Free body diagram of a beam construction

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on creating a free body diagram (FBD) for a beam construction problem involving beams AC and BD, which are frictionless and fixed at points A and D. The user is struggling to determine the direction of forces acting on the system, particularly the gravitational force on the hanging mass m. Participants suggest starting with the known force of gravity and emphasize the importance of ensuring that forces and moments sum to zero. They recommend drawing separate FBDs for each component and choosing convenient points for calculating moments. The user ultimately resolves their issue with the help of the community.
Kagrim
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Homework Statement


Beams AC and BD are light (no mass) and they're conjoined at B. Points A and D are fixed but frictionless. The radius of the wheel is R and the weight hanging on the pulley has the mass m.

Homework Equations


Fx=0
Fy=0
M=0

The Attempt at a Solution


I'm stuck at the very beginning of the problem which is to draw a free body diagram (the body is in equilibrium) of the construction however my equations don't add upp. The obstacle I'm currently facing is knowing which way the all the different forces are facing.
 

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You know that the hanging mass m is affected by gravity. Start there and work back into the structure.

If you need more detailed help, you should post your FBD and the equations you're having trouble with.

P.S.: I'm moving this thread to the Engineering HW forum, which is a more relevant forum than Advanced Physics.
 
Make free body diagrams of each piece. You know the sum of moments about any point is zero and that all forces add to zero. The trick is to choose convenient points to take moments about.
 
Solved it! Thank you both for the reply.
 
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