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FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS
All problem solutions must include an FBD.
F31. The crate has a weight of 550 lb. Determine the
force in each supporting cable.

F34. The block has a mass of 5 kg and rests on the smooth

plane. Determine the unstretched length of the spring.

0.3 m

30

k  200 N/m

A
0.4 m
D
45

F31

F34

F32. The beam has a weight of 700 lb. Determine the

shortest cable ABC that can be used to lift it if the
maximum force the cable can sustain is 1500 lb.

F35. If the mass of cylinder C is 40 kg, determine the

mass of cylinder A in order to hold the assembly in the
position shown.

B
B
u

30
E

u
C

40 kg

10 ft
A

F32
F33. If the 5-kg block is suspended from the pulley B and
the sag of the cord is d = 0.15 m, determine the force in cord
ABC. Neglect the size of the pulley.
0.4 m

F36. Determine the tension in cables AB, BC, and CD,

necessary to support the 10-kg and 15-kg traffic lights at B
and C, respectively. Also, find the angle u.
D

F35

d  0.15m

15

B
D

F33

F36

3.3

95

COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEMS

PROBLEMS
All problem solutions must include an FBD.
31. Determine the force in each cord for equilibrium of
the 200-kg crate. Cord BC remains horizontal due to the
roller at C, and AB has a length of 1.5 m. Set y = 0.75 m.
32. If the 1.5-m-long cord AB can withstand a maximum
force of 3500 N, determine the force in cord BC and the
distance y so that the 200-kg crate can be supported.

35. The members of a truss are connected to the gusset

plate. If the forces are concurrent at point O, determine the
magnitudes of F and T for equilibrium. Take u = 30.
36. The gusset plate is subjected to the forces of four
members. Determine the force in member B and its proper
orientation u for equilibrium. The forces are concurrent at
point O. Take F = 12 kN.

2m
A

8 kN

45
D

B
T

5 kN

Probs. 31/2

Probs. 35/6

33. If the mass of the girder is 3 Mg and its center of mass

is located at point G, determine the tension developed in
cables AB, BC, and BD for equilibrium.

37. The towing pendant AB is subjected to the force of

50 kN exerted by a tugboat. Determine the force in each of
the bridles, BC and BD, if the ship is moving forward with
constant velocity.

*34. If cables BD and BC can withstand a maximum

tensile force of 20 kN, determine the maximum mass of the
girder that can be suspended from cable AB so that neither
cable will fail. The center of mass of the girder is located at
point G.

C
30

FAB
A
20
45

30
D

A
G
50 kN

Probs. 33/4

Prob. 37

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*38. Members AC and AB support the 300-lb crate.

Determine the tensile force developed in each member.
39. If members AC and AB can support a maximum
tension of 300 lb and 250 lb, respectively, determine the
largest weight of the crate that can be safely supported.
3 ft

*312. If block B weighs 200 lb and block C weighs 100 lb,

determine the required weight of block D and the angle u
for equilibrium.
313. If block D weighs 300 lb and block B weighs 275 lb,
determine the required weight of block C and the angle u
for equilibrium.

4 ft
B

3
4 ft
u

30
A

Probs. 312/13

Probs. 38/9
310. The members of a truss are connected to the gusset
plate. If the forces are concurrent at point O, determine the
magnitudes of F and T for equilibrium. Take u = 90.

314. Determine the stretch in springs AC and AB for

equilibrium of the 2-kg block. The springs are shown in
the equilibrium position.

311. The gusset plate is subjected to the forces of three

members. Determine the tension force in member C and its
angle u for equilibrium. The forces are concurrent at point O.
Take F = 8 kN.

315. The unstretched length of spring AB is 3 m. If the

block is held in the equilibrium position shown, determine
the mass of the block at D.
3m

4m

C
9 kN
3m

B
kAC  20 N/m
kAB  30 N/m

A
5 3 B
4

x
D
C
T

Probs. 310/11

Probs. 314/15

3.3
*316. Determine the tension developed in wires CA and
CB required for equilibrium of the 10-kg cylinder. Take
u = 40.
317. If cable CB is subjected to a tension that is twice
that of cable CA, determine the angle u for equilibrium of
the 10-kg cylinder. Also, what are the tensions in wires CA
and CB?

97

COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEMS

*320. Determine the tension developed in each wire

used to support the 50-kg chandelier.
321. If the tension developed in each of the four wires is
not allowed to exceed 600 N, determine the maximum mass
of the chandelier that can be supported.

A
B

30

30

30

45

Probs. 316/17
Prob. 320/21
318. Determine the forces in cables AC and AB needed
to hold the 20-kg ball D in equilibrium. Take F = 300 N
and d = 1 m.
319. The ball D has a mass of 20 kg. If a force of F = 100 N
is applied horizontally to the ring at A, determine the
dimension d so that the force in cable AC is zero.

322. A vertical force P = 10 lb is applied to the ends of

the 2-ft cord AB and spring AC. If the spring has an
unstretched length of 2 ft, determine the angle u for
equilibrium. Take k = 15 lb>ft.
323. Determine the unstretched length of spring AC if a
force P = 80 lb causes the angle u = 60 for equilibrium.
Cord AB is 2 ft long. Take k = 50 lb>ft.

2 ft

1.5 m
B

2 ft

C
k

d
A

2m
D
P

Probs. 318/19

Probs. 322/23

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*324. If the bucket weighs 50 lb, determine the tension

developed in each of the wires.
325. Determine the maximum weight of the bucket that
the wire system can support so that no single wire develops
a tension exceeding 100 lb.

*328. Two spheres A and B have an equal mass and are

electrostatically charged such that the repulsive force acting
between them has a magnitude of 20 mN and is directed
along line AB. Determine the angle u, the tension in cords
AC and BC, and the mass m of each sphere.

C
C

30

30

30
E

20 mN

20 mN
30

Probs. 324/25
Prob. 328
326. Determine the tensions developed in wires CD, CB,
and BA and the angle u required for equilibrium of the
30-lb cylinder E and the 60-lb cylinder F.
327. If cylinder E weighs 30 lb and u = 15, determine
the weight of cylinder F.

329. The cords BCA and CD can each support a

maximum load of 100 lb. Determine the maximum weight
of the crate that can be hoisted at constant velocity and the
angle u for equilibrium. Neglect the size of the smooth
pulley at C.
D

A
30
C

45

u
B

13

12
5

F
B

Probs. 326/27

Prob. 329