ENGINEERING MECHANICS

2. Parallel Force System

I. RESULTANT OF FORCE SYSTEMS: ∑ F x =0 ;∑ M y =0; ∑ M z =0
Types of Force Systems
A. Coplanar Force System
A A

3. Non-concurrent, non-parallel Force

1. Concurrent Force System System
∑ F x =0 ;❑ ∑ F y =0❑ ∑ F z=0
∑ M x =0 ; ❑ ∑ M y =0❑ ∑ M z =0
A A A

2. Parallel Force System NOTE:

Special Cases of Equilibrium
1. Two-force member
3. Non-concurrent, non-parallel Force  member subjected to two forces
System only
 the two forces must be equal in
magnitude, collinear in line of
action and
opposite in direction
Conditions:
 The weight of the member is
B. Non-coplanar or Spatial Force System
1. Concurrent Force System not considered.
 Pin-connected on both ends.
 Loaded at the ends only.
2. Three-force member
 member subjected to three forces only
 the three forces must be
concurrent

Free Body Diagram (FBD)

2 2 2
cos θ x +cos θ y +cos θ z =1
2. Parallel Force System
 FBD is the sketch of the body showing
all the forces that act on it.
3. Non-concurrent, non-parallel Force  The term “free” implies that all
System supports have been removed and
replaced by the forces (reactions) that
they exert on the body.
 Reactive forces – reactions – forces
exerted on the body by supports
 Applied forces – forces acting on the
body not exerted by support which
may also include the weight of the
member itself
II. EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCE SYSTEM
Resultant is equal to zero. PRINCIPLE OF TRANSMISSIBILITY
A. Coplanar Force System A force may be moved anywhere along
1. Concurrent Force System its line of action without changing the
external effects on a rigid body.
∑ F x =0 ;❑ ∑ F y =0
2. Parallel Force System PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS (Varignon’s
∑ F=0; ❑ ∑ M A =0 Theorem)
or The moment of a force about a point is
equal to the sum of the moments of its
components about that point.
∑ M A =0 ;❑ ∑ M B =0
provided that line AB is not parallel to
the direction of the forces.
COUPLE
3. Non-concurrent, non-parallel Force
Two forces which are equal in
System
magnitude but opposite in directions form
∑ F x =0 ;∑ F y =0 ;∧∑ M A =0 a couple. The moment M of a couple is
or ∑ F x =0 ; ∑ M A ;∧∑ M B=0 constant and is always equal to M= Fd.
provided that the line connecting A
and B is not parallel to the x-axis, or
∑ M A =0 ; ∑ M B =0 ;∑ M C=0
provided that A, B and C are not
colinear.

B. Non-coplanar or Spatial Force System

1. Concurrent Force System
∑ F x =0 ;∑ F y =0 ;∑ F z=0
∑ F x =0 ;∑ M y =0 ; ∑ M z =0
 BELT FRICTION:

CABLES

Parabolic Cables:

FRICTION
- is the contact resistance exerted by one
body when the second body moves or
tends to move past the first body.
- Friction is a retarding force that always
acts opposite to the motion or to the
tendency to move.
- Always parallel to the contact surface.
- When motion impends, the magnitude of
the frictional resistance or simply friction
is equal to

F=μN

Where  = coefficient of friction

 = angle of friction which is the

μ=tanφ

angle between the normal N

and the resultant of F and N
N = resultant force normal to the
contact surface
 PROBLEMS ON RESULTANT OF FORCE
SYSTEMS
1. Compute the x and y components of each of
the four forces shown.
7. Determine the resultant moment about point
A of the system of forces shown in the figure.
Each square is 1 ft on a side.

2. A 100-N vertical force is applied to the end of

a lever which is attached to a shaft at O.
Determine:
a) the moment about O.
b) the horizontal force at A which creates 8. Determine the resultant of the three forces
the same moment. acting on the dam shown in the figure and
c) the smallest force at A which produces locate its intersection with the base AB. For
the same moment. good design, this intersection should occur
d) the location for a 240-N vertical force to within the middle third of the base. Does it?
produce the same moment.
e) whether any of the forces from b, c, and d
is equivalent to the original force.

9. Determine the magnitude of the resultant, its

pointing and its direction cosines for the
following system of non-coplanar, concurrent
forces. 300 lb (+3, -4, +6); 400 lb (-2, +4, -5);
200 lb (-4, +5, -3).
10. For the concurrent force system shown. Find
3. Which of the following correctly defines the the magnitude of the forces in the ropes if
500 N force that passes from A(4, 0, 3) to their resultant is zero. The weight of the box
B(0, 6, 0)? is 40 lb.
A. 256i - 384j + 192k N
B. -256i + 384j - 192k N
C. -384i + 192j - 256k N
D. 384i - 192j + 256k N

4. A block is resting on an incline of slope 5:12

as shown in the figure. It is subjected to a
force F = 500 N on a slope of 3:4. Determine
the components of F parallel and
perpendicular to the incline.

