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Resultant - HTM Example 1:: Solution

The document discusses different approaches to determining the resultant force of concurrent force systems, including graphical, trigonometric, scalar, and vector methods. It provides examples of calculating the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on a cargo ship being towed by two tugboats exerting forces at different angles. The examples are solved using the scalar approach by resolving forces into x and y components and adding them.

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Shealtiel Regine Cinco-Ayala
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319 views8 pages

Resultant - HTM Example 1:: Solution

The document discusses different approaches to determining the resultant force of concurrent force systems, including graphical, trigonometric, scalar, and vector methods. It provides examples of calculating the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on a cargo ship being towed by two tugboats exerting forces at different angles. The examples are solved using the scalar approach by resolving forces into x and y components and adding them.

Uploaded by

Shealtiel Regine Cinco-Ayala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

http://www.ae.msstate.

edu/vlsm/forcesys/concurrent_force_systems/
resultant.htm

Example 1: Two tugboats are towing a cargo ship as shown below.


Tugboat A exerts a force of 15,000 N at a 30° angle while tugboat B
exerts a force of 20,000 N at a 50° angle. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force acting on the cargo ship.

Solution: We begin the analysis by drawing the known force


vectors. We then construct the force triangle by a head-to-tail
connection of the two force components.

Graphical Approach: If the two known sides of the force triangle


are drawn to scale, then we can simply measure the length of the
resultant vector and multiply it times the scale factor, used for the
other two sides, to find its magnitude. To find its direction, we can
use a compass to measure its angle from the same reference line.

The accuracy of graphical approach depends on the accuracy in


drawing the force triangle and the accuracy in measuring the length
and angle of the resultant. Hence, it could be subject to a
considerable error.

Trigonometric Approach: An alternative approach is to use the


laws of sines and cosines to solve for the resultant. To do this, we
need to first determine the angle b in the force triangle. With the
help of the force parallelogram shown below, we determine the value
of b knowing that the opposite corners of a parallelogram have equal
angles.
With b known, we can use the law of cosines given as

to solve for the magnitude of the resultant force

We then use the law of sines to solve for angle a

Therefore, the direction of the resultant force is 16.8° below


the horizontal reference line.

Scalar Approach:In this approach, we resolve the force exerted by


each tugboat into its x and y components as shown below
We then add the force components in the x direction together, and
those in the y direction together to obtain the x and y components of
the force resultant, respectively. In doing this, we must pay close
attention to the sign convention on individual force components.

With its components known, we can now solve for the magnitude of
the force resultant as

The direction of the force resultant, q, is found as

Since q is measured positive in the counter clockwise direction


from x axis, the force resultant is, therefore, directed below the x
axis as shown below.
We see that the solution found by this approach matches that
found by the trigonometric approach. We next examine the vector
approach.

Vector Approach: In this approach, each force is represented by


its components in the rectangular Cartesian coordinates as

We can then solve for the force resultant by adding the two force
vectors together.

The magnitude and direction of the force


resultant are then found in thesame manner as that described in the
scalar approach. Having found the resultant force vector on the cargo
ship, we know its direction of motion.
Example 2: This example is a variant of the problem considered in Example 1. In this case,
tugboat A is exerting a force of 15,000 N at 30° angle. We are interested in knowing
the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by tugboat B on the cargo ship such
that the resultant towing force is 30,000 N in the horizontal direction, as shown in the
figure.

Solution: Having discussed, in previous example, various approaches to analyze a co-planar


concurrent force system, we focus here on the scalar approach. The schematic
drawing of the forces is shown below. The magnitude and direction of the force
exerted by Tugboat A and those of the force resultant are known. The unknown
quantities are the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by tugboat B.

The force equations in x and y directions are used to find the components of  .

With the two components of force   known, we can solve for its magnitude and direction as
Therefore, tugboat B should apply a force of 18,590 N at an angle of 24° below the x axis.

Problem 260
The effect of a certain non-concurrent force system is defined by the following
data: ΣFx = +90 kN, ΣFy = -60 kN, and ΣMO = 360 kN·m counterclockwise. Determine
the point at which the resultant intersects the x-axis.
 

Solution 260

HideClick here to show or hide the solution


MO=360 kN⋅m
60a=360
a=6 m
The x-intercept is at 6 m to the left of the origin.        
answer
- See more at:
http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/engineering-
mechanics/problems-260-261-resultant-non-
concurrent-force-system#sthash.2TqxZJY3.dpuf

Problem 011
Three ropes are tied to a small metal ring. At the end of each rope three students are
pulling, each trying to move the ring in their direction. If we look down from above, the
forces and directions they are applying are shown in Fig. P-011. Find the net force on
the ring due to the three applied forces.
 
 

Solution 011

HideClick here to show or hide the solution


Rx=ΣFx
Rx=30cos37∘−50cos45∘−80cos60∘
Rx=−51.40 lb
Rx=51.40 lb to the left
 
Ry=ΣFy
Ry=30sin37∘+50sin45∘−80sin60∘
Ry=−15.87 lb
Ry=15.87 lb downward
 
R=Rx2+Ry2−−−−−−−−√
R=51.402+15.872−−−−−−−−−−−−√
R=53.79 lb
 
tanθx=RyRx=15.8751.40
θx=17.16∘
 
Thus, the net force on the ring is 53.79 lb downward to the left at θx = 17.16°.
- See more at: http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/engineering-
mechanics/011-resultant-three-forces-acting-ring#sthash.p3pOnvri.dpuf
Problem 012
Find the resultant vector of vectors A and B shown in Fig. P-012.
 

Solution 012: Component Method

HideClick here to show or hide the solution


Rx=ΣFx
Rx=44cos50∘−17sin70∘
Rx=12.31 m/sec to the right
 
Ry=ΣFy
Ry=−44sin50∘−17cos70∘
Ry=−27.89 m/sec
Ry=39.52 m/sec downward
 
R=Rx2+Ry2−−−−−−−−√=12.312+39.522−−−−−−−−−−−−√
R=41.39 m/sec
 
tanθx=RyRx=39.5212.31
θx=72.70∘
 
The resultant vector R = 41.39 m/sec downward to the right at θx = 72.70°.
- See more at: http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/engineering-
mechanics/012-resultant-two-velocity-vectors#sthash.k0piYqjH.dpuf

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