Eliminating forces by taking a moment

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Homework Statement



If I take a moment around a point with a rigid connection what forces do I eliminate at that connection?
If I have a reaction force in the Y direction, a reaction force in the X direction and a moment at that point can I eliminate Ry, Rx and Mx or does Mx remain.
Can you explain this a bit to me?
This lack of understanding is a stumbling block for me and it keeps tripping me up.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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yoleven said:

Homework Statement



If I take a moment around a point with a rigid connection what forces do I eliminate at that connection?

All of them. The moment [itex]\vec{M}[/itex] about a point [itex]O[/itex] due to a force [itex]\vec{F}[/itex] acting at a displacement [itex]\vec{r}[/itex] from [itex]O[/itex] is given by [itex]\vec{M}=\vec{r}\times\vec{F}[/itex]. If [itex]\vec{F}[/itex] acts at [itex]O[/itex] then [itex]\vec{r}[/itex] is the zero vector, hence the moment is zero.
 
hi yoleven! :smile:

a (linear) force which goes through the point has zero moment about that point, so (to use your words) it can be ignored

a couple, ie a pair of equal and opposite forces which are not in-line and so result in a pure moment or torque (is that what you meant?), has the same moment about any point …

you can check this by just drawing it as two offset equal forces, then calculating the moment about a random point in the same plane :wink:
 
Okay. Bear with me...
If the force I'm finding doesn't act through the point I'm taking the moment about.

Say A is rigid connection... I'll have Ax, Ay and Mx. I have a known point load acting somewhere along the beam and I want to find 'By' located a certain perpendicular distance from A.

When I take the moment about point A, I know I eliminate the Ax and Ay but does Mx remain.

When I take moments about point A will I have 2 unknowns in the equation or just one?
 
is Mx a couple (in which case, shouldn't it be Mz)? … if so, it definitely stays in the equation :smile:

(i don't follow what you're saying about 2 unknowns :confused:)