ES 27 - ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Chapter II
RESULTANT OF FORCE
SYSTEM

ENGR. ELWIN JAY J. TANO

Instructor
 OBJECTIVES
• To show how to add forces and resolve them
into components using the Parallelogram
Law.
• To express force and position in Cartesian
vector form and explain how to determine
the vector’s magnitude and direction.
• To introduce the dot product in order to
determine the angle between two vectors or
the projection of one vector onto another.
 Forces in a plane
•Force
- represents the action of one body on another
- characterized by its point of application, its
magnitude, and its direction
Forces in a plane
•Force
- Experimental evidence shows that the forces P and Q
acting on a particle A can be replaced by a single force R
which has the same effect on the particle.
Vectors
Vector Scalar
– A quantity that has – parameters possessing
both magnitude and magnitude but not
direction which add direction.
according to the – A quantity characterized
parallelogram law by a positive or negative
number
Eg:
Eg: Position, force and
Mass, volume and length
moment
Vector classifications
•Fixed or bound vectors have well defined points of
application that cannot be changed without affecting
an analysis.

•Free vectors may be freely moved in space without

changing their effect on an analysis.

•Sliding vectors may be applied anywhere along their

line of action without affecting an analysis.
Vector classifications

•Equal vectors have ▪Negative vector of a

the same magnitude given vector has the
and direction. same magnitude and
the opposite direction.
Vectors
– Represented graphically as an arrow
– Length of arrow = Magnitude of Vector
– Angle between the reference axis and arrow’s line of action
= Direction of Vector
– Arrowhead = Sense of Vector
Vector Operations
•Vector Addition

- Addition of two vectors A and B gives a

resultant vector R by the parallelogram law
- Result R can be found by triangle construction

-Commutative
- Associative
VECTOR OPERATIONS
Vector Operations
•Vector Subtraction
- Special case of addition

Eg: R’ = A – B = A + ( - B )

- Rules of Vector Addition Applies

Vector Addition Forces
•
Procedure of Analysis
a) Graphical: Parallelogram Law

b) Trigonometry

c) Rectangular Components
Sample Problem 1

A force of 800 N is exerted on a

bolt A. Determine the horizontal SOLUTION:
and vertical components of the • To obtain the correct sign for the scalar
force. components, the value 180˚ - 35˚ = 145˚
should be substituted for θ. However, it
will be found more practical to determine
by inspection signs of Fx and Fy and to
use the trigonometric functions of the
angle α = 35˚.
Sample Problem 1

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem No. 2

A man pulls with a force of 300 N on a rope

attached to a building. What are the horizontal
and vertical components of the force exerted by
the rope at point A?
Sample Problem No. 2

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 3 SOLUTION:
• Graphical solution - construct a
The two forces act on a bolt at
parallelogram with sides in the same
A. Determine their resultant.
direction as P and Q and lengths in
proportion. Graphically evaluate the
resultant which is equivalent in direction
and proportional in magnitude to the the
diagonal.

• Trigonometric solution - use the triangle

rule for vector addition in conjunction
with the law of cosines and law of sines
to find the resultant.

• Rectangular Components – resolve

forces P and Q into its rectangular
component.
Sample Problem 3: Solution 1
• Graphical solution - A parallelogram with sides
equal to P and Q is drawn to scale. The magnitude
and direction of the resultant or of the diagonal to
the parallelogram are measured,

• Graphical solution - A triangle is drawn with P and

Q head-to-tail and to scale. The magnitude and
direction of the resultant or of the third side of the
triangle are measured,

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 3: Solution 2
From the Law of Cosines,

From the Law of Sines,

Free-Body Diagram

• Trigonometric solution -
Apply the triangle rule and
then Law of Cosines to find
the resultant.
Sample Problem 3: Solution 3
• Rectangular Component- Forces (x – component) (y – component)
Resolve forces into
components.
Q + 60N cos 45˚ + 60N sin 45˚
P + 40N cos 20˚ + 40N sin 20˚
 Sample Problem 4

• Find a trigonometric solution by applying

the Triangle Rule for vector addition. With
the magnitude and direction of the resultant
a) the tension in each of the ropes known and the directions of the other two
for α = 45o, sides parallel to the ropes given, apply the
Law of Sine to find the rope tensions.
b) the value of α for which the
tension in rope 2 is a minimum. • The angle for minimum tension in rope 2 is
determined by applying the Triangle Rule
and observing the effect of variations in a.
Sample Problem 4
a) the tension in each of the ropes for a = 45o

• Graphical solution - Parallelogram Rule

with known resultant direction and
magnitude, known directions for sides.

• Trigonometric solution - Triangle Rule

with Law of Sines

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 4
b) the value of a for which the tension in rope 2
is a minimum.

• The angle for minimum tension in rope 2 is

determined by applying the Triangle Rule and
observing the effect of variations in a.

• The minimum tension in rope 2 occurs when T1

and T2 are perpendicular.
Sample Problem 5
SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular
components.

• Determine the components of the

resultant by adding the corresponding
force components.

• Calculate the magnitude and direction

Four forces act on bolt A as shown. of the resultant.
Determine the resultant of the force
on the bolt.
Sample Problem 5
SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular components.

• Determine the components of the resultant by

adding the corresponding force components.

• Calculate the magnitude and direction.

