Question

The simplification of the couple is done for free body diagrams on the basis of the:

(a) The clockwise of the anti-clockwise rotation sign convention

(b) The simplification is not possible

(c) The couple is a vector and thus can’t be simplified

(d) The couple is a scalar and can’t be simplified

This question was posed to me in a job interview.

My question is based upon Different Free Body Diagrams topic in division Equilibrium of a Rigid Body of Engineering Mechanics

Answer 1

Correct choice is (a) The clockwise of the anti-clockwise rotation sign convention

Explanation: The couple is simplified by taking the direction of the rotation of the body as positive or negative. That is if the clockwise direction is positive then the anti-clockwise direction is taken as negative. If the couple is a vector it can be easily simplified by taking the components.