Solving Equilibrium Problems: FBD Drawings

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving equilibrium problems in statics, specifically focusing on free body diagrams (FBDs) and the equations of equilibrium. Participants are attempting to understand how to set up the necessary equations and identify the forces and moments acting on various systems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are discussing the formulation of the six equations of equilibrium and questioning the inclusion of specific forces in their FBDs. There is exploration of how to decompose forces and moments into components, as well as the need for clarity on the definitions of forces and moments in the context of their problems.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the problems, including the need to write scalar equations from Newton's Second Law and the importance of considering sign conventions. There is an ongoing exploration of various interpretations of the problems, particularly regarding the calculations of forces and moments.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework assignments, which may impose specific requirements for the equations and methods used. There is also mention of confusion regarding the definitions and calculations of forces and moments, indicating a need for clarification on these concepts.

caddyguy109
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Okay, started these problems with just the FBD drawing parts, but need some more clues as to how to go about starting them, i.e., just what equations/order is used to set them up, etc.:

1) Supposed to write the 6 equations of equilibrim, so, for example, is this what I need to do:
Max+May+Maz+Fax+Fay+Faz+T+L+Mwing = 0 ?
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=176477"

2) Similar procedure as #1?
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=176478"

3) This looks a lot like the moment problems I just got done doing--am I looking for forces, moments, or both at A?
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=176479"

4) Again, I'm guessing a similar setup as before (if I started that right?)?
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=176480"

Also, for #1,2,4 should the weight "W" be included in the FBD?
 
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caddyguy109 said:
Okay, started these problems with just the FBD drawing parts, but need some more clues as to how to go about starting them, i.e., just what equations/order is used to set them up, etc.:

1) Supposed to write the 6 equations of equilibrim, so, for example, is this what I need to do:
Max+May+Maz+Fax+Fay+Faz+T+L+Mwing = 0 ?
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=176477"
Your FBD is good. Not the equations, though. You can't just put all the terms together and call that a meaningful equation.

You have to learn how to write out the scalar equations that result from Newton's Second Law (and for balanced torques). This is explained in your text. Read it first.

Also, you will find tutorials at the top of this forum - a couple of which teach you how to deal with Newtonian mechanics problems.

PS : This is introductory physics, not advanced physics - just so you know where to post next time.
 
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Thanks.

Actually, this is mid-semester Statics stuff, so I just thought this would be a good place to post it (even though it is, really, just FBD's).

"Not the equations, though. You can't just put all the terms together and call that a meaningful equation."

Yeah, I kinda just saw that--that's more of the "theory" behind the problem to start than anything really meaningful I guess.

So, do I need the W term or not in the FBD's?
 
Are you supposed to find the reactions? If so make a resultant-couple system about O to find the moments (decompose the moment vector into components in x,y,z axis). For the airplane problem.
 
Cyclovenom said:
Are you supposed to find the reactions? If so make a resultant-couple system about O to find the moments (decompose the moment vector into components in x,y,z axis). For the airplane problem.

Yeah, and for the others too:
#1, supposed to find "the components of reaction where the wing is fixed to the fuselage at A".
#2, find "the components of reaction at the ball and socket joint A and then tension in the supporting cables BC and BD."
#3, find "the reactions at the fixed wall A."

but then
#4 says "if the hoist is in equilibrium, what forces act on the shaft at A? What is the max. mass m in kg that can be lifted?"

For the airplane one, what is the moment vector? r x L?
 
Yes
the resultant moment of the forces, now simply descompose in x,y,z axis to find the values of the reaction moment components.

[tex]\vec{M}_{R} = \vec{r}_{1} \times \vec{L} + \vec{r}_{2} \times \vec{T} + \vec{r}_{3} \times m \vec{g}[/tex]
 
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Oh, okay, that makes sense.
 
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Okay, ended up with this for #1:
MR=(572,100i - 20,000j - 64,000k)Nm

It had said to "write equations of equilibrium--6 eq's and 6 unknowns". Do I really even have to do that, since I basically just found the components of reaction at A?
 
You found the components of the Moment vector reaction at A, but there is also a Force vector Reaction at A!
 
  • #10
RIGHT--oops!

So, that would just be each F multiplied by its unit vector?
 
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  • #11
Yes, descompose the forces in unit vectors and work out the equations.
 
  • #12
So, is this right for force L (just one of them):
LA=45,000*[(0-0)i+(0-7)j+(0-0)k]/sqrt((-7^2))
LA=45,000*(-7j/7)= -45,000j??
 
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  • #13
Does this look right? Then I found TA*r and WA*u the same way.

To get:
LA=-45,000j
TA=-7,120j + 3,600k
WA=20,580j
then FA=(0i - 34,540j + 3,600k)N?

Does there being no x(i) value seem wrong? Does to me.
 
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  • #14
Something with the final force components is confusing me...
 
  • #15
Did I calculate the reactive forces for #1 right or not?

Moving on, would #2 be the same thing as this last part of 1, finding the reactive forces about the ball and socket joint? Then how do I get the tension forces?
 
  • #16
Where'd everyone go? Dinner?:-p
 
  • #17
Anyone? Did I calculate the Force components at A correctly or not?
 
  • #18
Your descomposition in unit vectors of the Force L is does not "works" with your defined sign convention because of your set axis.
 
  • #19
Cyclovenom said:
Your descomposition in unit vectors of the Force L is does not "works" with your defined sign convention because of your set axis.

Okay, so? I'm not feeling too well today, sorry--but what exactly do I change then? Seems VERY simple, but something isn't clicking.:frown:
 
  • #20
Well +Z should be the positive so:

[tex]\vec{L} = 45000 \vec{k}[/tex]
 
  • #21
Oh dear god...can't believe I flubbed that one!

So, I forgot, do the forces simply translate--i.e., the upward force of L at a point O is the same as it would be at point A? I would think so.
 
  • #22
So there just ends up being this at point A, for the forces:
FA=L+T+mg
FA=(45,000k + 8,000i -20,580k)N
FA=(8,000i + 24,420k)N

Right?
 
  • #23
Yes but remember to change the signs, because they must be opposite to keep the equilibrium so the resultant force is equal to the null vector. The same for the moment vector, remember when you add them they must give 0.
 
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  • #24
Okay, thanks...that helped a lot! Now I got to work on the other 3...but I guess the same things pretty much hold true for them, just a little different.
 
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  • #25
Okay, finished 1). Now have most all of 2) done, except got stuck at the end.
Here's the problem again:
http://www.ihostphotos.com/show.php?id=177804"

And I got almost to the end with this (MA means sum of Moments about Pt. A):
MA = (1TBC + 1TBD - 35,200)i + (0.67TBC - 0.67TBD)j + (-0.67TBC + 0.67TBD)k = 0
then the unknowns are: TBC, TBD, RAX, RAY, RAZ
But, I'm getting a little confused on how to find these unknowns then, from what I have above? Any help?
 
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  • #26
Anyone got a clue on how to find the unknowns? Should be simple algebra, I would think, but it isn't working out...
 
  • #27
Calculate Moment about the support, to find the tensions, then do a sum of forces to find the reactions.
 
  • #28
Okay, thanks. I'll see where I get.
 
  • #29
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