Subject: Engineering Mechanics [ME 101]

Tutorial Sheet 1
EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM

Part A: Free Body Diagram Q4. A sphere of weight 100N is tied to a smooth wall
by a string as shown in following figure. Find the
Q1.Draw the free body diagram of a ball of weight W, tension T in the string and reaction of the wall.
supported by a string AB and resting against a smooth vertical [Ans. 103.53N, 26.79N]
wall at C and also resting against a smooth horizontal floor at
D as shown in figure.

Q2. Two identical rollers P & Q of weight W are supported by Q5. Determine the horizontal force P to be applied to a
an inclined plane and vertical wall as shown in figure. Assume block of weight 1500N to hold it in position on a
all surfaces to be smooth. Draw free body diagram of smooth inclined plane AB which makes an angle of 30 0
a) Roller Q with the horizontal. [Ans. 866N]
b) Roller P
c) Roller P & Q taken together

Q6. A lamp weighting 5N is suspended from the ceiling

by a chain. It is pulled aside by a horizontal cord until
the chain makes an angle of 60 0 with the ceiling as
shown in following figure. Find the tensions in the
Part B: Three Concurrent forces (Lami’s chain and the cord by -
a) Lami’s Method
Theorem) b) Graphical Method [Ans. 2.887N, 5.774N]
Q3. A weight of 100 N is supported by two chains as shown
in following figure. Determine the tension in each chain.
[Ans. 866N, 500N]

Q7. A ball of weight 120N rest in a right angled groove

as shown in following figure. The sides of the groove
EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM 2

are inclined to an angle of 300 & 600 to the horizontal. If all make with the horizontal to keep the edge AB of the
the surfaces are smooth then determine the reactions R A & RC body vertical. [Ans. θ =57.990]
at the points of contact. [Ans. 60N,
103.92N]

Q8. A roller of radius 40 cm weighting 3000N is to be pulled

over a rectangular look block of height 20 cm as shown in
figure by a horizontal force applied at the end of a string Q12. A body weighting 2000N is suspended with a
wound round the circumference of the roller. Find the chain AB 2m long. It is pulled by a horizontal force of
magnitude of the horizontal force which will just turn the 320N as shown in the figure. Find the force in chain
roller over the corner of the rectangular block. Also determine and the lateral displacement of the body. [Ans. 1025.5
the magnitude & direction of reaction at A & B. All surfaces N, 0.3163 m]
may be taken as smooth. [Ans. P=1732N, RA=0, RB=3464.2N]

Q9. If in Q.8 the force P is applied horizontally at the centre

of the roller what would be the magnitude of this force? Also Part C: Number of Concurrent Forces
determine the least force and its line of action at the roller
centre for turning the roller over the rectangular block. [Ans. Q13. Five forces F1, F2, F3, F4 & F5 are acting at a point
5196N, 2598N, θ x=600] on a body as shown in following figure and the body is
in equilibrium. If F1 = 18N, F2 = 22.5N, F3 = 15N, and
Q10. The cross-section of a block is an equilateral triangle. It F4 = 30N find force F5 in magnitude & direction.
is hinged at A and rests on a roller at B. It is gulled by means [Ans. ].
of a string attached at C. If the weight of the block is Wand
the string is horizontal, determine the force P which should be
applied through string to just lift the block of the roller.

Q11. L shaped body ABC is hinged at A with a force F acting

at its end C. Determine the angle θ which this force should
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EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM 3

Q14. Determine the force P to maintain the ball crank shown

in following figure in equilibrium. Neglect the friction at the
pivot point O. [Ans. P= 52.2 N]

Q18. Two identical roller each of weight W= 1000N

are supported by an inclined plane and a vertical wall
Q15. The frictionless pulley A shown in following figure is as shown in figure. Find reaction at the point of support
supported by two bars AB & AC which are hinged at B & C A, B & C. Assume all surface to be smooth. [Ans. R A=
to a vertical well. The flexible cable DG hinged at D goes 866.17N, RB= 1443.37N, RC= 1154.45N]
over the pulley and supports a load of 20 KN at G. the angles
b/w various members are shown in figure. Determine the
forces in AB & AC. Neglect size of pulley. [Ans. F AC= -
34.64N, FAB=0]

Q19. Two cylinders, A of weight 4000N and B of

weight 2000N rest on smooth inclines as shown in
following figure. They are connected by a bar of
negligible weight hinged to each cylinder at its
Q16. Two smooth circular cylinders each of weight W= geometric centre by smooth pins. Find the force P to be
1000N and radius 15 cm are connected at their centers by a applied as shown in the figure such that it will hold the
string AB of length = 40 cm and rest upon a horizontal plane, system in given position. [Ans. 1071.8N]
supporting above them a third cylinder of weight 2000N and
radius 15 cm as shown in following figure. Find the force S in
the string AB and the pressure produced on the floors at the
points of contact D & E. [Ans. 2000 N, 2000
N]

Q20. A wire is fixed at two points A & D as shown in

following figure. Two weights 20 KN, 25 KN are
supported at B & C, respectively, when equilibrium is
reached it is found that inclination of AB is 30 0 and that
of CD is 600 to the vertical. Determine the tension in
the segments AB, BC and CD of the rope and also the
inclination of BC to the vertical. [Ans. 38.97KN,
23.91KN, θ =54.890]
Q17. A rigid circular roller of weight 500N rest on a smooth
inclined plane and is held in position by a card AC as shown
in figure. Find the tension in the cord if there is a horizontal
force of magnitude 1000N acting at C. [Ans. T=3065.2N]
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EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM 4

Q21. Two sphere each of weight 1000N and of radius 25 cm Part D: Distributed Force Systems
rest in a horizontal channel of width 90 cm as shown in figure.
Find the reaction on the points of contacts. [Ans. FIND SUPPORT REACTIONS FOR THE
1333.33N, 2000N, 1333.33N] FOLLOWING STRUCTURE:
Q24.

[Ans. RA= 4 KN, RB = 5 KN]

Q25.

Q22. A system of connected flexible cables shown in

following figure is supported two vertical force 200N & 250N
at point B and D. Determine the forces in various segments of
the cable. [Ans. 224.14N, 183.01N, 336.6N, 255.18N] [Ans. RA= 40 KN, RB = 20 KN]

Q26.

[Ans. RA= 26667 KN, RB = 3333.4 KN]

Q27.

[Ans. RA= KN, RB = KN]

Q28.

Q23. A wire rope is fixed at two point A & D as shown in

following figure. Two weights 20 KN and 30 KN are attached
to it at B & C, respectively. The weights rest with portion AB
& BC inclined at angles 30 0 & 500 respectively, to the vertical
as shown in figure. Find the tension in the wire in segments
AB, BC & CD and also the inclination of the segments CD to
vertical. [Ans. 44.79KN, 29.24N, 25.015N, =63.4220] [Ans. RA = 20.01 KN, θx = 177.620, RB =0.833 KN]

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EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM 5

Q29. Q34. State the following with examples:

a) Principle of transmissibility of force
b) Lami’s Principle
c) Free body diagram

[Ans. RA = 384.9 KN, RB =384.9]

Q30.

[Ans. RA = 74 KN, MB =148 KNm]

Q31.

[Ans. RA = 12.86 KN, RB= 8.57 KN, RC = 21.86 KN, RD =

16.67 KN]

Q32.

[Ans. RA = RB= ]
Q33.

[Ans. RA = RB =3 KN]
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