1. **Problem Statement:** Draw the axial force diagram for the member shown in Figure 4 with forces: 5 kN left at left end, 3 kN left in the middle, 5 kN right near middle-right, and 7 kN right at right end. 2. **Understanding Axial Force:** Axial force is the internal force along the axis of the member caused by external loads. 3. **Step-by-step Analysis:** - Start from the left end: axial force is $-5$ kN (negative for leftward force). - Moving right, at the middle, add $-3$ kN (leftward), total axial force becomes $-5 - 3 = -8$ kN. - Near middle-right, add $+5$ kN (rightward), total axial force becomes $-8 + 5 = -3$ kN. - At right end, add $+7$ kN (rightward), total axial force becomes $-3 + 7 = +4$ kN. 4. **Plotting the Axial Force Diagram:** - From left end to middle: axial force is constant at $-5$ kN. - At middle, axial force drops to $-8$ kN. - From middle to near middle-right, axial force is constant at $-8$ kN. - At near middle-right, axial force jumps to $-3$ kN. - From near middle-right to right end, axial force is constant at $-3$ kN. - At right end, axial force jumps to $+4$ kN. 5. **Summary:** The axial force diagram is a piecewise constant function with jumps at force application points: $-5$ kN, $-8$ kN, $-3$ kN, and $+4$ kN. This completes the axial force diagram analysis.