Problem 3.

41 A single force P acts at C in a direction

perpendicular to the handle BC of the crank shown.
Knowing that the moments about "O' are Mx = 20 Nm, My = 8.75 Nm and Mz = -30 Nm, determine the magnitude of P
and the values of and . Components of moment about
"0"
M x = 20 N m
M y = - 8.75 N m
M z = - 30 N m
r
Find P , ,

Problem 3.43 The 23 inch vertical rod CD is welded to the

midpoint C of the 50 inch rod AB. Determine the
moment about AB as a result of the 235 lb force P.
If P = 235 lbs (also acts at G)
and AB = 50"
Find MAB:

Problem: Find MAD, given the cable GBH loops through

the ring at B and has a tension of T = 1125N

3.12 Moment of a Couple

r
r
If two forces F and - F have the same magnitude, but of
opposite sense and act at different points, but have parallel
lines of action, are said to form a _________.
Although these forces sum up to zero and hence are in a
r
(static) translational equilibrium, the M CG 0 thereby
____________.

Let points A & B be connected to the origin "0" by position

r
r
vectors r A & r B , respectively.
r
r
r r r
=
x
F
+
x(F
)
r
r
B
M0 A
r
r r r r
M0 = r A x F - ( r B x F)

r
r
r r
M0 = ( r A - r B) x F _ Distributive Law
r r
r
r r r
Let r A - r B = r and so M0 = ( r x F) is the moment of the
couple, perpendicular to the plane containing the two
forces.
r
r
The magnitude of M0 M0 = rF sin = Fd where d is the
_____________ distance between the lines of action of
r r
-F&F
r
r
If two couples exist, one consisting of F1 & - F1 and the
r
r
r
second F2 & - F2 , they will have equal M if F1 d1 = F2 d 2
and if the two couples have the same sense and lie in
parallel planes.
3.14

Addition of Couples

3.15

Couples May Be Represented By Vectors

r r r r r r
M = r x R = r x ( F1 + F2)
r r r r r
M = r x F1 + r x F2

where Mx represents couples in the yz plane

My represents couples in the xz plane
Mz represents couples in the xy plane

3.17 Resolution of a Given Force Into a Force at "0" and a Couple

r
r
Consider F acting on a rigid body at point A connected to point "0" by position vector r .
If we would rather the force act at
point "0", one could attach two
additional forces to point "0"; one
r
r
equal to F and the other - F , this
r
will not modify the action of F on
the rigid body.

r
As a result, F is now applied at "0",
while the other two forces form a
r r
r
couple of moment M 0 = r x F
r
So any F acting on a rigid body may be moved to an arbitrary point "0", provided that a couple is
r
added, whose moment is equal to the moment of F about "0".
r
r
r
The couple represented by a couple vector M 0 is ___________the plane containing r and F .

r
Since M 0 is a free vector it can be applied anywhere; for convenience, the couple vector is
r
usually attached at point "0" together with F . The resulting combination is referred to as a forcecouple system.

Problem 3.55 Given the drill exerts a 12 Nm couple,

determine the magnitude of the resultant force applied to
the nails at "A" & "B"

Problem 3.57 Find the diameter (d) of the pegs, knowing that the resultant couple applied to the
board is 1132.5 in lb (ccw)

Problem 3.59 Replace the two couples shown by a single

equivalent couple, specifying it's magnitude and the
direction of it's axis

Problem 3.63 Replace the force by an equivalent force-couple system at "c".

10

r
r
Problem 3.65 P = 300 N; = = 30 . Replace force P by
a) equivalent force - couple system at "B", and b) equivalent
system formed by two parallel forces applied at B & C

11

Problem 3.67 Replace the resulting force and couple by a single force
located at C and determine the distance x.

12

Problem 3.71 TBC = 570 lb.; replace the force that the cable BC
exerts at point "B" by an equivalent force-couple system at
point "A".

13

Problem 3.73 Find the equivalent force-couple system at A

14

3.17

Reduction of a System of Forces to One Force and One Couple

r
Consider a system of forces shown. F1 may be moved from A1 to a given point "0" if a couple of
r r r
moment M1 = r 1 x F1 is added to point "0"

All M are c.c.w.

Because they are concurrent, a resultant force and moment can be determined.
While the corresponding moments (or couple vectors) are perpendicular to the corresponding
force, the resultant force
and the _________________ will not in general be
perpendicular to each other.
Once a system has been reduced to a resultant force and a couple about some point "0". The
transfer to another point (0') can be easily determined.
r
The R force (resultant) will remain unchanged, but a new moment must be determined.

r
r
where S is the _________ between the points 0 and 0' and R the resultant force vector.

3.18 Equivalent Systems of Force

Two systems of forces are equivalent, if they may be reduced to the same force-couple
system at a given point
r
r
r
r
F = F and M0 = M0
Note with respect to pt "0"; but if truly equivalent it must hold for any point, therefore
Fx = Fx

Fy = Fy

Fz = Fz

M x = M x M y = M y M z = M z
Two systems of forces are equal if; i) they impart the same transitional motion in the x,y
& z directions, and ii) the same rotation about the x,y and z axis.

15

Problem 3.77 Find the resultant loading and replace with an equivalent force couple system at
point "A".
a)

f)

g)

Problem 3.79 Determine the location of the resultant force and its distance from
point "A" to its line of action for Problem 3.77a only
r
rR
M A = - 1000 Nm (C . W .) & R = - 500 N

16

Problem 3.81 Determine the distance from point "A" to the line of action of the resultant force of
the three loads. Let x = 1.25 ft

17

Problem 3.85 Find the resultant of this system @ A&B for the three
forces shown and M = 80 in-lb

18

Problem: Find the location of the resultant line of action for Ry & Rx along the line segment AB
and BC

19

Problem 3.87 Find the resultant force acting on the truss and the
r
point of intersection of this force R with the line AB.

20

Problem 3.89 Determine the magnitude of the forces exerted at B and C knowing that these
r
forces are equivalent to the force couple system at A consisting of R = - (25 N) i + R y j + R z k and
rR

M A = - 13.5 Nm i . Also determine the force vector at C and the resultant force vector.

21

r
Problem 3.115: A force P acts on the frame shown at point E.
r
Knowing that the absolute value of the moment of P about a line
joining points F and B is 300 ft-lb, determine the magnitude of the
r
force P .

22

Problem 3.123: Determine the resultant forces and location of the line of
action for P = 160N only

23