Problem 3.

102 The mass of block A is 42 kg, and the

mass of block B is 50 kg. The surfaces are smooth. If
the blocks are in equilibrium, what is the force F?
B
F

45
A
20

Solution: Isolate the top block. Solve the equilibrium equations.

The weight is. The angle between the normal force N1 and the positive x axis is. The normal force is. The force N2 is. The equilibrium
conditions are
"

from which

"
"

Solve:

B
N2

F D N1 C N2 C W D 0

N1

Fx D (0.7071jN1 j % jN2 j'i D 0

Fy D (0.7071jN1 j % 490.5'j D 0.

N1 D 693.7 N,

N1

jN2 j D 490.5 N

Isolate the bottom block. The weight is

W D 0i % jWjj D 0i % (42'(9.81'j D 0i % 412.02j (N).
The angle between the normal force N1 and the positive x axis is
(270 % 45 ' D 225 .

N3

x
W

The normal force:

N1 D jN1 j(i cos 225 C j sin 225 ' D jN1 j(%0.7071i % 0.7071j'.
The angle between the normal force N3 and the positive x-axis is
(90 % 20 ' D 70 .
The normal force is
N1 D jN3 j(i cos 70 C j sin 70 ' D jN3 j(0.3420i C 0.9397j'.
The force is . . . F D jFji C 0j. The equilibrium conditions are
"

F D W C N1 C N3 C F D 0,

from which:

"
"

Fx D (%0.7071jN1 j C 0.3420jN3 j C jFj'i D 0

Fy D (%0.7071jN1 j C 0.9397jN3 j % 412'j D 0

For jN1 j D 693.7 N from above:

jFj D 162 N

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