ES 11- Statics of Rigid Bodies

First Long Exam

19 July 2010
4 PM 6 PM

Name: ______________________________________

Student Number:___________________ Section: ____________

Part I. Multiple Choice (25%). Write the letter corresponding to the best answer on the space provided.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: The Part I test paper will be collected after the first 30-minutes of the exam.
1. Which of the following does NOT describe Varignons Theorem?
a.
b.
c.
d.

The sum of the moment of the individual forces is equal to the moment of the resultant taken about the same point.
The sum of the moment of the individual forces is equal to the moment of the resultant taken about the same axis.
The sum of the components of the individual forces is equal to the moment of the resultant about the same point.
The sum of the moments of the individual forces and the moment of the resultant about the origin are the same.
z

2. Which of the following vectors correctly represents the position vector r in Figure 1?
a.
b.
c.
d.

(m)

4m

(m)
(m)

1m

2m
1m

(m)

2m
3m

3. Which of the following statements is/are TRUE?

I. The dot product of two vectors is a scalar and will be equal to zero if the vectors are perpendicular.
II. UV = |U| |V| cos , where 0 180, and is the angle when the two vectors are placed tail-to-tail.
III. One of the applications of the cross product is the projection of the vector onto a line.
IV. The sum of the direction cosines of a vector should be equal to 1.
a.
b.
c.
d.

I and II only
III and IV only
II, III and IV only
I, II and III only

4. Given a force F=
from the y-axis, y?
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.

Figure 2

, which of the following gives the value of the direction angle

57.70
74.50
143.30
36.70

Which of the following statements is TRUE for the 200 N force shown in Figure 2?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Figure 1

Its moment of about the z-axis is equal to zero.

Its moment of about the x-axis is equal to zero.
Its moment of about the y-axis is equal to zero.
Its moment of about the origin is equal to zero.

6. Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding vector operations?

a.
b.
c.
d.

The line of action of the vector product of two vectors is perpendicular to the plane containing the two vectors.
The vector product of two vectors follows the commutative property.
Given vectors P, Q1 and Q2, (Q1 + Q2) P = P Q1 + P Q2
Given vectors A, B, and C, A x (B+C) = (A x B) + (A X C)

7. F1, F2, and F3 are forces acting at point A. What can be said about their resultant moment Mo about point O, given the
position vector r from point O to point A?
a.
b.
c.
d.

Mo = |r| |F1| + |r| |F2| + |r| |F3|

By Varignons Theorem, Mo = (F1+F2+F3) x r
Mo is the product of the vector sum, R, of three forces and shortest distance between pt. O and LOA of R.
Mo is equal to the product of the resultant R of the three forces and the magnitude of the position vector.

8. Which of the following statements is false regarding the computation of the moment of a force about a line?
Note: ML = (r x F)
I. The moment of a force about a line that is parallel to the line of action of the force is equal to 0.
II. represents the unit vector of the line.
III. r is the position vector from a point along the line to a point along the line of action of the force.
IV. This type of vector operation is called a mixed triple product following a circular permutation.
a.
b.
c.
d.

I and II only
I and IV only
III and IV only
None of the Above

9. Given two vectors A and B, which of the following is an incorrect way of solving for the resultant R?
a.

b.

c.

d.
R

A
R

A
B

10. Two forces P and Q are applied at point A and are both directed away from it (Refer to Figure 3). If the resultant R of both
forces is purely vertical, which of the following values for the angle will give the minimum value of Q?
a.
b.
c.
d.

0o
30o
45o
60o

P = 30 N
30o

Figure 3

With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. ~Thomas Foxwell Buxton

For Parts II IV, solve each of the three items on a separate answer sheet, and box the required answer. Submit the
questionnaire and the answer sheets after the exam.
y

Part II (25%)
The force P = 177.60 N whose direction is
shown in Figure 1 can be resolved into two
forces F1 and F2.

F2

Solve for the magnitude of F2 as well as

the angle it forms with the x axis.

16.16o
20o

F1 = 100 N

P = 177.60
N

Part III (25%)

An antenna is supported by cables AE,
CD, and FG as shown.
a. Determine the moment of tension T
about point G. Express your answer in
Cartesian vector. (50%)
b. What is the magnitude of the projected
component of this moment along line
GF (moment about line GF)? (50%)
Part IV (25%)
Cables AO, AC and AD are attached to the
wall and cable AB is tied to the top of the
vertical 3-m post. If the system is under
static equilibrium,
a. Set-up the equilibrium equations that
can be formed on ring A. (70%)
b. Determine the required height, h, of
cable AC knowing that TAC = 6.7 kN
and TAD = 5.5kN. (30%)

With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. ~Thomas Foxwell Buxton