Question

In three members having one as zero force member in truss, what if there is an external force applied?

(a) The zero force member will be unaltered

(b) The zero member needs to be changed or rotated

(c) There will be no zero member

(d) There will be two zero members formed

I had been asked this question by my school principal while I was bunking the class.

This intriguing question comes from Zero Force Member in chapter Structural Analysis of Engineering Mechanics

Answer 1

Correct choice is (c) There will be no zero member

Best explanation: For making any one of the member of the truss to be as a zero member all the conditions are to be followed. Like any two of the three members collinear. There must be no external forces acting on the section or the joint which is being selected.