously on a particle, be represented in magnitude
and direction, by the sides of a polygon taken in order ; then the resultant of all these
forces may be represented, in magnitude and direction, by the closing side of the
polygon, taken in opposite order
7. Differentiate particle and rigid body
Particle- i. A particle has a mass, but a size that can be neglected.
ii. The particle idealization simplifies analysis of the problem.
(Geometry of the body will be ignored)
iii) Particle has no size, shape or orientation

A rigid body can be considered as a combination of a large number of particles in which

all the particles remain at a fixed distance from one another, both before and after
applying a load.

8. Differentiate ‘Resultant’ and ‘Equilibrant’

Resultant:
The resultant of a force system is defined to be the simplest system that can replace the
original system without changing its external effect on a particle or rigid body
Equilibrant
A force, which is equal, opposite and collinear to the resultant of a concurrent force
system is known as the equilibrant of the concurrent force system.

9. Find the magnitude of vector 5i+6j-2k and unit vector along its direction.

Let magnitude of vector

a= 5i+6j-2k

a  a  52  62  22  65

Unit vector along its direction is

a 5i  6 j  2k
 
a 65

10. The coordinates of initial and terminal points of a vector are (3, 1, -2) and (4, -7, 10),
Specify the force vector, evaluate its magnitude and direction cosines.

Force vector,
 F  F  AB
 (4  3)i  (7  1) j  (10  2)k 
 ( F ) 
 (4  3)i  (7  1) j  (10  2)k 
i  8 j  12k
 (F )
1  (8) 2  (12) 2
2

F  F (0.069i  0.55 j  0.828k )

11. Determine the resultant of the three forces, F1 = 2i + 3.3j -2.6k; F2 = -i +5.2j -2.9k;
F3 = 8.3i-6.6j+5.8k which are concurrent at the point (2,2-5). The forces are in N and the
distances are in meters

R  F1  F2  F3

R  (2i + 3.3j -2.6k) + (-i +5.2j -2.9k) + F3 = 8.3i-6.6j+5.8k

R  9.3i + 1.9j +0.3k

Magnitude of the resultant force R  (9.3) 2  (1.9) 2  (0.3) 2  9.496 N

12. The 1800 N force F is applied to the end of the I beam. Express F as a vector using the
unit vectors i and j.

3 4
F  1800( i  j )  1080i  1440 j
5 5

13. If the equal tensions T in the pulley cable are 400N, express in vector notation the force R
exerted on the pulley by the two tensions. Determine the magnitude of R.
Rx=ƩFx= 400 cos60 +400 = 600N
Ry=ƩFy= 400 sin60=346N
R = 600i +346j
R  (600) 2  (346) 2 =693N
14. Determine the resultant R of two forces applied to the bracket. Write R in terms of unit
vectors along x and y axis.

Rx=ƩFx= 200 cos35-150sin30 = 88.8N

Ry=ƩFy= 200sin35 +150cos30=245N R=88.8i+245j

15. Find the resultant of an 800N force acting towards eastern direction and a 500N force
acting towards north eastern direction.

Rx=ƩFx= 800 +500 cos45˚ = 1153.55 N

Ry=ƩFy= 500 sin45˚=363.5N

R  (1153.55) 2  (363.5) 2 =1206.51 N

16. Determine the angle between two equal forces F, when their resultant is
(i) R=F
(ii) R = F/2

17. The magnitude of the resultant of the two concurrent forces including an angle is 90˚
between them is 13 kN. When the included angle between the forces is 60˚, the
magnitude of the resultant is 19 kN. Find the magnitude of the two forces.

Case (i): When included angle between F1 and F2 is 90°

18. Two wires attached to a bolt in a foundation as shown in figure 4 given below. Determine
the pull exerted by the bolt on the foundation.

Rx=ƩFx= 3600 cos25˚ - 6650 cos15˚ = =3160.7 N

Ry=ƩFy= 3600 sin25˚ + 6650 sin15˚= 3242.57N

R  (3160.7) 2  (3242.57) 2 =4528.17 N

 19. Two forces act at an angle of 120°, the bigger force is 40N and the resultant is
perpendicular to the smaller. Find the smaller one. Also find the resultant.

20. A stake is being pulled out of the ground by means of two ropes as shown. Knowing that
α= 30°, determine by trigonometry (a) the magnitude of the force P so that the resultant
force exerted on the stake is vertical, (b) the corresponding magnitude of the resultant.

