Engineering Mechanics

Assignment – 1a

Unit - 1

1. Distinguish clearly between resolution of forces and composition of forces.

2. State and prove parallelogram law of forces.

3. State triangle law of forces and polygon law of forces.

4. What is meant by moment of a force? How will you explain it mathematically? How will you
represent the moment of a force geometrically? Explain clearly the difference between clockwise
moments and anticlockwise moments.

5. State the Varignon’s principle of moments.

6. What is a couple? What is the arm of a couple and its moment? Discuss the classification of
couples and explain clearly the difference between a positive couple and a negative couple.

7. State and prove Lami’s Theorem.

or

Show that if three coplanar forces, acting at a point be in equilibrium, then, each force is
proportional to the sine of the angle between the other two.

8. A triangle ABC has its side AB = 40 mm along positive x-axis and side BC = 30 mm along
positive y-axis. Three forces of 40 N, 50 N and 30 N act along the sides AB, BC and CA
respectively. Determine magnitude of the resultant of such a system of forces.

9. A system of forces is acting at the corners of a rectangular block as shown in Figure. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
10. A force of 15 N is applied perpendicular to the edge of a door 0.8 m wide as shown in Fig (a).
Find the moment of the force about the hinge. If this force is applied at an angle of 60° to the
edge of the same door, as shown in (b), find the moment of this force.

11. A uniform plank ABC of weight 30 N and 2 m long is supported at one end A and at a point B
1.4 m from A as shown in Fig. Find the maximum weight W that can be placed at C, so that the
plank does not topple.

12. A uniform wheel of 600 mm diameter, weighing 5 kN rests against a rigid rectangular block of
150 mm height.

13. A string ABCD, attached to fixed points A and D has two equal weights of 1000 N attached to it
at B and C. The weights rest with the portions AB and CD inclined at angles as shown in Figure.
Find the tensions in the portions AB, BC and CD of the string, if the inclination of the portion
BC with the vertical is 1200.
14. Two cylinders P and Q rest in a channel as shown in Fig 2.12. The cylinder P has diameter of
100 mm and weighs 200 N, whereas the cylinder Q has diameter of 180 mm and weighs 500 N.
If the bottom width of the box is 180 mm, with one side vertical and the other inclined at 60°,
determine the pressures at all the four points of contact.

15. Three cylinders weighting 100 N each and of 80 mm diameter are placed in a channel of 180 mm
width as shown in Fig. Determine the pressure exerted by (i) the cylinder A on B at the point of
contact (ii) the cylinder B on the base and (iii) the cylinder B on the wall.

16. Prove the parallel axis theorem in the determination of moment of inertia of areas with the help
of a neat sketch.

17. State and prove the theorem of perpendicular axis applied to moment of inertia.

18. An I-section has the following dimensions in mm units:

Bottom flange = 300 × 100
Top flange = 150 × 50
Web = 300 × 50
Determine mathematically the position of centre of gravity of the section.
19. A semicircle of 90 mm radius is cut out from a trapezium as shown in Figure. Find the position
of the centre of gravity of the figure.

20. A hollow semicircular section has its outer and inner diameter of 200 mm and 120 mm
respectively as shown in Figure. What is its moment of inertia about the base AB?

21. An I-section is made up of three rectangles as shown in Figure. Find the moment of inertia of the
section about the horizontal axis passing through the centre of gravity of the section.