Jointed Rods (A/L Combined Mathematics)

1. Three uniform rods AB, BC and CA, each of length 2a and weight w are smoothly jointed at their ends to
form an equilateral triangle ABC. The vertex A is smoothly hinged to a fixed point so that the triangle is free to
rotate in a vertical plane. The triangle is held with AB horizontal and C below AB by a force P applied to the
triangle at B perpendicular to BC in the plane of the triangle. Find the value of P.
Also find the horizontal and vertical components of the force exerted on BC by AC at C.

(A.L. 2013)

2. Two equal uniform rods AB and AC each of weight W are freely jointed at A and the ends B and C are
connected by a light inextensible string. The rods are kept in equilibrium in a vertical plane with the ends B
and C are on two smooth planes each of which inclined at an angle to the horizontal; BC being horizontal
and A being above BC. Find the reaction at B.
^
If tan > 2tan, where B A C = 2, then show that the tension of the string is

1
( tan 2 tan ) .
2 W

Find the reaction at joint A.

(A.L.- 1987,2012)
3. Four uniform rods AB, BC, CD and DE each of length 2a are smoothly jointed at B, C and D. The weight of
each of the rods AB and DE is 2w and the weight of each of the rods BC and CD is w. The rods are suspended
in a vertical plane from the points A and E on the same horizontal level and the system is in equilibrium with
the rods AB and BC making angles and respectively, with the vertical. Show that, tan = 4 tan .

(A.L. 2010)

4. A rhombus ABCD of side 2a consist of four smoothly jointed equal light rods and lies on a smooth
horizontal table. The rod AB is fixed. The mid-point of the rods BC and CD are jointed by a light inextensible
string which is kept taut by a couple of moment M applied to the rod DA in the plane of the rhombus if the
^
angle A B C

is 2, show that

(i) The reaction at the jointed C is parallel to the string, and

(ii) The tensions in the string is

M
a sin

(A.L.

2008)

5. A rhombus ABCD is formed of four equal uniform rods , each of length 2a and weight W, freely jointed
together at their ends. The rhombus is suspended from the joint A, and its shape is maintained by a light rod of
length 2a sin joining the mid-points of BC and CD. Show that the thrust in the light rod is 4Wtan and find
the reaction at the joint C.

(A.L.

2007)

6. Four equal uniform rods weight W, are freely jointed at their ends to form a square ABCD. The square is
hung from the joint A, is in equilibrium with the square shape being maintained by a light rod joining the mid
points of the two lower rods BC, CD. Calculate the thrust in the light rod and the reaction at C.
(A.L. 2002)

7.Five uniform rods each of length 2a and weight W, are smoothly jointed at their ends to form the framework
ABCDE. The framework is freely suspended from A and given the shape of a regular pentagon by means of a

light rod joining B and E. Find the reaction at the joint C and show that the thrust in the rod BE is W cot

10

.
(P.T.O.)

8. Two equal uniform heavy rods AB and BC are jointed smoothly at B. The system is suspended from the point
A and the mid points of the rods are connected by a light inextensible string, such that AB and BC are
perpendicular to each other. If system is in equilibrium with the rod AB making an angel with the downward

vertical, show that tan =

1
3 .

Show also, that the reaction at B is along the direction BC.

9. Four equal uniform rods PQ, QR, RS and SP each of weight w, are smoothly jointed to form a rhombus
PQRS . It is suspended from the point P and kept in equilibrium in a vertical plane with the angle QRS equal
to 2

tan 1

2by a light inextensible string connected to the midpoint of the rods PS and RS.

(i) Find the reactions at the joints R and S.

(ii) Show that the tension of the string is 4w
10. Four equal, uniform rods of length 2l and weight w are jointed smoothly at A, B, C and D is suspended from
A. It is kept in equilibrium forming a symmetrical shape about the axis AC, by means of passing a light
inextensible string which forms a loop through light rings fixed at the mid-point of rods AB and AD and through
^
C. If B A D =

600 then find the horizontal and vertical components of the reaction a B. Also find the

tension in the string.

11. Two equal, uniform rods AB and AC of length 2a and weight W are jointed smoothly at A and the two ends
B and C are placed on a smooth horizontal table, vertically. The equilibrium of the system is maintained using a

light inextensible string joined between C and the mid-point of AB. Each rod is inclined at an angle (< 2 )

horizontally. Show that the tension of the string, is T =

W
4

Find the magnitude and the direction of the reaction at joint A.

1+ 9 cot2

.
(A.L. 1991)

12. AB,BC,CD,DE and EA are five uniform rods each of weight w are jointed smoothly at their ends. They make
a convex pentagon by smoothly joining another light rod BE. The framework is suspended from A and the rods
AB and AE make an angle with the vertical. The rods BC and DE make an angle with the vertical. Show

that the vertical and the horizontal components of the reaction at C are

w
2

and w tan,respectively. Also,

show that the stress in the rod BE is w(2tan+ tan).

13. AB and BC are two rods of equal length smoothly jointed at B. The weight of AB is W and the weight of BC
is 2W. The point A and D the mid point of BC are connected by a light string and the rods are in equilibrium in
a vertical plane with ABC =60 and the ends A and C on a smooth horizontal plane. Find the reactions at A
and C , tension in the string and the horizontal and vertical components of the reaction at B.

W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip/M.Sc.)