Mechanics for Engineers
Questions for Practice
Module-2
A body is in equilibrium under the action of three forces of equal magnitudes. Find the angles between
these forces.
What is a free body diagram
State the conditions for static equilibrium for concurrent forces.
What kind support reaction obtained from a hinged support?
How can a couple be balanced?
State the conditions for static equilibrium for non-concurrent forces.
What type of support reactions are possible from a pinned support?
What is the difference between resultant force and equilibrant force?
State the conditions of static equilibrium for two forces.
State Lami’s theorem.
Long questions
1. State and explain Lami's theorem for equilibrium of coplanar concurrent forces. (4 marks)
2. An electric light fixture weighing 15N hangs from point C by two strings, AC and BC. The
string AC is inclined at 60° to the horizontal and BC at 45 ° to the horizontal, as shown in Fig.
Determine the forces in the strings AC and BC. (8 marks)
3. Three cylinders weighting 100N each and of 80mm diameter are placed in a channel of
180mm width as shown in figure.
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
4. i) What do you mean by system isolation? Explain different types of support reactions.(6
marks)
5. ii) Determine the horizontal force P to be applied to a block of 2500 N weight to hold it in
position on a smooth inclined plane AB, which makes an angle of 30° with the horizontal, as
shown in the Figure.
6. State and explain Lami's theorem for equilibrium of coplanar concurrent forces. (4 marks)
7. A sphere of weight 100 N is tied to a smooth wall by a string, as shown in Fig. Find the
tension T in the string and reaction R of the wall. (8 marks)
8. i) State the conditions of equilibrium for non-concurrent coplanar forces. (4 marks)
9. A roller of radius r = 300 mm and weight 2000 N is to be pulled over a curb of height 150
mm, as shown in the figure, by a horizontal force P applied to the end of a string wound
tightly around the circumference of the roller. Find the magnitude of P required to start the
roller move over the curb. What is the least pull P through the center of the wheel to just
turn the roller over the curb?
10. i) Explain the conditions of static equilibrium. ( 3 marks)
11. Two smooth spheres, A and B, of weight W and radius r, each in equilibrium in a horizontal
channel of vertical sides, as shown in Fig. Find the force exerted by each sphere on the other
if r = 250 mm, b = 900 mm, and W = 100 N. (9 marks)
12. A rope is connected between two points, A and B, 120 cm apart at the same level. A load of
200 N is suspended from point C on the rope 45 cm from A, as shown in Fig. Find the load
that should be suspended from the rope at point D, 30 cm from B, which will keep the rope
CD horizontal.
13. i) What do you mean by support reactions? Explain the support reactions obtained from a
simply supported beam. (6 marks)
14. ii) A beam AB 10 m long is supported at its ends A and B. Two point loads, W1 and W2, are
placed at C and D, 2 m and 6 m, respectively, from the end A. If the reaction at A is twice that
at B, find the ratio of the loads W1 and W2. (6 marks)
15. i) What do you mean free body diagram? Describe the necessary steps to draw a free-body
diagram. (4 marks)
16. Ii) A force of P=500N is applied at the center C of the beam AB of length 5m as shown in the
figure. Find the reaction at the hinge and roller supports. (8 marks)
17. i) What do you mean by static equilibrium? Explain the conditions for static equilibrium
for nonconcurrent coplanar forces. (6 marks)
18. ii) A ball of weight 200N rests in a Right angled, as shown in the figure. If all the surfaces
are smooth, determine the reaction at the contact points. (8 marks)
Short notes
Lami's Theorem
Free Body diagram
Static equilibrium
Coplanar concurrent forces
Coplanar non concurent forces
System isolation
Support reactions
Types of support
Triangle law for equilibrium of forces
Translational and rotational equilibrium