STATICS

EGM251/CIE251
RESOLUTION OF A FORCE
INTO COMPONENTS
(Space)
Learning objectives

• Explain forces in space

• Represent a force into Cartesian force vector

• Determine the components of a force acting

in space

• Determine the magnitude and direction

cosine angles of the resultant force in space
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
1.1 Introduction

• A force F acting in space is called a space force

Fig. 1
2.3 Cont…

• Unlike a plane force, a space force F can be resolved into

three rectangular components Fx , Fy and Fz as shown in
fig.2.

Fig. 2
2.3 Cont…

• The rectangular vector components Fx , Fy and Fz can be

determined by drawing a vertical plane OBAC
containing F with the help of angle qy fig.3.

Fig. 3
2.3 Cont…
• The force F is first resolved into two components,
vertical component Fy and horizontal component Fh

The corresponding scalar

components of F can be
written as;

Fy = Fcosq y ;

Fh = Fsinq y

Fig. 4
2.3 Cont…
• Fh is further resolved into two rectangular
components Fx and Fz

Fx = Fhcos Fx = Fsinq y  Fhcos

Fz = Fhsin Fz = Fsinq y  Fhsin

Fig. 5
2.3 Cont…
1.2 Resultant of a Space Force

a) Given two angles that orient the line of action

If the two angles that orient the line of action are known,
the resultant of a space force can be determined by:
F = Fxiˆ  Fy ˆj  Fz kˆ
Where;

Fx = Fsinq y  Fhcos Fy = Fcosq y ;

Fz = Fsinq y  Fh sin

Magnitude of the resultant

Fig. 6

F = Fx 2 +Fy 2 +Fz 2
2.3 Cont…
Direction of the resultant force

• The direction of the resultant force F is

determined by qx , qy and qz known as
cosine direction angles;
Fx = Fcosq x ; Fy = Fcosq y ; Fz = Fcosq z ;

Fx Fy Fz
cosq x = cosq y = cosq z =
F F F
  
 Fx   Fy   Fz 
q x  cos 
1
 q y  cos 1   q z  cos 1  
 F  F
  F
 
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Example 1
A force of 500 N forms angles of 60°, 45°, and 120°, respectively, with
the x , y , and z axes. Find the components Fx , Fy , and Fz of the force and
check that the magnitude is 500 N.
Solution
Applying rectangular scalar components
Fx = Fcosq x ;  Fx  500  cos 60  250 N
Fy = Fcosq y ;  Fy  500  cos 45  354 N

Fz = Fcosq z ;  Fz  500  cos120  250 N

In unit vector notation:

 
F = 250iˆ  354 ˆj  250kˆ N

Magnitude of F
F = 2502  3542   250   500N
2
2.3 Cont…
b) Given two points on the line of action of the force F

Position Displacement Vector

r = d xiˆ  d y ˆj  d z kˆ
d x = x2  x1 d y = y2  y1 d z = z2  z1

Unit vector along the line of action:-

r
u=
r

Cartesian vector is thus:-

F = F u = F (r / r )
The three angles that F makes with the coordinate axes:-
dy
q x = cos x
1
where  
dx q y = cos y where y 
1
x
r r
dz
q z = cos z where z 
1
r
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Example 2
The man pulls on the cord with a force of 350N (fig.a). Represent this force
acting on the support A as a Cartesian vector and determine its direction. .
Solution
Coordinates:- A(0,0,7.5) B(3, 2,1.5)

Position vector:- r = d xi  d y j  d z k
r = (3m  0m)i  (2m  0m) j  (1.5m  7.5m)k

 r =  3i  2 j  6k  m r = 32   2    6   7m
2 2

r 3 2 6
Unit vector:- u=  i j k
r 7 7 7
Cartesian vector:-
3 2 6  Fig.a
F = F u  350  i  j  k   150i  100 j  300k  N
7 7 7 
3 1  2 
q x = cos x  cos    65
1 1 q y = cos y  cos    107
1

7  7 
1  6 
q z = cos z  cos    149
1

 7 
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Problem 1.
The 70m microwave transmission tower is steadied
by three guy cables as shown in fig.12. Cable AB
carries a tension of 12kN. Express the
corresponding force at A as a vector;
Problem 2.
Fig.12
Knowing that the tension in cable AB is 1425N,
determine the components of the force exerted on
the plate at B in fig.13.

Problem 3.
A zesco tower guy wire is anchored by means of
a bolt at A. The tension in the wire is 2500 N
fig.14. Determine
a)the components Fx , Fy , Fz of the force acting Fig.13
on the bolt,
b)the angles qx , qy , qz defining the direction of
the force.

Fig.14
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Task

1. The cable BC in figure below carries a tension T of 750 N. If the elbow at H forms
a right angle, express the tension force along cable BC at B as a Cartesian force
vector and determine its coordinate direction cosine angles qx, qy and qz.
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Additional Problems
1. Two forces act on the hook shown in (a).
Specify the magnitude of F2 and its
coordinate direction angles so that the
resultant force FR acts along the positive y
axis and has a magnitude of 800 N;

2. Determine the components of the given force

F and find its direction cosine qx and qy
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Additional Problems

3. A fore F with a magnitude of 100 N is applied at the origin O of the axes x-y-z as
shown. The line of action of F passes through a point A whose coordinates can be
found by the information provided. Determine the components of F and its direction
cosine angles qx, qy and qz.
2.3 RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO COMPONENTS
Additional Problems
4. The roof is supported by cables as shown in
the photo. If the cables exert forces FAB =
100 N and FAC = 120 N on the wall hook at A
as shown in Fig.c, determine the resultant
force acting at A. Express the result as a
Cartesian vector.

(c)
5. Express the position vector rAB in Cartesian
vector form, then determine its magnitude
and coordinate direction angles.
Cont.…

6. Express each of the forces shown as a Cartesian force vector and determine the
magnitude and direction cosine angles of the resultant force
Acknowledgements

1. Meriam J. L & Kraige L. G (2002) Engineering

Mechanics: Statics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc: New York

2. Malhotra M.M &Subramanian R (1994) Textbook of

Applied Mechanics, New Age International: New Delhi

3. Beer F.P, Johnson E.R, Elsenberg E.R & Mazuke D.F

(2010) Vector Mechanics for Engineers, 9th edition,
McGraw hill education: New York
THE
END