Question

The force and the couple can’t be simplified together as one is the cause and the other is the effect in free body diagrams.

(a) The statement is correct and the reason given is also correct

(b) The statement is wrong but the reason given is also correct

(c) The statement is wrong and the reason given is also wrong

(d) The statement is correct but the reason given is also wrong

This question was posed to me by my college director while I was bunking the class.

This interesting question is from Different Free Body Diagrams topic in division Equilibrium of a Rigid Body of Engineering Mechanics

Answer 1

Correct option is (c) The statement is wrong and the reason given is also wrong

The explanation: Both of them are vector quantities. And both of them can be easily simplified. If taken in the vector form then the task is even easier. Thus it is not necessary for the force or the couple to be vector only, even if the magnitude is taken, the simplification is done in the 2D.