Mechanics 2

Moments of forces
Chapter Assessment
1. A uniform rod AB of length 8 m and weight 180 N is held in horizontal equilibrium by two vertical wires. One wire is 1 m from A and the other 2 m from B. wires

A (i) (ii)

B 8m Draw a diagram showing all the forces acting on the rod. Calculate the tensions in the wires. TN A G 1.2 m 1.8 20 B

1m

2m

[1] [5]

2.

50 N A heavy beam of length 3 m is freely hinged at A and its weight of 50 N acts through its centre of mass G, where AG is 1.2 m. It is held horizontally in equilibrium by a force of magnitude T N acting at 20 to the horizontal, as shown in the diagram. Calculate the value of T. [4] string 3. 10 D

B 1.5 m Fig. 2.1 2.4 m

D B 60 Fig. 2.2 A

A simple lift bridge is modelled as a uniform rod AD of length 4.2 m and weight 5000 N. The rod is freely hinged at B and rests on a small support at C; AB = 1.5 m and BC = 2.4 m, as shown in Fig. 2.1. The bridge closed is represented by the rod being horizontal.

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(i) Calculate the forces acting on the bridge due to the hinge at B and support at C. [5] A lump of concrete of mass M kg is placed at A to counterbalance the bridge to make it easier to open. For the bridge to stay firmly closed, the force at C must be 25 N vertically upwards. (ii) Calculate the value of M. With the lump of concrete attached, the bridge is held open at 60 to the horizontal by means of a light rope of negligible mass attached to D. The rope pulls upwards at an angle of 10 to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 2.2. (iii) Calculate the tension in the tope. 4. 0.4 m C A Fig. 4.1 A uniform, horizontal, rigid shelf CD has a weight of 40 N and length 1.6 m. It is resting on two thin brackets A and B which are 0.4 m and 0.2 m respectively from C and D, as shown in Fig. 4.1. (i) Calculate the reaction forces of the brackets on the shelf. An object is placed on the shelf so that its weight, W N, acts on the shelf at a distance x m from C. (ii) Show that the vertical reaction force on the shelf at A is (24 W(x 1.4)) N. Find a similar expression for the vertical reaction force on the shelf at B. [4] (iii) For what values of x will the shelf not tip up if W = 200? [4] [4] B 1.0 m 0.2 m D [6] [4]

wire

30

C A

Fig. 4.2

The object is removed and the bracket at B is removed for repair. The empty shelf is temporarily held horizontally in equilibrium by a wire attached at D. The wire is inclined at 30 to the vertical and is in the vertical plane containing CD, as shown in Fig. 4.2.

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(iv) Calculate the tension in the wire. [3] (v) Calculate the direction of the supporting force now given to the shelf by bracket A. [4] 5. An injured climber is tied to a stretcher AB of length 2.5 m. The total mass of the climber and the stretcher is 90 kg. In each part of this question you should make the following modelling assumptions: the centre of mass, G, of the stretcher with climber is a distance 1.875 m from the end A of the stretcher, as shown in the diagram, all the forces acting on the system are in the same vertical plane.
lifting force 2.5 m 1.875 m lifting force

In one situation, the lifting forces are each vertically upwards at the ends A and B of the stretcher, and the stretcher is held in horizontal equilibrium, as shown in the diagram above. (i) Calculate the values of the lifting forces. [5]

In another situation, the end A of the stretcher is resting on rough horizontal ground. The stretcher is held in equilibrium at 15 to the horizontal by a force at B that is at 65 to the horizontal, as shown in the diagram below.
lifting force

65 15 G A B

(ii) Show that the lifting force is 649 N, correct to three significant figures. [6] (iii) The stretcher is on the point of sliding. Calculate the coefficient of friction between the end of the stretcher and the ground. [5]

Total: 60

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