Using triangle rule and law of sines,

120 P

sin 30 sin 25
30    25  180;
  125
P  101.4 N
120 R

sin 30 sin 125
R  196.6 N

21. Knowing that α=35°, determine the resultant of the three forces shown in figure 6.
R = Rxi ++ Ryj
R=( -18.522 N)i – (308.02N)j
R  Rx2  Ry2  309 N

 Ry 
  tan 1
308.02 
  tan 1   86.559
 x
R  18.522 

22. Two forces acting on a body are 500 N and 1000 N as shown in Figure 7. Determine the
third force F3 such that the resultant of all the three forces is 1000 N directed at 45° to x-
axis as shown is the figure.

23. An eye bolt is being pulled from ground by three forces as shown in figure 8. Determine
the equilibrants on the eye bolt which resist to come out.
 R x   Fx  1000  2000 cos 36.87  3000 cos 53.13
 800 N
R y   Fy  2000 sin 36.87  3000 sin 53.13,
 3600 N
R  (800) 2  (3600) 2  3687.82 N

Inclination of R,
3600
  tan 1 ( )  77.47
800
Position of the resultant

Both ƩFx and ƩFy are positive, resultant force R lies in first quadrant

Since equilibrant is equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and collinear to that of

resultant force.

Equilibrant E lies in the third quadrant

24. Three ropes attached to a stalled car apply the forces shown figure 9. Determine the
magnitude of F1 and the magnitude of the resultant FR if the line of action of the resultant
is along the x axis.
25. A free-body diagram of a particle subjected to the action of four forces is shown in figure
10. Determine the magnitude and direction (angle (θ) of force F4 so that the particle is in
equilibrium.

The particle is subjected to a system of coplanar, concurrent forces. The necessary and
sufficient conditions for equilibrium are given by ∑Fx = 0 and ∑Fy = 0.

Rx   Fx  10 cos 60  12 cos 45  8 cos 30  F4 cos  0

F4 x  F4 cos  6.557 kN

R y   Fy  10 sin 60  12 sin 45  8 sin 30  F4 sin  ,

F4 y  F4 sin   3.825 kN

F4  ( F4 x ) 2  ( F4 y ) 2  (6.577) 2  (3.825) 2  7..59kN

F4 y 3.825
  tan 1 ( )  tan 1 ( )  30.3
F4 x 6.577
26. A cord supported at A and B carries a load of 20N at D and a load of W at C as shown in
figure 12. Find the value of W so that CD remains horizontal.

27. The bar AC 10m long supports a load of 6000N as shown in figure 13. The cable BC is
horizontal and 5m long. Determine the forces in the cable and the bar.

28. A body with a mass of 300 kg is supported by the flexible cable system shown in
figure14. Determine the tensions in cables A, B, C, D, and E.
 29. An electric light fixture weighting 15 N hangs from a point C, by two strings AC and BC.
The string AC is inclined at 60° to the horizontal and BC at 45° to the horizontal as
shown in figure 15.

Applying Lami’s equation at C,

30. Consider the pulley arrangement that supports blocks A, B and C, as shown in figure 16.
Blocks A and B each have a mass of 120 kg. The angle β = 35°.Determine the angle θ
and the mass of block C, if the system is in equilibrium.
31. A smooth circular cylinder of radius 1.5m is kept in a triangular groove, one side of
which makes 45° and the other at 30° with horizontal. Find the reactions at the surface of
contact, if there is no friction and the cylinder weight is 100kg.

32. A roller weighing 10 kN rests on a smooth horizontal floor. It is connected to the floor
using bar AC. Determine the force in the bar AC and reaction from the floor, if the roller
is subjected to a horizontal force of 5 kN and an inclined force of 7 kN as shown in the
figure18.

A bar can develop tensile force or compressive force. Let the force developed be a
compressive force ‘S’ (push on the cylinder). Free body diagram of the cylinder is as shown
in Fig.

Since there are more than three forces in the system. Lami’s equation cannot be applied
33. A smooth sphere of weight W is supported by a string fastened to a point A on the smooth
vertical wall, the other end is in contact with point B on the wall as shown in figure. If
length of the string AC is equal to radius of the sphere, find tension (T) in the string and
reaction of the wall.

Ans. 1.155 W ; 0.577 W

34. A cable supports a large mass resting along an angled surface. Determine the tension in
the cable and the normal force acting on the mass.
35. A smooth sphere of mass 75 kg is held in a position by means of a vertical wall and an
inclined plane as shown in figure. Assuming the supports are frictionless, calculate the
reactions exerted by the supports.

