Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

1. The 40-kg block rests on the rough surface. Length of the spring is 180 mm in the
position shown. Unstretched length of the spring is 200 mm. Determine the coefficient
of friction required for the equilibrium. ( m = ? ) FBD of Block

W=mg
y
20o

For spring: l=180 mm, lo=200 mm (spring is compressed)

Fspring  kl  25000.2  0.18  50 N

F y 0 :  mg cos 20  N  0  N  409.81 cos 20  368.74 N

F x 0 : Fspring  F friction  mg sin 20  0  F friction  50  409.81sin 20  184.21 N

F friction
F friction  mN  m  0 .5
N
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

2. 4-kg sphere rests on the smooth parabolic surface. Determine the

reaction of the surface on the sphere and the mass mB required to hold it
in the equilibrium position.

mB
60o

A
y
y=2.5x2

x
0.4 m
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

3. A continuous cable of total length 4 m is wrapped

around the small pulleys at A, B, C and D. If each spring is
stretched 300 mm, determine the mass m of each block
for equilibrium. Neglect the weight of the pulleys and
cords. The springs are unstretched when d=2 m.

FBD of Pulley C
Fspring  kl  5000.3  150 N
Fspring
F y 0
C
75
q q 150  2T sin q  0  T
T T sin q

C q  90  d 2 m
 0 .7 
C' q  arcsin   44.4

 T  107.1 N
0.7 m 1 m  1 
q FBD of Pulley B
B T F x 0
mg B q 2T cos q  m 
g 0
A'
q 9.81
A
T  m  15.6 kg
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

4. The pail and its contents have a mass of 10 kg. If the length of cable
ABC is 7 m, determine the horizontal distance x for equilibrium. Also find
the tension in the cable. The mass of the small pulley at B is small and can
be neglected.

4m
x

A 1m

B C
 L=7 m, x = ? (for equilibrium). T=? y 4m
x
A x
C

1m
A

y
y1 B C
q q'
FBD of B
B
T From equilibrium of B :
T
B
q q' F x 0 :  T cos q  T cos q   0  q q

F y 0 : 2T sin q  W  0 (*)

W=mg
x 4 x 7
From geometry: cos q    7 x  ax  4a  ax  a x
a 7a 4
x x 4 y
cos q     q  55.15 tan q   1.44  y  1.44 x
a 7x 7 x
4
y y 1 1.44 x 1.44 x  1
     x  2.347 m
x 4 x x 4 x

(*) 2T sin 55.15  109.81  0  T  59.817 N

Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

r=200 mm
5. The cylinder of mass 1 kg having A
h=120 mm
a very small diameter is held against
a semi-cylinder with a much larger B
diameter by two identical springs, r
h
which are fixed to points C and C
on the ground. The springs are
unstretched when at point A. C
Knowing that the small cylinder is
in equilibrium at point B, what is the
spring constant? C
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

6. Two bodies weighing 150 N and 200 N, respectively, rest on a

cylinder and are connected by a rope as shown. Find the reactions of
the cylinder on the bodies, the tension in the rope and the angle q.
Assume all surfaces to be smooth.
W1=200 N
rope

W2=150 N
90q
q
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

SOLUTION 6  Fx  0
T cos q
FBD of Particle 1 N1 sin q  T cos q  0  N1 
sin q
y T
 Fy  0
x q
N1 cos q  T sin q  200  0
q  T cos q 
90q
N1   cos q  T sin q  200  0
q  sin q 
W1=200 N
T cos 2 q  T sin 2 q  200 sin q

T  200 sin q
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

7. It is aimed to hold the 48 kN load in equilibrium by the wire AB that passes from
the ring at C. In order to do this, another force 𝑃 parallel to the xy plane is applied

to the ring. Determine the tension in the wire and the vector expression of load 𝑃.

