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Quizzes > Science

Statics Quiz: Practice Forces, Moments, and Equilibrium

Quick engineering statics practice test. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Anna GongoraUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 15
Study OutcomesAdditional Reading
3D voxel art illustrating the principles and concepts of a Statics course.

This statics quiz helps you practice forces, moments, and equilibrium so you can spot gaps and build speed on common problem types. Work through free-body diagrams and simple truss members to sharpen setup and checks. For related skills, try the simulation practice test and the applied statistics quiz.

Which option best describes a force couple?
A pair of forces that are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and do not share the same line of action.
Two forces equal in magnitude, acting in the same direction along parallel lines.
A force distributed over an area causing deformation.
A single force acting along a line passing through the center of mass.
A force couple consists of two equal and opposite forces whose lines of action do not coincide, creating a pure rotational effect without translation. This distinguishes it from a single force or other force distributions.
Which statement is true regarding static equilibrium of a rigid body?
The sum of forces and the sum of moments about any point both must equal zero.
The sum of forces and moments depend on the choice of coordinate system.
Only the sum of moments must equal zero.
Only the sum of forces must be zero in equilibrium.
For a rigid body to be in static equilibrium, both the net force and net moment must be zero. This ensures that the body does not translate or rotate under the influence of external forces.
What does the resultant force represent in a system of forces?
A hypothetical force applied at the center of mass with an equal moment.
The maximum force among all acting forces.
The difference between the largest and smallest forces.
The vector sum of all individual forces acting on the body.
The resultant force is the vector sum of all forces, summarizing their overall effect on the body. This concept simplifies complex force systems into a single equivalent force.
What is the primary assumption when analyzing forces in a truss member?
Members are two-force members and only carry axial forces.
Members are rigid and can sustain bending moments.
Each joint transfers the bending moment to the connected members.
Forces act indefinitely along the member's length.
Truss analysis is based on the assumption that members function as two-force members, carrying only axial tension or compression. This assumption simplifies the analysis by neglecting bending moments and shear forces.
Which equation represents the Coulomb friction force acting on a sliding object?
F_f = μN.
F_f = μ/N.
F_f = N/μ.
F_f = μ + N.
Coulomb friction is modeled by the equation F_f = μN, where μ is the coefficient of friction and N is the normal force. This simple relationship is fundamental in assessing frictional forces in statics.
When constructing bending moment diagrams for a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load, which feature is expected at the midspan?
The bending moment is maximum near the supports.
The bending moment reaches a maximum at the midspan.
The bending moment is zero at midspan.
The bending moment diagram is linear throughout the beam.
In a simply supported beam under a uniformly distributed load, the bending moment is typically maximum at the midspan due to symmetric load distribution. This behavior is predicted by the beam's equilibrium and bending moment equations.
How is the centroid of a composite area accurately determined?
By dividing the area into simple shapes, finding each centroid, and computing the weighted average.
By measuring the longest dimension of the composite shape.
By averaging the coordinates of all vertices of the composite area.
By choosing the geometric center of the overall bounding rectangle.
The centroid for a composite area is best determined by breaking the area into simpler shapes, calculating each of their centroids, and then taking an area-weighted average. This method takes into account the unique geometry of each component area.
Which factor does NOT affect the moment of inertia (second moment of area) of a beam's cross-section?
Distance from the neutral axis.
Area distribution.
Material density.
Shape of the cross-section.
The moment of inertia, or second moment of area, is a geometric property that depends on the cross-sectional shape and area distribution relative to an axis. Material density does not impact this calculation as it relates solely to the geometry.
Which cross-sectional property is quantified by the polar moment of inertia?
The resistance of a section to torsional deformation.
The distribution of mass about a centroid in bending.
The bending strength under axial loads.
The equilibrium of distributed loads along a beam.
The polar moment of inertia measures a cross-section's ability to resist torsion, making it important for analyzing twisting behavior in structural members. It is calculated about an axis perpendicular to the cross-section and encompasses the entire area.
The principle of virtual work for a system in equilibrium states which of the following?
Virtual work is only considered for systems undergoing rotation.
The total virtual work done by all forces during any virtual displacement is zero.
The total virtual work is maximized at equilibrium.
The virtual work equals the change in potential energy.
The principle of virtual work asserts that for a system in equilibrium, any admissible virtual displacement results in zero net work done by the forces. This principle is a powerful tool for determining unknown forces or displacements in statically determinate and indeterminate systems.
Which method is often used to determine internal forces and moments in statically indeterminate frames?
Moment distribution method.
Method of sections.
Graphical force polygon analysis.
Method of joints.
The moment distribution method is an iterative technique used to analyze statically indeterminate frames by balancing and redistributing moments at the joints. It is particularly useful for calculating bending moments in complex structures.
How does hydrostatic pressure vary with depth in a fluid at rest?
It increases linearly with depth.
It varies quadratically with depth.
It remains constant with depth.
It decreases exponentially with depth.
In a fluid at rest, hydrostatic pressure increases linearly with depth due to the weight of the overlying fluid. This linear variation is fundamental in analyzing forces on submerged surfaces and structures.
Which component is essential to include when drawing a free-body diagram for static analysis?
Assumed load factors without clear locations.
Only the reaction forces at the supports.
All external forces acting on the body.
Internal forces distributed within the body.
A free-body diagram must clearly display all external forces and moments acting on the body to properly apply equilibrium equations. Internal forces are typically omitted because they cancel out in the overall equilibrium of the structure.
The product of inertia for a cross-section becomes zero when the axes are aligned with which of the following?
The base and height dimensions of the section.
The principal axes of the cross-section.
The line passing through the center of mass.
Any arbitrary orthogonal coordinate system.
When the coordinate axes coincide with the principal axes of a cross-section, the product of inertia becomes zero. This simplifies calculations in bending analysis by decoupling the bending responses about these axes.
In the application of virtual work to a statically indeterminate structure, what is the role of a virtual displacement?
It is a small, imagined displacement that does not disturb the state of equilibrium.
It is only used for linear elastic analyses.
It represents the actual displacement experienced by the structure.
It is an arbitrary force applied to induce deformations.
A virtual displacement is an assumed, infinitesimal change in the system's configuration that does not disturb its equilibrium. This concept is central to the principle of virtual work, as it relates forces to corresponding displacements to solve for unknowns.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze free-body diagrams to determine equilibrium conditions and reaction forces.
  2. Apply concepts of forces, moments, and couples to evaluate the stability of structures.
  3. Interpret shear-force and bending-moment distributions in beams and trusses.
  4. Synthesize concepts of centroids, moments of inertia, and polar moments to optimize design solutions.

Statics Additional Reading

Here are some top-notch academic resources to help you master the principles of statics:

  1. This course introduces fundamental principles of structural mechanics, covering topics like static equilibrium, force resultants, and analysis of determinate planar structures. It includes lecture notes, problem sets with solutions, and design assignments.
  2. This course delves into structural mechanics concepts with applications to various structures. Topics include beam deflections, column buckling, and energy methods, complemented by lecture notes, problem sets, and quizzes.
  3. This interactive course covers essential statics topics such as forces, free-body diagrams, equilibrium, trusses, friction, and moments of inertia. It features simulations, walkthroughs, and interactive exercises to enhance understanding.
  4. The official course website for TAM 210/211 provides lecture notes, recordings, and access to an online textbook. It also includes resources like discussion forums and gradebooks to support your learning journey.
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