2.

4 A D D I TIO N O F A S YSTEM OF C O P L A N A R F ORCES 37

EXAMPLE 2.6
The link in Fig. 2–19a is subjected to two forces F1 and F2. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force. y

F2 = 400 N F1 = 600 N
SOLUTION I 45°
Scalar Notation. First we resolve each force into its x and y
30°
components, Fig. 2–19b, then we sum these components algebraically. x
S+ (F ) = F ;
R x x (F ) = 600 cos 30° N - 400 sin 45° N
R x

= 236.8 N S (a)

+c(FR )y = Fy ; (FR )y = 600 sin 30° N + 400 cos 45° N

= 582.8 Nc
The resultant force, shown in Fig. 2–19c, has a magnitude of y

FR = 2 (236.8 N)2 + (582.8 N)2 F2 = 400 N F1 = 600 N

= 629 N Ans. 45°

30°
From the vector addition, x

582.8 N
u = tan -1 a b = 67.9° Ans. (b)
236.8 N

SOLUTION II
Cartesian Vector Notation. From Fig. 2–19b, each force is first
expressed as a Cartesian vector. y

F1 = 5600 cos 30°i + 600 sin 30°j 6 N FR

582.8 N
F2 = 5 - 400 sin 45°i + 400 cos 45°j 6 N
Then,
u
FR = F1 + F2 = (600 cos 30° N - 400 sin 45° N)i x
236.8 N
+ (600 sin 30° N + 400 cos 45° N)j
= 5236.8i + 582.8j 6 N (c)

The magnitude and direction of FR are determined in the same Fig. 2–19
manner as before.

NOTE: Comparing the two methods of solution, notice that the use
of scalar notation is more efficient since the components can be
found directly, without first having to express each force as a
Cartesian vector before adding the components. Later, however, we
will show that Cartesian vector analysis is very beneficial for solving
three-dimensional problems.
38 CHAPTER 2 F OR CE VECTORS

The end of the boom O in Fig. 2–20a is subjected to three concurrent

and coplanar forces. Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force.

F2 = 250 N
F3 = 200 N 45°
5
3
4 x
O F1 = 400 N

(a)

SOLUTION
y Each force is resolved into its x and y components, Fig. 2–20b. Summing
the x components, we have
250 N S+ (F ) = F ;
R x x (F ) = - 400 N + 250 sin 45° N - 200 14 2 N
R x 5
200 N 45°
3
5 = -383.2 N = 383.2 N d
4
x The negative sign indicates that FRx acts to the left, i.e., in the negative
O 400 N
x direction, as noted by the small arrow. Obviously, this occurs because
F1 and F3 in Fig. 2–20b contribute a greater pull to the left than F2
which pulls to the right. Summing the y components yields
(b)
+c(FR )y = Fy ; (FR )y = 250 cos 45° N + 200 135 2 N
= 296.8 Nc
The resultant force, shown in Fig. 2–20c, has a magnitude of
y
FR FR = 2 (- 383.2 N)2 + (296.8 N)2
296.8 N
= 485 N Ans.
From the vector addition in Fig. 2–20c, the direction angle u is
u
x
296.8
383.2 N O
u = tan -1 a b = 37.8° Ans.
383.2

(c) NOTE: Application of this method is more convenient, compared to

using two applications of the parallelogram law, first to add F1 and F2
Fig. 2–20
then adding F3 to this resultant.
 2.4 A D D I TIO N O F A S YSTEM OF C O P L A N A R F ORCES 39

F U N D AM E N TAL P R O B L E M S
F2–7. Resolve each force acting on the post into its x and F2–10. If the resultant force acting on the bracket is to be
y components. 750 N directed along the positive x axis, determine the
y magnitude of F and its direction u.
F1 = 300 N y
F2 = 450 N 325 N
F3 = 600 N
13 12
5 4
3 5 F
45°
x u
x
45°

Prob. F2–7 600 N

F2–8. Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force.
y Prob. F2–10
250 N

3
5
400 N
F2–11. If the magnitude of the resultant force acting on
4 the bracket is to be 80 lb directed along the u axis, determine
the magnitude of F and its direction u.
30°
y
x
300 N F

u
x
45° 50 lb

5
4

90 lb
3 u

Prob. F2–8 Prob. F2–11

F2–9. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
acting on the corbel and its direction u measured F2–12. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
counterclockwise from the x axis. and its direction u measured counterclockwise from the
y positive x axis.

y
F3 = 600 lb F2 = 400 lb
F1 = 700 lb F2 = 20 kN
5 F1 = 15 kN
4
F3 = 15 kN
3 30° 3
5 5
3
x 4 4

Prob. F2–9 Prob. F2–12

40 CHAPTER 2 F OR CE VECTORS

PROBLEMS

*2–32. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force 2–34. Resolve F1 and F2 into their x and y components.
and its direction, measured counterclockwise from the
positive x axis. 2–35. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
and its direction measured counterclockwise from the
positive x axis.