9m
1m B
A 12 m O 8m

12 m y

x C


P
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

8. A small peg P rests on a spring that is contained inside the smooth pipe. The
spring exerts an upward force of 284 N on the peg. Determine the point of
attachment A (x, y, 0) of cord PA so that the tension in cords PB and PC equals
130 N and 84 N, respectively. z

0.6 m

B
0.4 m 0.2 m C
0.3 m

y x y
x
A
 z
Fspring = 284 N, , TC = 84 N; determine coordinates of point A (x, y, 0).
P FBD of peg P Coordinates
0.6 m 𝐴 𝑥, 𝑦, 0 𝐵 0, −0.4, 0
 𝐶 −0.3,0.2,0 𝑃 0, 0, 0.6
B
0.4 m 0.2 m C   TC
0.3 m TB Fspring T
 
x 
y x y A
From equilibrium of peg P  F  0
A
x x

 Fx  0 TA
a
 36  0  TA  36 1
a
 
 xi  yj  0.6k y y
TA  TA
x 2  y 2  0 .6 2
F y 0 TA  72.22  24  0 
a
TA  48.22 2
a
0 .6 0 .6

TB  TB
 
 0 .4 j  0 .6 k F z 0 284  TA
a
 108.33  72  0  TA
a
 103.67
 0.72 x 3
130
1 TA
  
 a  36  x  0.208 m
TB  72.22 j  108.33k 0.6 103.67
3 TA
  
  0.3i  0.2 j  0.6k a
TC  TC y
 0 .7 TA

84
   2 a  48.22
TC  36i  24 j  72k   y  0.279 m
3 0.6 103.67
  TA
Fspring  284k a TA = 119.845 N
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

9. The shear leg derrick is used to haul the 200 kg net of fish onto the dock.
Determine the compressive force along each of the legs AB and CB and the
tension in the winch cable DB. Assume the force in each leg acts along its axis..
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

10. Crate A weighing 580 N rests on the inclined surface by the cable AB and force
P which is parallel to the z-axis. Determine the tension in the cable AB and force P
for equilibrium. Since the crate is mounted on casters, the force exerted by the
incline on the crate is perpendicular to the incline.

y
1.5 m
3m
B

2.2 m
E P
C
A
3m

O D x
4m
z
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

11. If WA=WB=1400 N, determine the force P, TAB and the reactions

between the collars and bars.
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

12. The 100-kg collar A rests on the smooth straight fixed bar CD by
the cable AB. Determine the tension in the cable and the reaction
between the collar and bar CD.

C
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

13. Collar A weighing 170 N,

which can slide freely on the
4.5 m
quarter circle, is held in
equilibrium by cable AB.
a) Determine the tension in the
cable.
8
b) Determine the magnitude and 3.4 m 15

the components of the contact

r =3.4 m
force acting on the collar from
the circle.
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

14. Smooth collars A, B and C, each weighing 360 N, are connected by the
wires AB and BC and may slide freely on the smooth rod having the shape
shown. Determine the magnitude of the horizontal force P which must be
applied to the collar A to maintain equilibrium. DEFG portion of the rod is
parallel to xy-plane.
 FBD of collar A

W
Four unknowns
y

NAx
TAB NAy
x
z

FBD of collar C
FBD of collar B y
y

TBA
W
W
TCB

z
TBC x z
x
NCx
NBz Four unknowns NCz
Three unknowns
NBxy
 FBD of collar C
y

W
TCB

z
x
NCx
NCz

   
 F 0


 
TBC  W  N C  0
  4i  4 j  7 k
F TBC  TBC
9
1.5 m B  
4.5 m xB W  360 j
  
E N C  N Cx i  N Cz k
6m

4
Fy  0  TBC  360  0
A (0;9;3) 9
1.5 x B
B (2;5;7)  TBC  810 N
C (6;1;0) 4.5 6
 FBD of collar B y

TBA
W
F
z
TBC x

NBz E
NBxy
    


F 0
 


TBC  TAB  W  N B  0

F TBC  TCB  360i  360 j  630k
B   
  2i  4 j  4 k
4.5 m TBA  TBA
NBxy q 6
q E  
W  360 j
6m    
N B  0.6 N B xy i  0.8 N B xy j  N Bz k
q  36.87o