36. A 30kg block is suspended by two springs having stiffness as shown in figure 22.
Determine unstretched length of each spring after the block is removed.

37. Two smooth spheres each of radius 100 mm and weight 100 N, rest in a horizontal
channel having vertical walls, the distance between which is 360 mm. Find the reactions
at the points of contacts A, B, C and D shown in figure23.
 Let O1 and O2 be the centres of the first and second spheres respectively. Drop
perpendicular O1P to the horizontal line through O2. Free body diagrams of the spheres
and the coordinate directions are shown in Fig. Since the surfaces of contact are smooth,
reaction at B is at right angle to tangent at B i.e., it is in the radical direction. Let it make
angle α with horizontal. Then,

38. Two spheres, A and B rest in a vertical channel with their centres in a vertical plane. If
weight of sphere A is 1000 N and that of sphere B is 400 N, radius of sphere A is 1 m and
that of sphere B is 0.6 m, width of channel is 2.4 m, find the contact forces assuming all
surfaces to be smooth.
Solution

(i) From the above figure,

cosɵ = (0.8/1.6) θ =60°

(ii) Consider the F.B.D. of Sphere B, By Lami's theorem,

400 R1 R2
 
sin 20 sin 150 sin 90
R1  230.94 N ,
R2  461.88 Nat 60

(i) Consider the F.B.D. of Sphere A

 Fx  0
R3  R2 cos 60  0,
R3  461.88 cos 60  230.94 N ()
 Fy  0
R4  1000  sin 60  0,
R4  1400 N ()

39. A force vector of magnitude 100N is represented by a line of coordinates A (1, 2, 3) and
B (5,8, 12). Determine components of the force along x, y and z axes.

40. Determine the resultant of the three concurrent forces F1 = 2i+3j-2.5k, F2=-i+5j-3k,
F3=7i-7j+6k

41. A force of 500N forms an angles 60˚, 45˚ and 120˚ respectively with x, y and z axes
write the force in vector form.
42. Express a force F shown in fig. as Cartesian vector.

43. Determine the resultant of the three forces, F1 = 2i + 3.3j -2.6k; F2 = -i +5.2j -2.9k; F3 =
8.3i-6.6j+5.8k which are concurrent at the point (2,2-5). The forces are in N and the
distances are in meters.

44. A 500-N block is supported by a system of cables as shown in figure27. Determine the
tensions in cables A, B, and C.
A free-body diagram for the block is shown in Fig. From the equilibrium equation ∑Fz = 0,
Td-500=0 , Td = 500 N

The joint D is subjected to a three-dimensional system of concurrent forces consisting of the

three unknown cable tensions TA, TB, Tc and the known cable tension Td = 500 N. The
coordinates of the support points A, B, and C for cables AD, BD, and CD, respectively, are
shown on the freebody diagram in (x, y, z) format as an aid in writing vector equations for the
cable tensions. The necessary and sufficient conditions for equilibrium of the joint are given by
Eq

The cable tensions can be expressed in Cartesian vector form as

Determine the tension in each cord used to support the 100-kg crate shown in figure 28.

A force F is applied at a point in a body as shown in figure a) Determine the x, y, and z scalar
components of the force. b) Express the force in Cartesian vector form.
When the direction of a force F in space is indicated by specifying the coordinates of two points
A(xA, yA, zA) and B(xB, yB, zB) along the line of action of the force, as shown in Fig., a position
vector rB/A can be written as

rB/A = (xB - xA)i + (yB - yA)j + (zB - zA)k

The direction cosines associated with the position vector rA/B and thus with the force F are

The scalar components Fx, Fy, and Fz are obtained from the magnitude of the force and the
direction cosines
Replace the three forces with a single equivalent force R acting at A. Use F 1 = 80 N, F2 = 60 N,
and F3 = 50 N.

A container of weight W = 1165 N is supported by three cables as shown figure 30. Determine
the tension in each cable

Three cables are used to tether a balloon as shown. Determine the vertical force P exerted by the
balloon at A knowing that the tension in cable AD is 481 N.
49. A rectangular plate is supported by three cables as shown. Knowing that the tension in cable
AC is 60 N, determine the weight of the plate.
50. A 200-kg cylinder is hung by means of two cables AB and AC that are attached to the top of a
vertical wall. A horizontal force P perpendicular to the wall holds the cylinder in the position
shown. Determine the magnitude of P and the tension in each cable.
Choose point A as a free body; this point is subjected to four forces, three of which are of
unknown magnitude. Introducing the unit vectors i, j, and k, resolve each force into rectangular
components