Question

For frames and machines, the first thing that you should usually do is:

a) Analyze internal forces
b) Determine support reactions
c) Find the centroid of the structure
d) Calculate member lengths

Answer 1

To start analyzing frames and machines, determine support reactions by drawing a free body diagram and applying equilibrium conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first thing that you should usually do for frames and machines is to determine the support reactions. This is accomplished by following these steps:

1. Determine the system of interest.
2. Draw a free body diagram that includes and labels all external forces acting on the system of interest.
3. Identify a strategic point of rotation or pivot point, if necessary, to aid in the calculation of torques and the application of equilibrium conditions.
4. Apply the conditions for equilibrium to find the support reactions, using the equations for net force and net torque, represented by ΣF = 0 and ΣΤ = 0 respectively.
5. Check the solution for reasonableness in terms of magnitude, direction, and units.

Understand that resolving these support reactions at the beginning is crucial to further analyzing the entire structure or machine for internal forces or other quantities of interest.