ESAS – Sample Problems

ENGINEERING MECHANICS - STATICS

Assume the three force vectors intersect at a single point. The cable is subjected to a uniform loading equal to 250 lb/ft. Determ ine the
maximum tension in the cable when the sag is 6 ft.
F1 = i + 3j + 4k A. 19.66 kip C. 15.09 kip
F2 = 2i + 7j - k B. 14.44 kip D. 20.01 kip /
F3 = •i + 4j + 2k
f / - I .c
What is the magnitude of the resultant force vector, R?
A. 15 I
B. 13.23
C. 14.73
D. 16.16

A 600 N block rests in a surface inclined at 30" . Determine the horizontal

force P requi red to prevent the block from sliding down. Angle of fri ction A tripod whose legs are each 4 meters long support a load of 1000 kg. The
between the block and the inclined plane is 15" feet of the tripod are at the vertices of a horizontal equilateral triangle whose
A . 160.75 N side is 3.5 m. Determine the load on eac,t [f g
B . 198.55 N a. 368.91 kg /
C.164.60 N
D . 190.45 N
b. 348.91 kg
c. 386.19 kg
d. 364.19 kg
~~ f
( . .)

A beam of span 'x' meters with uniform loading of 'w' kilograms per meter is

h-f-'G
supported at one end (A) and a distance of 2 m from the other end (B) . Find
the reaction at support A.
A. (wx• 2)/ [2(x-2)] kg
I .
B. [wx(x-4)]/[2(x-2)] kg t'4. /\
C. [wx(x-2)]/[2(x-2)] kg LJ.
D. wx/[2(x-2)] kg

A 5.0 m ladder leans against a wall at a point 4.0m above the ground. The
" C ladder is uniform and has a mass of 12 kg. Assuming the wall is frictionless
and the ground is not. Determine the horizontal component of the force
exerted by the ground on the ladder.
_j a. 47 N
b . 44N ~ I
c. 55 N
d . 53 N

A simply supported beam is 5 meters in length. It carries a uniformly

distributed load including its own weight of 300 N/m and a concentrated load
of 100 N, 2 meters from the left end. Find the reactions if reaction A is at the
left end and reaction B at the right end.
A . Ra= 810 N & Rb= 700 N
B. Ra = 700 N & Rb = 800 N .. I
.-I...-_ I
C. Ra= 810 N & Rb= 780 N
D. Ra= 700 N & Rb= 810 N

Catenary Problem: Unsymmetrical Supports

Two force s of 20 units and 30 units act at right angle. What is the magnitude A transmission cable 600 m long weighing 1.5 kg/m has a tension of 750 kg at
of the resultant force? each end . Find the distance between the supporting towers.
A. 36 a. 554.52 m
8 . 42 b. 556.89 m
C. 40 C . 558.72 m
D. 44 d . 559.12 m 7 .I

Ans. 36
. (

A 200 kg crate impends to slide down a ramp inclined at an angle of 19.29°

with the horizontal. What is the frictional resistance of the ramp? L
A . 612 .38 N
B. 628 .38 N
C. 648 .16 N / - (..
D. 654.12 N

A 100 kg weight rests on a 30 deg inclined plane. Neglecting friction , how

much pull must one exert to bring the weight up the plane?
a . 86.67 kg
b. 100 kg
c . 70 .71 kg
d . 50 kg

Ans. 50kg
ESAS – Sample Problems
ENGINEERING MECHANICS - STATICS
A 40 kg block is resting on an inclined plane making an angle of 20• from

Parabolic Cable (Unsymmetrical Supports)

the horizontal. If the coefficient of friction is 0.60, determine the force parallel
to the incline that must be applied to cause impending motion down the

A copper cable is suspended between two supports on the same level ,

spaced 600 m apart. The cable hangs under the influence of its own weight
only. Under these conditions, it is desired to calculate the maximum sag (at
the center of the span) when the maximum stress in the material is 1000
tff~
C. 87 N
0 . 72 N
L},,,
')JJ
I
kg/cmA2. The cross section of the cable is 1.77 sq. cm. Weight of the cable=
1.5 kg/m . Use parabolic equation.
A. 42.26 m
l
B. 43.26 m / tl -L '
C. 44.26m ✓
0 . 45.26 m
( 1

I.
-----1
(i) A man can exert a maximum pull of 1000 N but wishes to lift a new stone door
for his cave weighing 20,000 N. If he uses a lever, how much closer must the
fulcrum be to the stone then to his hand?
Parabolic Cable (Unsymmetrical Supports) A. 10 times nearer
B. 20 times farther
C . 1O times farther
Determine the sag of a flexible wire cable weighing 60 Nim over two
@ 20 times nearer
frictionless pulleys 100 m apart and carrying one 10 kN weight at each end .
Assume the weight of the cable to be uniformly distributed horizontally. The
_J
cable extends 5 m beyond each pulley to the point they are attached to the
weights.
A . 7.2m
B. 7.4m 0 0 T ,, ZS
CJ
C. 7.6 m C
o. 7.8 m ::

'I-
A beam rests on a fulcrum , 1.2 m from one end . A weight of 350 kg is
suspended from this end causing the beam to balance. If the weight of 350 kg
is suspended on the opposite end of the beam , it is necessary to suspend a
1000 kg weight on the first end in order to effect an even balance. Find the
length of the beam . ~ 1

A 250 lb. block is initially at rest on a flat surface that is inclined at 30• . If the A.
B. 2.48 m
3.24 m L ~==========
., .
coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.30 and the coefficient of static friction is @ 3.43m -'

A. 190 lb.

B.. 2121b.
C 125 lb.
0. 751b
-\
~
I
f L k )
@ , find the force required to start the block moving up the plane.
1'

=!
D. 4.21 m

-<- l
I I ( I, .
~ l
(. ( ( I

2 L I
I I
l ll

A load of 100 lb. is hung from the middle of the rope, which is stretched
between two rigid walls 30 ft. apart. Due to the load, the rope sags 4 feet in
the middle. Determine the tension in the rope .
A. 165 lbs.
B. 173 lbs.
At what angle does the force F = 6.23i - 2.38j + 4.92 kN makes with the x-axis? C. 194 lbs.
A. 39.2 degrees D. 149 lbs.
B. 40.2 degrees
C. 41 .3 degrees
0 . 42 .2 degrees
,r
h = '-I r ( )
_ r
---//
I
,l .)
Ans. 194 lbs.
ESAS – Sample Problems
ENGINEERING MECHANICS - STATICS
Three forces , 20 N, 30 N, and 40 N are in equilibrium. Find the largest angle
they make with each other.
A. 104.48•
B.105.58°
C. 106.69'

~
0 . 107.96° ....

;i,L (. l ( L (( c f+-
· Il -I w-
l (( \ -:- 'l - <-
&\ -
__,,_ f L ____ .,,., __

When one boy is sitting 1.2 m from the center of a see-saw, another boy must
to sit on the other side 1 _5 m from the center to maintain an even balance.
However, when the first boy carries an add itional weight of 14 kg and sit 1.8
m from the center, the second boy must move to 3 m from the center to
balance. Neglecting the weight of the see-saw, find the weight of the heavier
boy.
A. 30 kg
B. 42 kg
I .
C. 34 kg
0 . 45 kg
rr

A cable weighing 60 N/m is suspended between two supports on the same

level at 300 m apart. The sag is 60 m . Compute the distance of the lowest
point of the cable from the ground level.
A. 205.5 m
B.196.8 m
C. 200.5 m
D. 188.2 m