TUTORIAL: ENGINEERING MECHANICS

UNIT I
1. Two vectors acting parallel are given by:
p⃗ = 3î + 5ĵ - 2k̂, q⃗ = 2î + 4ĵ
Determine:
(a) The magnitude of vectors p⃗ and q⃗
(b) The unit vectors along the directions of p⃗ and q⃗

2. Using the vectors from Question 1, if:

R⃗ = 2p⃗ - q⃗
Determine:
(a) The magnitude of R⃗
(b) The unit vector along the direction of R⃗

3. A force vector R⃗ = 3î - 2ĵ + 5k̂ is acting at a point.

Determine:
(a) The magnitude of R⃗
(b) The angles θₓ, θᵧ, θ𝓏 it makes with the x-, y-, and z-axes respectively

4. Three concurrent forces are given as:

F⃗₁ = 2î + 3ĵ + 2k̂,
F⃗₂ = 3î - 2ĵ + 4k̂,
F⃗₃ = 3î + 3ĵ + k̂
Determine:
(a) The resultant force R⃗ = F⃗₁ + F⃗₂ + F⃗₃
(b) The magnitude of R⃗
(c) The direction cosines of R⃗

5. If:
p⃗ = 2î + 3ĵ + 2k̂,
q⃗ = -3î + 4ĵ
then find:
(a) The dot product p⃗ · q⃗
(b) The angle between p⃗ and q⃗
(c) The projection of q⃗ on p⃗
6. Determine the angle between the vectors:
p⃗ = -2î + 3ĵ + 2k̂,
q⃗ = î + 2ĵ + k̂

7. Two bars AC and CB are hinged together at C as shown in the Fig 1. Find the
forces induced in the bar. Assume weight of bars as negligible.

Fig: 1
8. Determine the resultant of a force system consisting forces 3 N, 3 √3 N, 5 N, 6 N
and 4 N from an angular point of a regular hexagon acting towards the other
angular points in a regular order.

Fig: 2

9. Determine the tension in the string OA and reaction of inclined plane when a
roller of weight 600 N is supported as shown in Fig 3.

Fig: 3
10. A roller of weight ‘W’ rests over two inclined planes as shown in the Fig 4.
Determine support reactions at points A and B.

Fig: 4

11. A roller of weight 2400 N, radius 180 cm is required to be pulled over a brick of
height 90 cm as shown in the Fig. 5 by a horizontal pull applied at the end of a
string wound round the circumference of the roller. Determine the value of P
which will just tend to turn the roller over the brick.

Fig: 5
12. In the previous question, if pull, P is applied at center of the roller then
determine the minimum pull P, which will cause the roller to just turn over the
brick.

Fig: 6

13. Two identical spheres of weight 1000 N are held in equilibrium on inclined plane
and against wall as shown in Fig 7. Determine reactions at A, B, C and D.

Fig: 7
14. A pulley is hanging on two bars. A weight of 3 kN is hanging on a cable that is fed
over the pulley. From the force equilibrium of the pulley, determine the forces
that the bars exert on the pulley in the situation shown.

Fig: 8

*Hint: The tensile force in the cable is equal on both sides of the pulley.

15. A block is subject to four couples in the xy plane. Force scale: 1 square ≡ 1 kN.
Length scale: 1 square ≡ 1 m.
 Fig: 9

Find in the xy coordinate system the moment of:

a) The couple formed by the pair of forces F1;

b) The couple formed by the pair of forces F2;
c) The couple formed by the pair of forces F3;
d) The couple T if T = 10 kNm;
e) The resultant couple.

16. A console is subject to a horizontal force of 4 kN and a vertical force of 5 kN. In

order to calculate the forces on the bolts A and B, the load is shifted to a point
exactly halfway between A and B with the addition of a couple. Determine the
magnitude and direction of the couple.
 Fig: 10

17. A console in a column is loaded at A by a vertical force of 70 kN.

Fig: 11

a) Replace the force at A by a force at B and a couple.

b) Replace the force at A by a force at C and a couple.
18. Which statement about the body is true?

Fig: 12

a) There is moment equilibrium.

b) There is force equilibrium.
c) There is no equilibrium.
d) There is equilibrium.
19. A body is subject to two parallel forces F.

Fig: 13

Which statement is true?

a) ∑ Fx ≠ 0.
b) ∑ Fy ≠ 0.
c) ∑ Mz ≠ 0.
d) The body is in equilibrium.
20. A force F = 8i + 3j – k kN is applied to a part machined from a piece of aluminum
200 × 200 × 300 mm in size, at point A in fig 14. Calculate the moment of F about
the point O.

Fig: 14

21. Two children are sitting on swings hanging from a 4 m long jungle gym of mass
25 kg, (see fig 15). The child C has mass of 35 kg, and the child at D has a mass of
30 kg. Calculate the reactions of the pin at A and the roller at B.

Fig: 15
22. Consider a deck beam of mass 45 kg with a 90 kg man standing near the edge as
shown in fig 16. Calculate the reaction forces at the pin at point A and the roller
at point B.

Fig: 16

23. A door is held open by a cable (Fig 17). The manufacturer of the door needs to
specify to the customer what type of cable must be used o hod the door open.
Calculate the tension in the cable and the reactions at the hinge A for the case θ
= 300. Assume that the cable is vertical at this angle and the mass of the door is
200 kg.

Fig: 17
24. A beam AB is hinged at A and supported by a roller at B. A point load of 5 kN
is applied at a distance of 2 m from A. Draw the free body diagram and
determine the reactions at A and B.

25. A uniform ladder of length 10 m rests against a smooth vertical wall making
an angle of 60° with the horizontal. Find the reactions at the base and the
wall.
26. A block weighing 1200 N rests on a smooth inclined plane making 30° with
the horizontal. Calculate the force required to keep it in equilibrium if
applied parallel to the incline.

27. A uniform pole AB of length 4 m and weight 200 N is supported horizontally

by a hinge at A and a rope at B. Determine the tension in the rope.

28. Determine the support reactions for a simply supported beam with a point
load at one-third span.

29. Find the position vector of the midpoint of a line joining points A(1, 2, 3) and
B(4, 6, 8). Also, determine the vector from A to the midpoint.

30. Calculate the moment of a force F = 10i + 5j - 3k N about a point P(1,1,1) m

when it acts at point A(2,3,4) m.