Sample Examination #1

Closed book and notes. Calculators permitted

For full marks you must a) insert relevant diagrams, b) explain in a few words what
you are doing, c) present solutions neatly, d) indicate units where relevant,
e) carry 3 significant figures.

1.
The force F has a magnitude of 80 lb and acts within the volume shown.
Determine the magnitudes of the x, y, and z components of F.
(15 points)

Write down the direction cosines first, and use them to find the magnitudes. We have ,
, but no yet, so start by finding .
cos2 + cos2 +cos2 = 1

(0.25 + 0.5 + cos2)

=1

= 60 also
Now magnitudes are

Fx
Fy
Fz

= 80 cos 60 = 40 lb
= 80 cos 45 = 56.6 lb
= 80 cos 60 = 40 lb

2.
Determine the magnitude of the projected component of force F along the pole.
(15 points)

This is one of the uses of the dot product!

we need a unit vector along AO?

We need 2 vectors and only have 1: so

AO = [-3i + 2j -6k]
and its magnitude is
32 + 22 + 62

so a unit vector along AO is

1/7[-3i + 2j -6k]

and the dot product is F. A

-20x-3/7 + 50x2/7 - 10x-6/7

60/7 + 100/7 + 60/7

=31.4 lb

3.
Determine the stretch in each of the two springs required to hold the 20 kg crate in
the equilibrium position shown. Each spring has an unstretched length of 2m and a
stiffness of k = 300N/m. (20 points)

FOC =
FOA =
FOB =
F
=

6i + 4j + 12k
62 + 42 + 122
- FOA j
- FOB i
- 196.2k
FOC

= 3/7 FOCi + 2/7 FOCj + 6/7 FOCk

and F = 0

Equating i, j, and k components

3/7 FOC - FOB = 0
2/7 FOC - FOA = 0
6/7 FOC - 196.2 = 0 and solving, we have

FOC = 228.9 N

and FOB = 98.1 N and

Then using the spring formula, s = F/k:
sOB = 98.1/300 =
0.327m
sOA

= 65.4/300 =

0.218m

FOA = 65.4 N

4.
Two men exert forces of F = 80 lb and P = 50 lb on the ropes. Determine the
moment of each force about A. Will the pole rotate clockwise or counterclockwise?
(20 points)

P and F both can be resolved into vertical and horizontal components. The vertical
components pass through A and contribute zero moment. Therefore, we only consider
the horizontal components.
MP = P . cos 45 . 18 = 636 ft.lb (acw)
MF = F . 4/5 .12

= -768 ft.lb (cw)

MTOTAL

= 636 - 768

= -132 ft.lb

= clockwise
(or, using r ^ F, for force F,
r = 0i + 12j + 0k
F = 80 4/5 i - 80 3/5 j + 0k
so
r^F =
i
j
k
0
12
0
64
-48 0
=
=

0i + 0j - 768k
768 lb.ft c.w.

etc. .. same approach for the other force, P, then find resultant to see if it is cw (ve) or acw (+ve)

Other questions that might have been asked

A.

Determine the coordinate direction angles of F1 and FR. (15 points)

Unit vector of F1 and FR??

uF1

4/5 i + 3/5 k =

0.8i + 0.6k

uFR

=
=

cos 45 sin 30 i + cos 45 cos 30 j + cos 45 j

0.3536i + 0.6124j + 0.707k

So the coordinate direction angles are:

F1
cos = 0.8,
=
cos = 0
=
cos = 0.6
=
FR

cos = 0.3536
cos = 0.6124
cos = 0.707

=
=
=

36.9
90
53.1
69.3
52.2
45

B.
Determine the moment created by the force F = [50i + 100j - 50k] N, acting at D,
about each of the joints at B and C. (20 points)

To find moments, use M = r ^ F where r = each r in turn.

rBD

= (0.75i + 0j - 0.3k) m

rCD

= (0.75i + 1.25j - 0.3k)

MB

i
j
0.75 0
50
100

MC

...................

k
-0.3
-50

= {30i + 22.5j + 75k} N.m

= {-32.5i + 22.5j + 12.5k} N.m