11. The body on the 30° incline in the figure is

acted upon by a force P inclined at 20° with
the horizontal. If P is resolved into
5. If the force F shown in the figure is resolved components parallel and perpendicular to
into components parallel to the bars AB and incline and the value of the parallel
BC, the magnitude of the component parallel component is 1800 N, compute the value of
to bar BC is 4 kN. What are the magnitudes the perpendicular component and that of P.
of F and its component parallel to AB?

12. The magnitude of vertical force F shown in

6. Replace the system of forces acting on the the figure is 8000 N. Resolve F into
frame in the figure by a resultant R at A and components parallel to the bars AB and AC.
a couple acting horizontally through B and C.
13. Completely determine the resultant with
respect to point O of the force system shown
in the figure.

14. A force P = 800 N is shown in the figure.

a. Find the y-component of P with respect to x
and y axis.
b. Find the y'-component of P with respect to x'
and y' axis.
c. Find the y-component of P with respect to x'
and y axis.
d. Find the y'-component of P with respect to x
and y' axis.

15. For the parallel force system shown in the

figure, it consists of three forces and 1250 N-
m couple. Determine the resultant and its
location.
 6. The upper beam in the figure is supported at
D and a roller at C which separates the upper
and lower beams. Determine the values of the
reactions at A, B, C, and D. Neglect the
weight of the beams.

7. In the figure shown, each plank carries a

uniform load of 100 N/m throughout its
length. The supports are on the same plane.
PROBLEM ON EQUILIBRIUM OF FORCE
Find the reactions at A, B, and C.
SYSTEMS

1. The five forces shown in the figure are in

equilibrium. Compute the values of P and F.

8. A pulley 4 ft in diameter and supporting a

load 200 lb is mounted at B on a horizontal
beam as shown in the figure. The beam is
2. A cylinder weighing 400 lb is held against a supported by a hinge at A and rollers at C.
smooth incline by means of the weightless Neglecting the weight of the beam,
rod AB in the figure. Determine the forces P determine the reactions at A and C.
and N exerted on the cylinder by the rod and
the incline.

3. The system of knotted cords shown in the

figure support the indicated weights. 9. A homogeneous block of weight W rests upon
Compute the tensile force in each cord. the incline shown in the figure. (a) If the
coefficient of friction is 0.30, determine the
greatest height h at which a force P parallel
to the incline may be applied so that the
block will slide up the incline without tipping
over. (b) If the homogeneous block weighs
300 kg and the coefficient of friction is 0.45.
If h = 50 cm, determine the force P to cause
motion to impend.
4. Three bars, hinged at A and D and pinned at
B and C as shown in the figure, form a four-
link mechanism. Determine the value of P
that will prevent motion.

10. In the figure, determine the value of P just

5. The truss shown in the figure is supported by sufficient to start the 10° wedge under the
a hinge at A and a roller at B. A load of 20 kN 40-kN block. The angle of friction is 20° for
is applied at C. Determine the reactions at A all contact surfaces.
and B.
 PROBLEMS ON CENTROID AND MOMENT
OF INERTIA

1. The dimensions of the T-section of a cast-iron

beam are shown in the figure. How far is the
11. A uniform bar AB, weighing 424 N, is centroid of the area above the base? What is
fastened by a frictionless pin to a block the moment of inertia with respect to a
weighing 200 N as shown in Fig. P-533. At horizontal axis at the base and with respect
the vertical wall, μ = 0.268 while under the to its centroidal axis.
block, μ = 0.20. Determine the force P
needed to start motion to the right.

12. A hot air balloon 30 ft above the ground is

tethered by three cables as shown in the
diagram. If the balloon is pulling upwards
with a force of 900 lb, what is the tension in 2. Determine the moment of inertia of the area
each of the three cables? The grid lines on shown in the figure with respect to its
the ground plane are spaced 10 ft apart. centroidal axes.

13. A 520mm × 550mm steel plate 20mm thick is

suspended from point P located
475mm above the center of the plate. 3. Find the moment of inertia about the
Knowing that DE=385mm and that the indicated x-axis for the shaded area shown in
density of the steel is ρ=7810 kg/m³, the figure.
determine the tensions in the three cables.

14. The welded tubular frame is secured to the

horizontal x-y plane by a ball and socket joint CENTROID OF PLANE AREAS
at A and receives support from the loose-
fitting ring at B. Under the action of the 2-kN
n

∑ M y =¿ A T x=∑ Ai x i ¿
load, rotation about a line from A to B is
prevented by the cable CD, and the frame is
i=1
n

stable in the position shown. Neglect the ∑ M x =¿ A T y =∑ A i y i ¿

weight of the frame compared with the
i=1

applied load and determine the tension T in

MOMENT OF INERTIA OF COMPOSITE
the cable, the reaction at the ring, and the
AREAS
reaction components at A. 2
I =I + A d
where I =centroidal moment of inertia
d=distance from the axis of
inertia to the centroidal axis