Section 4.

1 Moment of a Force 193

PROBLEMS

General instructions. Unless otherwise stated, in the following problems you

may use a scalar approach, a vector approach, or a combination of these.

Problems 4.1 and 4.2

Compute the moment of force F about point B, using the following procedures.
(a) Determine the moment arm d and then evaluate MB D F d .
(b) Resolve force F into x and y components at point A and use the principle of
moments.
(c) Use the principle of moments with F positioned at point C .
(d) Use the principle of moments with F positioned at point D.
(e) Use a vector approach.
Figure P4.1

Problems 4.3 and 4.4

The cover of a computer mouse is hinged at point B so that it may be “clicked.” Repeat
Prob. 4.1 to determine the moment about point B.

Figure P4.2

Figure P4.3 Figure P4.4

Problem 4.5
An atomic force microscope (AFM) is a state-of-the-art device used to study the me-
chanical and topological properties of surfaces on length scales as small as the size
of individual atoms. The device uses a flexible cantilever beam AB with a very sharp,
stiff tip BC that is brought into contact with the surface to be studied. Due to contact
forces at C , the cantilever beam deflects. If the tip of the AFM is subjected to the forces
shown, determine the resultant moment of both forces about point A. Use both scalar
and vector approaches. Figure P4.5
194 Moment of a Force and Equivalent Force Systems Chapter 4

Problem 4.6
The door of an oven has 22 lb weight that acts vertically through point D. The door
is supported by a hinge at point A and two springs that are symmetrically located on
each side of the door. For the positions specified below, determine the force needed in
each of the two springs if the resultant moment about point A of the weight and spring
forces is to be zero.
(a) ˛ D 45ı .
(b) ˛ D 90ı .
(c) Based on your answers to Parts (a) and (b), determine an appropriate stiffness for
the springs.

Problem 4.7
Figure P4.6
The ball of a trailer hitch is subjected to a force F . If failure occurs when the moment
of F about point A reaches 10,000 in.
lb, determine the largest value F may have and
specify the value of ˛ for which the moment about A is the largest. Note that the value
of F you determine must not produce a moment about A that exceeds 10,000 in.
lb for
any possible value of ˛.

Problem 4.8
Repeat Prob. 4.7 if the moment at point B may not exceed 5000 in.
lb.
Figure P4.7 and P4.8

Problem 4.9
The port hull of a catamaran (top view shown) has cleats at points A, B, and C . A rope
having 100 N force is to be attached to one of these cleats. If the force is to produce the
largest possible counterclockwise moment about point O, determine the cleat to which
the rope should be attached and the direction the rope should be pulled (measured
positive counterclockwise from the positive x direction). Also, determine the value of
Figure P4.9 MO produced. Assume all cleats, point O, and the rope lie in the same plane.

Problem 4.10
Frame ABC has a frictionless pulley at C around which a cable is wrapped. Determine
the resultant moment about point A produced by the cable forces if W D 5 kN and
(a) ˛ D 0ı .
(b) ˛ D 90ı .
(c) ˛ D 30ı .

Problem 4.11
Figure P4.10 and P4.11
Frame ABC has a frictionless pulley at C around which a cable is wrapped. If the
resultant moment about point A produced by the cable forces is not to exceed 20 kN
m,
determine the largest weight W that may be supported and the corresponding value
of ˛.
Section 4.1 Moment of a Force 195

Problem 4.12
The load carrying capacity of the frame of Prob. 4.11 can be increased by placing a
counterweight Q at point D as shown. The resultant moment about point A due to the
cable forces and Q is not to exceed 20 kN
m.
(a) Determine the largest value of counterweight Q. Hint: Let W D 0 and determine
Q so that MA D 20 kN
m.
(b) With the value of Q determined in Part (a), determine the largest weight W that
may be supported and the corresponding value of ˛.

Figure P4.12
Problem 4.13
A flat rectangular plate is subjected to the forces shown, where all forces are parallel to
the x or y axis. If F D 200 N and P D 300 N, determine the resultant moment of all
forces about the
(a) ´ axis.
(b) a axis, which is parallel to the ´ axis.

Problem 4.14
A flat rectangular plate is subjected to the forces shown, where all forces are parallel
to the x or y axis. If P D 300 N, determine F when the resultant moment of all forces Figure P4.13–P4.15
about the ´ axis is M´ D 100 N
m.

Problem 4.15
Repeat Prob. 4.14 if the resultant moment of all forces about the a axis is Ma D
100 N
m.