Free-Body Diagram
Equilibrium of a Particle

• When the resultant of all the force acting on a particle is zero,

the particle is in equilibrium.
• Newton’s First Law of Motion

Space Diagram: A sketch showing Free-Body Diagram: A sketch showing

the physical conditions of the only the forces on the selected particle.
problem.
 Equilibrium of a Particle

• Newton’s First Law of Motion

•
Sample Problem 6
SOLUTION:
• Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at the junction of the rope and
cable.

• Apply the conditions for equilibrium by

creating a closed polygon from the
forces applied to the particle.
• Apply trigonometric relations to
determine the unknown force
In a ship-unloading operation, a magnitudes.
3500-lb automobile is supported by
a cable. A rope is tied to the cable
and pulled to center the automobile
over its intended position. What is
the tension in the rope?
Sample Problem 6
SOLUTION:
• Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at A.

• Apply the conditions for equilibrium.

• Solve for the unknown force magnitudes.

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 7
SOLUTION:
• Choosing the hull as the free body,
draw a free-body diagram.
• Express the condition for equilibrium
for the hull by writing that the sum of
It is desired to determine the drag force all forces must be zero.
at a given speed on a prototype sailboat • Resolve the vector equilibrium
hull. A model is placed in a test equation into two component
channel and three cables are used to equations. Solve for the two unknown
align its bow on the channel centerline. cable tensions.
For a given speed, the tension is 40 lb
in cable AB and 60 lb in cable AE.
Determine the drag force exerted on the
hull and the tension in cable AC.
Sample Problem 8
SOLUTION:
• Choosing the hull as the free body, draw a
free-body diagram.

• Express the condition for equilibrium

for the hull by writing that the sum of
all forces must be zero.

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 8
• Resolve the vector equilibrium equation into
two component equations. Solve for the two
unknown cable tensions.
Sample Problem 8

This equation is satisfied only if each component

of the resultant is equal to zero
Force in Space
• Cartesian Vectors

x
z
•
y
Fy
AA
F
F x
x
Fz
z F
’
•

y
Fyj

F
j i Fxi
k x
Fzk
z F’
 y
•Coordinate direction Fyj
angles α, β, and γ
β
F
γ α Fxi x
Fzk
z F’
 y

γ F
x
Fzk
z
 y

•
F
α x
Fxi
z
 y

Fyj
• β
F
x

z
 y
F

F i x
k
z
F=F * Where i, j, and k have
a magnitude of 1
The vector 𝝀 (lambda) is
referred to as the unit vector
whose direction is the same as
that of F.
•

y
Fyj
F
β
γ α Fxi x
Fzk
z A
’
Force defined by its magnitude and two
points on its line of action
Resultant of a Force System

•
 Sample Problem 9
SOLUTION:
• Based on the relative locations of the
points A and B, determine the unit vector
pointing from A towards B.

• Apply the unit vector to determine the

components of the force acting on A.
• Noting that the components of the unit
vector are the direction cosines for the
A tower guy wire is anchored by vector, calculate the corresponding
means of a bolt at A. The tension in angles.
the guy wire is 2500 N. Determine:
a) components Fx, Fy, Fz of the force
acting on the bolt at A,
b) the angles θx, θy, θz defining the
direction of the force
Sample Problem 9
SOLUTION:
• Determine the unit vector pointing from A
towards B.

• Determine the components of the force.

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 9
• Noting that the components of the unit vector are
the direction cosines for the vector, calculate the
corresponding angles.
 Equilibrium of a Particle in Space

•
Sprin
g
Sprin
g
where s is determined from the difference in
spring’s deformed length l and its undeformed
length lo
s = l - lo
- If s is positive, F “pull”
onto the spring
- If s is negative, F “push”
onto the spring
 Cables and
-Pulley
Cables (or cords) are assumed to have negligible
weight and they cannot stretch
- A cable only support tension or pulling force
- Tension always acts in the
direction of the cable
- Tension force in a continuous
cable must have a constant
magnitude for equilibrium
- For any angle θ, the cable is subjected to
a constant tension T
throughout its length
Sample Problem 10

Determine the force in each

cable used to support the 40-lb
crate shown in the figure shown.
SOLUTION: Equations of Equilibrium:
First we will express each force
in Cartesian vector form. Since
the coordinates of points B and C
are B(-3 ft, -4 ft, 8 ft) and C(-3 ft,
4 ft, 8 ft),

Free-Body Diagram
•
Sample Problem 10
•
• Equations of
Equilibrium:

Free-Body Diagram
Sample Problem 11
A 90-lb load is suspended from the hook shown in the
figure. If the load is supported by two cables and a
spring having a stiffness k = 500 lb/ft, determine the
force in the cables and the stretch of the spring for
equilibrium. Cable AD lies in the x–y plane and cable
AC lies in the x–z plane.
 Equations of Equilibrium
SOLUTION:
The stretch of the spring can be
determined once the force in the
spring is determined. By inspection,
each force can easily be resolved
into its x, y, z components, and
therefore the three scalar equations
of equilibrium can be used. Solving Eq. (3) for FC, then Eq. (1) for FD, and
Considering components directed finally Eq. (2) for FB, yields
along each positive axis as
“positive,” we have
FC = 150 lb
FD = 240 lb
FB = 207.8 lb = 208 lb
The stretch of the spring is therefore
FB = k sAB
207.8 lb = (500 lb/ft)(sAB)
sAB = 0.416 ft
NOTE: Since the results for all the cable forces are
positive, each cable is in tension; that is, it pulls on point
Free-Body Diagram A as expected,