Practical notes – Exercise sheet 1
097430 - Statics
Academic year 2023-2024
Luís C. M. da Silva
Last update: September 2023
097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Practical 1 – Fundamental concepts
System of units
Problem 1.1
Convert the following measure to the requested units.
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(a) 1 m-2 = → mm-2 (b) 2 t → kN
𝑚𝑚2
(c) 1 m2 → mm2 (d) 2.5 t/m3 → kN/m3
(e) 1 kg → N (f) 320 kN/m2 → N/mm2
(g) 2 kg/cm2 → N/m2 (h) 4.5 N/mm2 → MPa
(i) 3.5 kg/cm2 → kPa (j) 200 GPa → N/mm2
(k) 30 GPa → kN/m2
Problem 1.2
Find the corresponding value of the following forces in N (Newton):
(a) 1500 kN (b) 9 𝜇𝜇N
(c) 120 GN (d) 10 MN
Problem 1.3
Find, for each of the following cases, the value of the moment M in MN.m:
(a) M = 100 kN.m (b) M = 100 N.m
(c) M = 100 [Link] (d) M = 100 [Link]
Problem 1.4
The normal stress of a transversal cross-section of a bar with area A is, when subjected to an axial force N, given
by σ=N/A. For each of the following cases find the axial stress in KPa:
(a) N = 100 MN and A = 2.0 m2 (b) N = 100 kg.f and A = 300 cm2
(c) N = 100 N and A = 10000 mm2
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Vector algebra operations
Problem 2.1
Given the vector �a⃗ = ⃗i − ⃗j . Represent graphically a�⃗, together with: (a) 2a�⃗ ; (b) 0.5a
�⃗ ; (c) −0.5a
�⃗ ; (d) −2a
�⃗ .
Problem 2.2
Given the vectors w
���⃗= (2; 3) and p
�⃗ = (1; 5). Compute |w
����⃗| and |p
����⃗|.
Problem 2.3
Determine the versor of the following vectors: w
���⃗= (1; 4) and p
�⃗ = ( − 1; 2; 2).
Problem 2.4
Given the vectors a���⃗= (2; − 1, 0) and ���⃗
b = (3; − 2, 5). Find the projection of the vector a���⃗ in ���⃗
b.
Problem 2.5
Find the angle between the vectors:
= 3i − 2 j and =
(a) m n 4i + 2 j .
a 2i + 5 j and v= i − 2 j .
(b) =
Problem 2.6
Evaluate if a���⃗= ( − 1, 2, 3) and ��⃗
b = (2, 1, 0) are orthogonal vectors.
Problem 2.7
Find the angle that the vector f = 2i − 3 j − 4 k forms with the coordinate axes x, y and z.
Problem 2.8
Given d = 3i + 2 j − k and e = 2i − 4 j − 2 k . Find d × e .
Problem 2.9
Consider the points A(1, −1, 2), B(2, 3, −1) and C(−1, 1, 4) (units of meter).
(a) Prove that the triangle composed by the points A, B and C is a right–angle triangle.
(b) Calculate a unitary vector that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the triangle ABC.
(c) Find the area of the parallelogram defined by the vectors g�⃗ = 2BC AC and �⃗
�����⃗ − �����⃗ �����⃗ − 2CA
h = AB �����⃗.
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Concurrent forces
Problem 3.1
Sum the vectors given in Fig. 3.1:
(a) analytical form.
(b) graphical form.
Fig. 3.1
Problem 3.2
Determine the orthogonal components
(cartesian axes x-y) of each of the forces given
in Fig. 3.2. Note that:
F1 = 500 kN , F2 = 400 kN
F3 = 450 kN , F4 = 550 kN
Fig. 3.2
Problem 3.3
For each of the following systems of forces given in Fig. 3.3, determine the magnitude of the resultant and the angle
(inclination) of the respective line of action according to the xx axis.
Fig. 3.3
Problem 3.4
Determine the magnitude (intensity) of the forces
F1 and F2 for which the particle given in Fig. 3.4 is
in static equilibrium.
Fig. 3.4
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Problem 3.5
Calculate the scalar components of the force F in
respect to both orthogonal coordinate systems
(x,y) and (x’,y’) given in Fig. 3.5.
Fig. 3.5
Problem 3.6
Two forces are applied in point O as described in Fig.
3.6. Through the parallelogram rule and following
the sine and cosine theorems, find:
(a) Module (magnitude) of the resultant force.
(b) The inclination (angle) of the resultant’s force
line of action with the cartesian axis x.
Fig. 3.6
Problem 3.7
Given the system of Fig. 3.7.
