Final answer:
To determine the force in each member using the method of joints, follow these steps: draw a free-body diagram, apply Newton's laws of motion, solve for the forces, and check the direction to determine if they are in tension or compression.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the force in each member using the method of joints, we need to analyze the forces acting on each joint of the structure. Here are the steps:
- Draw a free-body diagram of the entire structure showing all the forces acting on each joint.
- Apply Newton's laws of motion to analyze the forces at each joint. Set up equilibrium equations for both the horizontal and vertical forces.
- Solve the equations to determine the forces in each member.
- To determine if the members are in tension or compression, check the direction of the forces in each member. If the force is pulling away from the joint, it is in tension. If the force is pushing towards the joint, it is in compression.