University of Engineering & Technology Peshawar

CE-117: Engineering Mechanics

MODULE 3:
Resultant of Coplanar, Concurrent force systems
1
 Lecture Objectives
1. To show how to add forces and resolve
them into components using the
Parallelogram Law.
2. How to resolve a force into rectangular 1
components using Cartesian coordinates

3. To determine the resultant of more than 2

concurrent forces using Cartesian components.
2

3
Methods for determining Resultant of coplanar force systems
 Resultant of 2 Concurrent forces

Parallelogram law of forces

If two forces, acting at a point, are represented in magnitude and direction by the
two sides of a parallelogram drawn from one of its angular points, their resultant is
represented both in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram
passing through that angular point.

This law is based on experimental evidence; it can not be proved or derived mathematically.
 Resultant of 2 Concurrent forces
Parallelogram law of forces B C

Applying law of Cosines ( to determine R

R2=P2+Q2-2*P*Q*Cos (180o- )
A
O
R= P2+Q2−2 P Q Cos (180o− )

Applying law of Sines to determine α

( )

β=α
= Sin o )
 Resultant of 2 Concurrent forces

Triangle Law of Forces

If two forces are acting on a body, it can represented by two adjacent sides of
triangle with magnitude and directions and resultant can be given by other
side of triangle

Resultant R of two forces using Triangle Law of forces.

Note: we need to move the line of action of one of the forces (Which Principle ?)
 Problem 3.1
A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the resultant of the forces exerted by the tugboats is a
5000-lb force directed along the axis of the barge, determine (a) the tension in each of the
ropes knowing that a 45°, (b) the value of for which the tension in rope 2 is
minimum.
Solve the problem using parallelogram law of forces
 Problem 3.1: Solution
(a) The tension in each of the ropes
y

B
T1
T2
30 5000 lb
O C x
45
T2 T1

A
180 − 45 - 30 =105
 Problem 3.1: Solution
y (b) The value of for which the tension in T2 is minimum.

Line of action parallel to T1

B
T1
It can be observed that for constant value of R ,
T2 deceases when increases from 0 to 90o.
30 5000 lb
O 𝛼 C x However, T2 start increasing when increases
𝛼 T2,α1 beyond 90o. Hence for T2 to minimum, =90o
𝛼 𝛼 = 180 − 90 - 30 =60
T2
T2 ,α2
T2, α3 5000 lb
O C x

T1
T2
A
 Exercise 3.1
Solve all problems using parallelogram law of forces
3.1a . The two structural members, one of which is in tension and the
other in compression, exert the indicated forces on joint O. Using
Parallelogram law of forces, Determine the magnitude of the resultant R
of the two forces. Also determine the angle which R makes with the
positive x-axis.

Ans: R =3.61 kN, θx =206o

 Exercise 3.1
3.1b The screw eye in Figure is subjected to two
forces, F1 and F2 .Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force using both
Parallelogram law and adding Cartesian components
Answer: FR = 212.6 N, θx=54.8 ◦

3. 1c
 Resolving a force into R e c t a n g u l a r C o m p o n e n t s

In many problems it will be found desirable to resolve a force into two components which are
perpendicular to each other.
In Fig. a and b, the force F has been resolved into a component Fx along the x axis and a
component Fy along the y axis. The parallelogram drawn to obtain the two components is a
rectangle, and Fx and Fy are called rectangular components.
Resolving a force into R e c t a n g u l a r C o m p o n e n t s

Rectangular components Fx and Fy of a force F may be obtained by multiplying respectively

the unit vectors i and j by appropriate scalars

𝐱 𝒚

𝐱 𝐲
Problem 3.3
Using results of problem… solved in Module 2

+y

+n
Fn
Fx
+x
θx= 20o
Fy Ft θt= 40o

+t
Sign Covention for R e c t a n g u l a r C o m p o n e n t s

) )
) )
Resolution of a Force along oblique axes (Non-Rectangular components)
 Problem 3.2
Two people apply forces to push a table. determine the
forces the two people must apply in the a and b
directions shown such that a resultant force of 250 N
in the c direction is produced
180 − 45 - 30 = 105

b
B
C
Fb
A 45 30 45

Fa O a
 Exercise 3.2

3.2a . Resolve the horizontal 600-lb force in

Figure into components acting along the u and
v axes and determine the magnitudes of these
components

Answer: Fu = 1039 lb, Fv = 600 lb

3.2b

Ans: Fu= 386 lb, Fv= 283 lb

 Exercise 3.2

3.3a. The line of action of the 9.6-kN force F runs

through the points A and B as shown in the figure.
Express F in term of unit vectors
Ans: F= 8 i+5.33 j
3.3b

Ans: Ft= 1286 N, Fn= 1532 N

RESULTANT OF FORCES USING CARTESIAN COMPONENTS

Step 1 is to resolve each force

into its components
RESULTANT OF FORCES USING CARTESIAN COMPONENTS
Step 2 is to add all the x components together
and add all the y components together. These
two totals become the resultant vector.
FRx = F1x i - F2xi + F3x i
FRy= F1y j + F2y j - F3y j
FR= FRx+Fry
FR = (F1x - F2x + F3x) i+ (F1y + F2y - F3y ) j
FRy
Step 3 is to find the magnitude and angle
θx
of the resultant vector.
FRx
 Problem 3.4

The resultant of the three concurrent forces shown in Figure is 300 lb pointing up
along y-axis. Compute the values of F and required to give this resultant
 Problem 3.4
300 lb
+

+ -

Squaring both sides of eqns I and II and then taking the sum

Dividing eqn II by I
 Exercise 3.3
3.3a Knowing that the tension in rope AC is 365 N,
determine the resultant of the three forces exerted at
point C of post BC.

Ans: 474 N, 32.5o

3.3b
For the collar shown , determine (a) the required value of
if the resultant of the three forces shown is to be
vertical, (b) the corresponding magnitude of the resultant.

Ans: 21.7o , 229 N

 Exercise 3.3
3.3c
Knowing that a o , determine the

resultant of the three forces shown.

Ans: 203 lb

3.3d

Also Re-solve Exercise 3.1 by summing cartesian coordinate components