Find the internal forces in the cable for the case that
d=1 m. Note that the traffic light has a weight of
400 N.
Fig. 3.7
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Practical sheet 1 – Solutions
Fundamental concepts – system of units
Problem 1.1
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(a) 1 m-2 = → 10-6 mm-2 (b) 2 t → 19.62 kN
𝑚𝑚2
(c) 1 m2 → 106 mm2 (d) 2.5 t/m3 → 24.525 kN/m3
(e) 1 kg → 9.81 N ~ 10 N (f) 320 kN/m2 → 320.0×10-3 N/mm2
(g) 2 kg/cm2 → 19.62×104 N/m2 (h) 4.5 N/mm2 → 4.5 MPa
(i) 3.5 kg/cm2 → 343.35 kPa (j) 200 GPa → 200×103 N/mm2
(k) 30 GPa → 30×106 kN/m2
Problem 1.2
(a) 1500×103 N = 1 500 000 N (b) 9×10-6 N = 0.000009 N
(c) 120×109 N = 120 000 000 000 N (d) 10×106 N = 10 000 000 N
Problem 1.3
(a) 0.1 MN.m (b) 100×10-6 N.m
(c) 9.81×10-6 MN.m (d) 1.0 MN.m
Problem 1.4
(a) 5.0×104 kPa (b) 32.7 kPa
(c) 10.0 kPa
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Vector algebra operations
Problem 2.1
Problem 2.2
|w
����⃗| = √13 ; | p
����⃗| = √26 .
Problem 2.3
� . 𝑤𝑤
Versor is represented also as (∙) �= ( 1⁄√17 ; 4⁄√17 ) and 𝑝𝑝̂ = ( −1⁄3 ; 2⁄3 ; 2⁄3 )
Note that the versor of each vector has a unitary norm.
Problem 2.4
Given the vectors a���⃗= (2; − 1, 0) and ���⃗
b = (3; − 2, 5). Find the projection of the vector a���⃗ in ���⃗
b.
���⃗
a���⃗ ∙ b = 8.0 .
���⃗ is written as: a���⃗ ∙ b
The projection of the vector a���⃗ in b ���⃗, which is the inner (dot) product. Note that a���⃗ ∙ b
���⃗ = b
���⃗ ∙
a���⃗, and the projection is given by a scalar.
Problem 2.5
(a) 60.26° ; (b) 131.63°. A good way to evaluate if the results are meaningful is through a graphical method.
Problem 2.6
The vectors are orthogonal because a���⃗∙ ��⃗
b = 0.
Problem 2.7
θ x = 68.19° ; θ y = 123.85° ; θ z = 137.97°.
Problem 2.8
d × e = (−8, 4, −16). d × e is the cross (vector) product of d and e and leads to a vector that is orthogonal to the
plane formed by such vectors. Note that d × e ≠ e × d .
Problem 2.9
(a) tip: use the inner product on the vectors that compose the triangle.
(b) 𝑛𝑛� = (14⁄√312 , 4⁄√312 , 10⁄√312 ) = (0.7926, 0.2265, 0.5661)
(c) �g⃗ =(−4, −6, 8) ; �⃗
h =(−3, 8, 1) ; Area of the parallelogram = |g �⃗| = 88.31 m2.
�⃗xh
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097430 - Statics
Luís C. M. da Silva - 2023/2024
Fundamental concepts – Concurrent forces
Problem 3.1
(a) 𝑅𝑅�⃗ = 𝐹𝐹⃗𝑅𝑅 = 𝐹𝐹⃗1 + 𝐹𝐹⃗2 = (0.707; 6.364)
(b) Graphical representation:
Problem 3.2
𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 250 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = −346.41 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
(a) 𝐹𝐹1 → � ; 𝐹𝐹2 → � ;
𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 433.01 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 200 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = −318.20 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = +388.91 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
(b) 𝐹𝐹3 → � ; 𝐹𝐹4 → � .
𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = −318.20 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = −388.91 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Problem 3.3
Fig. 2.3 (a): Fig. 2.3 (b):
Problem 3.4 (a) 𝐹𝐹1 = 2.635 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 ; 𝐹𝐹2 = 3.005 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Problem 3.5
𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 19.284 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥′ = 22.981 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
(a) 𝐹𝐹1 → � ; 𝐹𝐹2 → � ;
𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 22.981 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦′ = 19.284 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Problem 3.6
𝐹𝐹𝑅𝑅 = 𝑅𝑅 = 14.684 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 (b) 𝛼𝛼 = 26.725°
Graphical representation:
Problem 3.7
F1=810.69 N; F2 = 842.89 N