2
Fx  0  0.6 N B xy  360  TBA  0
sin q  0.6 6
cos q  0.6 F
4
y 0  0.8 N B xy  360  TBA  360  0
6
TBA  1080 N
 FBD of collar A

W
y

NAx
TAB NAy
x
z
    


F 0


 
TAB  W  N A  P  0

TAB  TBA  360i  720 j  720k
 
W  360 j
  
N A  N Axi  N A y j
 
P   Pk

F z 0  720  P  0
P  720 N
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

15. Smooth collars A and B are connected by the spring. Spring has a
constant of 120 N/cm and its unstretched length is 30 cm. Determine the
magnitude of the force P which must be applied to the collar A to maintain
equilibrium and the reaction between the collar and bar. Neglect the weight of
the collars. Take A (40;0;40) and B (0;20;80).
z

A
20 cm
P 80 cm
40 cm 80 cm
40 cm

30 cm
y
x
 z
FBD of collar A z
Q
Fspring B
z
A
P 40 cm
NAy q A
NAxz 20 cm
NAxz y P
40 cm 80 cm
80 cm
x x q 40 cm

   
30 cm 30 cm


y
F 0  Fspring  P  N A  0 x

  
  40i  20 j  40k    
Fspring  120(60  30) AB  (0  40)i  (20  0) j  (80  40)k
60
       
Fspring  2400i  1200 j  2400k AB  40i  20 j  40k  AB  60 cm
 3  4   4  3  
P  Pi  Pk N A  N Axz i  N Axz k  N Ay j
5 5 5 5


3 4
Fx  0  2400  P  N Axz  0
5 5
F y 0  1200  N Ay  0  N Ay  1200 N Correct sense

F
4 3
z 0  2400  P  N Axz  0
5 5
N Axz  387 N P  3483.87 N
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

16. The 10-kg collar A and 20-kg collar B rest on the smooth fixed
bars by the cable AB and the force F. Determine the magnitude of the
force F required to maintain equilibrium of the system. The force F is
parallel to the bar CE.
AB  3.5 m y

(0;5;0) m

(0;3;0) m
F

3m

x
(4;0;0) m
z
(0;0;4) m
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

Coordinates of point A
y y
C
(0;5;0) m

(0;3;0) m 5m A
F yA
3m
x
3m xA E
4m
x
(4;0;0) m
z
(0;0;4) m
CE  52  42  6.4 m

3 4  xA 3 y
  x A  2.125 m  A  y A  2.34 m
6.4 4 6.4 5

A(2.125, 2.34, 0)
Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)

A(2.125, 2.34, 0) y B(0, yB, zB) Coordinates of point B

y
(0;5;0) m G

(0;3;0) m
F AB  3.5 m
B 3m
yB
3m

z D zB
z (4;0;0) m x 4m
(0;0;4) m

4  zB yB 12  4 y B
  12  3z B  4 y B  zB 
4 3 3
AB  2.125  02  2.34  y B 2  z B2  3.52
2

 4.417   1.889
2.77 y B2  15.34 y B  13.741  0 yB    zB  
1.1231   2 .5 

B(0, 1.1231, 2.5)

Problems (Equilibrium of Particles)
FBD of particle B y
A(2.125, 2.34, 0) B(0, 1.1231, 2.5) W G
y T

Bx
F B 3m
Byz yB
 Byz

x 
z
z D zB
    4m
B  Bx i  B yz cos j  B yz sin k
      
B  Bx i  0.8B yz j  0.6 B yz k , W  209.81 j  196.2 j
  

T T
 2.125  0i  2.34  1.123 j  0  2.5k  


 T 0.607i  0.347 j  0.714k 
3.5
 Fx  0  Bx  0.607T  0
 Fy  0  0.8B yz  0.347T  196.2  0
 Fz  0  0.6 B yz  0.714T  0
B yz  179.737 N , T  151.04 N