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24-261 Statics August 26, 2014

Problem Set #1 Due: September 2, 2014

This week homework will involve the on-line OLI Engineering Statics Course, and
written homework to be handed in this week.


Enter OLI via the Blackboard link, as described below. Do not use the Open and
Free Version of the OLI Engineering Statics course. (There are no end-of-module
quizzes in the Open and Free Version of the OLI Engineering Statics course.)

Complete the following modules from OLI Engineering Statics:
How to use this course
What is Statics?
Module 1

Complete end-of-module quiz in module 1 by noon on September 2.


All the activities in an OLI module (reading, questions, and exercises) are to prepare you
for the quizzes. Only the scores on the OLI quizzes will count towards your homework
grade.


Entering OLI Engineering Statics Course

Enter from link on Blackboard/Assignments/OLI Statics course for 24-261 Fall 2014.

This should automatically take you to the OLI course with course key 24-261-F14.


It is critical that you do all your work on OLI by entering OLI via this
link on Blackboard!! Only this way will what you do be counted.


Once you have entered the OLI Statics course for the first time, or any time you use a
new computer to access the course, please select the Test and configure your system
link. It is located at the top of the OLI course syllabus. On the Test and configure page
you can run an automated test and read instructions that will assist you in installing the
required software and configuring your system appropriately. Without the MathML
fonts (freely downloadable), equations will be virtually unreadable.

If you have technical problems with OLI send questions to: oli-
help@lists.andrew.cmu.edu

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Sections from Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics Statics 13
th
Edition:
2.1-2.4, 2.7-2.8

Written homework Problems: those listed by number are from Hibbeler,
Engineering Mechanics Statics 13
th
Edition

Written homework is to be placed on the bench at the back of lecture at start of class on
September 2. Homeworks are picked up at approximately 1:40 PM . Anything not
picked up at that time will not be accepted or graded.

1. 2-24

2. 2-40

3. (2 points)
Two forces act on a body at a point. Think of force magnitude F
0
and the angle !
0
as
fixed and given. The magnitude of F is adjustable, but the directions of the two forces are
as shown. We are interested in the sum of the two forces






(i) Prove by calculus that if the magnitude of F is chosen to equal F
0
cos !
0
, then the sum
of the two vectors will have minimum magnitude.

(ii) Prove this with geometric argument


4. 2-53 (use the idea learned in the previous problem)

5. 2-90



Additional relevant practice problems (not to be handed in), with solutions in back of
book, are F2-8, F2-21






F
0

F
!
0