y
F1 = 200 N y
60°
30°
45°
F1 = 400 N

x
30°

F2 = 150 N 45° x

Prob. 2–32
F2 = 250 N

Probs. 2–34/35

2–33. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force and

its direction, measured clockwise from the positive x axis. *2–36. Resolve each force acting on the gusset plate into
its x and y components, and express each force as a
Cartesian vector.
2–37. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
acting on the plate and its direction, measured counter-
clockwise from the positive x axis.
y

400 N
B
y
30°
F3 = 650 N
x
3 5 F2 = 750 N
4
45°
45°
800 N
x
F1 = 900 N

Prob. 2–33 Probs. 2–36/37

 2.4 A D D I TIO N O F A S YSTEM OF C O P L A N A R F ORCES 41

2–38. Express each of the three forces acting on the 2–42. Express F1, F2, and F3 as Cartesian vectors.
support in Cartesian vector form and determine the
magnitude of the resultant force and its direction, measured 2–43. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force and its
clockwise from positive x axis. direction, measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis.
y F1 = 50 N y

F3 = 750 N
5 45°
4
4
3
x
F3 = 30 N x
5
15° 3
4

30° F1 = 850 N
F2 = 625 N
F2 = 80 N
Probs. 2–42/43
Prob. 2–38
*2–44. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
2–39. Determine the x and y components of F1 and F2. and its direction, measured clockwise from the positive
*2–40. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force x axis.
and its direction, measured counterclockwise from the y
positive x axis.
y 40 lb

45° F1 = 200 N 5 4

30° 30 lb
x
F2 = 150 N
x

Probs. 2–39/40
5
2–41. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force 13 12
and its direction, measured counterclockwise from the
positive x axis.
91 lb
y
F3 = 8 kN Prob. 2–44
F2 = 5 kN
2–45. Determine the magnitude and direction u of the
resultant force FR. Express the result in terms of the
magnitudes of the components F1 and F2 and the angle f .
60°

45° F1
F1 = 4 kN FR
x

f
u
F2

Prob. 2–41 Prob. 2–45

42 CHAPTER 2 F OR CE VECTORS

2–46. Determine the magnitude and orientation u of FB so 2–50. Express F1, F2, and F3 as Cartesian vectors.
that the resultant force is directed along the positive y axis
and has a magnitude of 1500 N. 2–51. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force
and its direction, measured counterclockwise from the
2–47. Determine the magnitude and orientation, measured positive x axis.
counterclockwise from the positive y axis, of the resultant
force acting on the bracket, if FB = 600 N and u = 20°.

y
y
FB
FA = 700 N

30° A
B
F1 = 15 kN
u
F2 = 26 kN 40°
x
13
5
12
x
30°

F3 = 36 kN

Probs. 2–50/51

Probs. 2–46/47

*2–48. Three forces act on the bracket. Determine the

magnitude and direction u of F1 so that the resultant force
is directed along the positive x ' axis and has a magnitude *2–52. Determine the x and y components of each force
of 800 N. acting on the gusset plate of a bridge truss. Show that the
resultant force is zero.
2–49. If F1 = 300 N and u = 10°, determine the magnitude
and direction, measured counterclockwise from the positive
x' axis, of the resultant force acting on the bracket.

y
y

F2 = 200 N F2 = 6 kN

F1 = 8 kN
4 5
4
x¿ 3 3
5
F3 = 180 N 60°
u F1
13
5
12 F4 = 6 kN F3 = 4 kN
x x

Probs. 2–48/49 Prob. 2–52

 2.4 A D D I TIO N O F A S YSTEM OF C O P L A N A R F ORCES 43

2–53. Express F1 and F2 as Cartesian vectors. *2–56. If the magnitude of the resultant force acting on
the bracket is to be 450 N directed along the positive u axis,
2–54. Determine the magnitude of the resultant force and determine the magnitude of F1 and its direction f .
its direction measured counterclockwise from the positive
x axis. 2–57. If the resultant force acting on the bracket is
required to be a minimum, determine the magnitudes of F1
and the resultant force. Set f = 30°.

y
y F1 u
F2 = 26 kN
f
13 30°
12
x
F2 = 200 N
5

12 13

x 5

F3 = 260 N

30° Probs. 2–56/57

F1 = 30 kN

Probs. 2–53/54 2–58. Three forces act on the bracket. Determine the
magnitude and direction u of F so that the resultant force is
directed along the positive x ' axis and has a magnitude
of 8 kN.
2–59. If F = 5 kN and u = 30°, determine the magnitude of
the resultant force and its direction, measured counter-
2–55. Determine the magnitude of force F so that the clockwise from the positive x axis.
resultant force of the three forces is as small as possible.
What is the magnitude of the resultant force?
y

4 kN F

15°
u
x'
14 kN F

30° 45° 30°

8 kN
x
6 kN

Prob. 2–55 Probs. 2–58/59