Draw the Free-Body Diagram:

A 3 m long boom (Figure) is held by a ball and socket joint at A and by two cables CD and BE. It carries load of 20 kN at B. Draw the Free-Body Diagram for the boom AB.

Solution

Free-Body Diagram for the boom AB in Figure (b) shows the following:

1.      boom AB,

2.      constraining forces A_x, A_y and A_z because of ball and socket support at A,

3.      tension TCD in cable CD, and

4.      tension TBE in cable BE.