Assignment #2

1. The springs on the rope assembly are originally

stretched 1 ft when θ=0°, determine the vertical
force F that must be applied so that θ=30°.

2. The device is used to hold an elevator door open,

if the spring has a stiffness of k=40 N/m and it is
compressed 0.2 m. Determine the horizontal and
vertical components of reaction at the pin A and the
resultant force at the wheel bearing B.

3. The sign’s weight Ws = 32 lb acts at the point

shown. The 10 lb weight of bar AD acts at the
midpoint of the bar. Determine the tension in the
cable AE and the reactions at D.

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4. The 420 lb homogeneous log is supported by a
rope at A and loose-fitting rollers at B and C as it is
being fed into a sawmill. Calculate the tension in
the rope and the reactions at the rollers, using the
given FBD. Which rollers are in contact with the
log?

5. A 10 kg ring is supported by a smooth surface E

and a wire AB. A body D having a mass of 3 kg is
fixed to the ring at the orientation shown. What is
the tension in the wire AB? What is its orientation
α?

6. A beam (length l = √2r, weight negligible) lies

inside a smooth spherical shell with radius r . If a
weight G is attached to the beam, determine the
distance x from the left-end point of the beam
required to keep the beam in equilibrium with the
angle α = 15 ◦. Calculate the contact forces at A and
B.

7. A homogeneous plate with weight G is supported

by six bars and loaded by a force F. Calculate the
forces in the bars.

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8. A rod AB is connected by a ball-and-socket joint
to a frictionless sleeve at A, and by a ball-and-
socket joint to a fixed position at B. What are the
supporting forces at B and at A if we neglect the
weight of AB? The 100 lb load is connected to the
center of AB.

9. For the portion of a machine shown, the 100 mm

diameter pulley A and wheel B are fixed to a shaft
supported by bearings at C and D. The spring of
constant 366 N/m is unstretched when θ=0, and the
bearing at C does not exert any axial force.
Knowing that θ=180° and that the machine is at
rest and in equilibrium, determine (a) the tension T,
(b) the reactions at C and D. Neglect the masses of
the shaft, pulley and wheel.

10. The window weighs 40 lb; its center of gravity

G is located at the geometric center. Find all forces
acting on the window when it is held open in the
position shown by the rope attached to C. assume
that the hinge at A can provide an axial thrust
whereas the hinge at B cannot.

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