Statics of Rigid Bodies

1. A sphere with the weight W is suspended by a wire at a smooth wall. The

wire is fixed at the ball center. Determine the force in the wire. Use a
= 60 cm and r = 20 cm

a. 3.6 W b. 1.28 W c. 1.06 W d. 3.04 W

2. A smooth circular cylinder (weight W, radius r) touches an obstacle (height

h), as depicted in the Figure. Determine the magnitude of the required
force F to roll the cylinder over the obstacle.

a. Wsinθ b. Wcosθ c. Wtanθ d. W

3. A large cylinder (weight 4W, radius 2r) lies on top of two small cylinders,
each having weight W and radius r. The small cylinders are connected by a
wire S (length 3r). All surfaces are smooth. Determine the contact surface
between the larger cylinder and the smaller cylinders.

a. 2.309W b. 3W c. 1.155W d. 3.667W

4. From problem 3, determine the tension in the wire S.

a. 2.309W b. 3W c. 1.155W d. 3.667W

5. From problem 3, determine the normal force at the ground

a. 2.309W b. 3W c. 1.155W d. 3.667W

6. An excavator has been converted to a demolition machine. Determine the

force in cable 1.
 Statics of Rigid Bodies

a. Wcscθ b. Wsecθ c. Wcotθ d. Wsinθ

7. From problem 6, determine the force in cable 2.

a. Wsinθ b. Wcosθ c. Wcscθ d. Wsecθ

8. From problem 6, determine the force in cable 3.

a. Wtanθ b. Wcotθ c. Wversinθ d. Wcrdθ

9. From problem 6, determine the force in the strut

a. W b. 2W c. 3W d. 4W

10. A high-voltage power line is attached to an insulator which is held by

three bars. The tensile force Z in the sagging power line at the insulator
is to 1000 N. Determine the force in member 1. The support at B is a
spherical roller.

a. 173 N (T) b. 173 N (C) c. 388 N (C) d. 388 N (T)

11. From problem 10, determine the force in member 2

a. 517 N (C) b. 388 N (C) c. 353 N (T) d. 195 N (T)

12. From problem 11, determine the force in member 3

a. 75 N (T) b. 312 N (C) c. 895 N (T) d. 353 N (C)

13. From problem 11, determine the reaction of the spherical roller at B
a. 173 N b. 388 N c. 517 N d. 353 N

14. The system consists of bar 3 which is held by two horizontal wires 1 and
2 and which is loaded by a force F. Calculate the force in wire 1
 Statics of Rigid Bodies

a. 0.6F (T) b. 0.8F (T) c. 0.333F (T) d. 1.667F (C)

15. From problem 14, determine the force in wire 2

a. 0.6F (T) b. 0.8F (T) c. 0.333F (T) d. 1.667F (C)

16. From problem 14, determine the force in rod 3

a. F (C) b. 2F (T) c. 2.167F (T) d. 1.414F (C)

17. An isosceles triangular body is loaded by the forces F, P and the weight
W. The forces acting on the body shall first be replaced by a resultant
force and a resultant moment at point A (reduction to reference point A).
Determine the magnitude of the force F, that the resultant moment around
point A vanishes, such that the body cannot tilt. Use W = 6 kN, P = √2 kN,
and a = 1 m.

a. 0.707 kN b. 0.333 kN c. 2.121 kN d. 3.0 kN

18. A uniform beam (weight W, length 4a) rests upon the corner A and the smooth
wall at B. Calculate the angle ∅ for which the beam is in equilibrium.

a. 44.486 b. 37.467 c. 21.528 d. -48.561

19. A beam of length l and negligible weight is placed horizontally between

two smooth inclined planes. A block with the weight W rests upon the beam.
At what distance x the block must be placed in order to obtain equilibrium?
Use 𝛼 = 27°, 𝛽 = 38°, 𝑊 = 7 𝑘𝑁, and 𝑙 = 4.32 𝑚
 Statics of Rigid Bodies

a. 1.705 b. 1.322 c. 2.615 d. 1.023

20. From problem 19, determine the reaction at A

a. 3.506 b. 2.164 c. 2.935 d. 4.755

21 From problem 19, determine the reaction at B

a. 3.506 b. 2.164 c. 3.621 d. 4.755

22. A homogeneous P1.10 cylinder (weight W, radius r) is held by three struts

and loaded by an external moment M◦. Determine the forces in strut 1

0 𝑀° √2𝑊 𝑀°
a. b. +𝑊 c. d.
𝑟 𝑟
23. From problem 22, determine the forces in strut 2
0 𝑀° √2𝑊 𝑀°
a. b. +𝑊 c. d.
𝑟 𝑟
24. From problem 22, determine the forces in strut 3
0 𝑀° √2𝑊 𝑀°
a. b. +𝑊 c. d.
𝑟 𝑟
25. From problem 22, for what magnitude of 𝑀° the force in strut 1 is zero?
𝑟 −𝑊 −𝑟𝑊 𝑊
a. b. c. d.
𝑟+𝑊 𝑟+𝑊 𝑟

26. A vehicle of weight W = 10 kN and known mass center C, stands on an

inclined, smooth surface (α = 30◦) and is held by a horizontal rope.
Determine the force in the front wheel

a. 6.31 b. 2.89 c. 5.64 d. 13.08

27. From problem 26, determine the force in the rear wheel
a. 4.64 b. 8.66 c. 1.42 d. 1.73
 Statics of Rigid Bodies

28. From problem 26, determine the tension in the cable at D

a. 2.887 b. 7.321 c. 1.733 d. 5.774

29. A frame A to E is pin supported in A and held by a rope at B and C, which

is passed over two pulleys without friction. Determine the force in the
rope for a given load F. The dead load of the frame can be neglected.

a. 8/9 F b. 9/8 F c. 7/3 F d. 3/7 F

30. Determine the reaction at A

3 √145 4 3
a. 𝐹 b. 𝐹 c. 𝐹 d. 𝐹
5 15 5 5

“Inspirational quote”

Sir Plats