Eliminating forces by taking a moment

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of taking moments around a point in the context of rigid body mechanics. Participants are exploring which forces and moments can be eliminated when analyzing a system with reaction forces and moments at a connection point.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand the implications of taking moments around a point, specifically which forces can be disregarded. Questions are raised about the status of moments and forces when calculating moments about a rigid connection.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and seeking clarification on the relationships between forces and moments. Some guidance has been offered regarding the elimination of certain forces, but there remains uncertainty about the treatment of moments in the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions of forces and moments in relation to their positions and the implications of rigid connections. There is mention of specific forces and moments, such as Ax, Ay, and Mx, which are central to the problem being discussed.

yoleven
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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.

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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:)
 

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