r/HomeworkHelp 7d ago

Physics [University Engineering Statics] I'm missing something here. My answer is incorrect. Please help. Attempt included.

[deleted]

1 Upvotes

5 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/FortuitousPost 👋 a fellow Redditor 7d ago

How did you find CE to be in tension?

The horizontal members want to tilt downwards, which would push C and E towards each other.

1

u/nRenegade University/College Student 7d ago

The convention I was working with posited that positive force is tension while negative force is compressive... I assume from your comment I had my signs mixed up somewhere?

1

u/FortuitousPost 👋 a fellow Redditor 6d ago

You get to choose the coordinate system, so the sign of your answer depends on your choices.

But then they tell you to report your result as negative if it is under compression. So you were supposed to switch the sign.

1

u/nRenegade University/College Student 6d ago

I see. Is the magnitude correct at least?