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Chapter 2 Review of Forces and Moments - Brown University

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2D Mickey Mouse problem 2 Mickey mouse <strong>of</strong> weight W<br />

M<br />

st<strong>and</strong>s on<br />

a balcony <strong>of</strong> weight W<br />

B<br />

as shown. The weight <strong>of</strong> strut CB may be<br />

neglected.<br />

This time we need to deal with a structure that has two parts<br />

connected by a joint (the strut BC is connected to the floor AB<br />

through a pin joint). In cases like this you have a choice <strong>of</strong> (a)<br />

treating the two parts together as a single system; or (b) considering<br />

the strut <strong>and</strong> floor as two separate systems. As an exercise, we will<br />

draw free body diagrams for both here.<br />

2L/3 L/3 Romeo, Romeo,<br />

wherefore art thou<br />

j<br />

Romeo?<br />

i<br />

A Pin joint<br />

B<br />

Pin joint<br />

60 o<br />

C<br />

Pin joint<br />

2L/3<br />

L/3<br />

A free body diagram for the balcony <strong>and</strong> strut together is shown on<br />

the right. Note again the convention used to denote the reactions:<br />

the first label denotes the location <strong>of</strong> the force, the second denotes<br />

the direction. Both A <strong>and</strong> C are pin joints, <strong>and</strong> therefore exert both<br />

horizontal <strong>and</strong> vertical forces.<br />

R Ax<br />

R Ay<br />

W B<br />

W M<br />

L/ 3<br />

A<br />

B<br />

R cx<br />

C<br />

The picture shows free body diagrams for both components. Note<br />

the convention we’ve introduced to deal with the reaction force<br />

acting at B – it’s important to use a systematic way to deal with<br />

forces exerted by one component in a system on another, or you<br />

can get hopelessly confused. The recommended procedure is<br />

1. Label the components with numbers – here the balcony is<br />

(1) <strong>and</strong> the strut is (2)<br />

2. Denote reaction forces acting between components with<br />

the following convention. In the symbol R<br />

(1/ 2)<br />

Bx<br />

, the<br />

superscript (1/2) denotes that the variable signifies the<br />

force exerted by component (1) on component (2) (it’s<br />

easy to remember that (1/2) is 1 on 2). The subscript Bx<br />

denotes that the force acts at B, <strong>and</strong> it acts in the positive<br />

x direction.<br />

3. The forces<br />

(1/ 2) (1/ 2)<br />

R<br />

Bx<br />

, R<br />

By<br />

exerted by component (1) on<br />

component (2) are drawn in the positive x <strong>and</strong> y directions on the free body diagram for<br />

component (2).<br />

4. The forces exerted by component (2) on component (1) are equal <strong>and</strong> opposite to<br />

(1/ 2)<br />

R<br />

Bx<br />

,<br />

(1/ 2)<br />

R<br />

By<br />

.<br />

They are therefore drawn in the negative x <strong>and</strong> y directions on the free body diagram for<br />

component (1). You need to think <strong>of</strong> the reaction force components as acting in two directions at<br />

the same time. This is confusing, but that’s the way life is.<br />

R cy<br />

2L/3<br />

L/3<br />

R Ax<br />

Ay<br />

A<br />

R<br />

(1)<br />

B<br />

R (1/2) Bx<br />

W B W M R (1/2) By<br />

R (1/2) Bx<br />

R (1/2) By<br />

(2)<br />

R cx<br />

L/ 3<br />

C<br />

R cy

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