Problem 4.16
Structure OBCD is built in at point O and supports a 50 lb cable force at point C and
100 and 200 lb vertical forces at points B and D, respectively. Using a vector approach,
determine the moment of these forces about
(a) point B.
(b) point O.
Figure P4.16 and P4.17
Problem 4.17
Repeat Prob. 4.16, using a scalar approach.
196 Moment of a Force and Equivalent Force Systems Chapter 4

Problem 4.18
Structure OAB is built in at point O and supports forces from two cables. Cable CAD
passes through a frictionless ring at point A, and cable DBE passes through a friction-
less ring at point B. If the force in cable CAD is 250 N and the force in cable DBE is
100 N, use a vector approach to determine
(a) the moment of all cable forces about point A.
(b) the moment of all cable forces about point O.

Problem 4.19
Repeat Prob. 4.18, using a scalar approach.

Problem 4.20
Structure OABC is built in at point O and supports forces from two cables. Cable
Figure P4.18 and P4.19 EAD passes through a frictionless ring at point A, and cable OC G passes through a
frictionless ring at point C . If the force in cable EAD is 800 lb and the force in cable
OC G is 400 lb, determine
(a) the moment of forces from cable OC G about point B.
(b) the moment of all cable forces about point A.
(c) the moment of all cable forces about point O.

Problem 4.21
Repeat Prob. 4.20, using a scalar approach.

Problem 4.22
Structure OAB is built in at point O and supports two forces of magnitude F parallel
to the y and ´ axes. If the magnitude of the moment about point O cannot exceed
Figure P4.20 and P4.21 1:0 kN
m, determine the largest value F may have.

Problem 4.23
Repeat Prob. 4.22 if the x component of the moment (torsional component) at point
O may not exceed 0:5 kN
m and the resultant
q of the y and ´ components (bending
components) may not exceed 0:8 kN
m (i.e., My2 C M´2  0:8 kN
m).

Figure P4.22 and P4.23

Section 4.1 Moment of a Force 197

Problem 4.24
Forces of 3 kN and 200 N are exerted at points B and C of the main rotor of a helicopter,
and force F is exerted at point D on the tail rotor. The 3 kN forces are parallel to the
´ axis, the 200 N forces are perpendicular to the main rotor and are parallel to the xy
plane, F is parallel to the y axis, and ˛ D 45ı .
(a) Determine the value of F so that the ´ component of the moment about point O
of all rotor forces is zero.
(b) Using the value of F found in Part (a), determine the resultant moment of all rotor
forces about point O.
(c) If ˛ is different than 45ı , do your answers to Parts (a) and (b) change? Explain.
Figure P4.24

Problem 4.25
The moment of force FE about point A can be computed using M EA;1 D rEAB  FE or
EA;2 D rEAC  FE , where B and C are points on the line of action of FE . Noting
using M
EA;1 D M
that rEAC D rEAB C rEBC , show that M EA;2 .

Figure P4.25
204 Moment of a Force and Equivalent Force Systems Chapter 4

PROBLEMS

General instructions. Unless otherwise stated, in the following problems you

may use a scalar approach, a vector approach, or a combination of these.

Problem 4.26
The steering wheel of a Ferrari sports car has circular shape with 190 mm radius, and
it lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the steering column AB. Point C , where the
driver’s hand applies force FE to the steering wheel, lies on the y axis with y coordinate
yC D 190 mm. Point A is at the origin of the coordinate system, and point B has the
coordinates B .120; 0; 50/ mm. Determine the moment of FE about line AB of the
steering column if
(a) FE has 10 N magnitude and lies in the plane of the steering wheel and has orienta-
tion such that its moment arm to line AB is 190 mm. Also determine the vector
expression for this force.
18 {O  3 |O C 14 kO
(b) FE D .10 N/ .
23
Figure P4.26 12 {O  5 kO
(c) FE D .10 N/ .
13

Problem 4.27
A rectangular piece of sheet metal is clamped along edge AB in a machine called a
brake. The sheet is to be bent along line AB by applying a y direction force F . Deter-
mine the moment about line AB if F D 200 lb. Use both vector and scalar approaches.

Figure P4.27 and P4.28

Problem 4.28
In Prob. 4.27 determine F if the moment about line AB is to be 2000 in.
lb.

Problem 4.29
In the pipe assembly shown, points B and C lie in the xy plane, and force F is parallel
to the ´ axis. If F D 150 N, determine the moment of F about lines OA and AB. Use
both vector and scalar approaches.

Problem 4.30
In the pipe assembly shown, points B and C lie in the xy plane and force F is parallel
Figure P4.29 and P4.30 to the ´ axis. If a twisting moment (torque) of 50 N
m will cause a pipe to begin twist-
ing in the flange fitting at O or at either end of the elbow fitting at A, determine the
first fitting that twists and the value of F that causes it.