2.

3 V ECTOR A D D I T IO N O F F ORCES 23

EXAMPLE 2.1
The screw eye in Fig. 2–11a is subjected to two forces, F1 and F2.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
10°
F2 = 150 N
2
A

150 N

F1 = 100 N 115° 65°

15° 10°
FR
360° —2(65°)
= 115°
2

u 100 N
15°

90° —25° = 65°

(a)
(b)

SOLUTION
Parallelogram Law. The parallelogram is formed by drawing a line
from the head of F1 that is parallel to F2, and another line from
the head of F2 that is parallel to F1. The resultant force FR extends to
where these lines intersect at point A, Fig. 2–11b. The two unknowns
are the magnitude of FR and the angle u (theta).
FR
Trigonometry. From the parallelogram, the vector triangle is 150 N

constructed, Fig. 2–11c. Using the law of cosines

FR = 2(100 N)2 + (150 N)2 - 2(100 N)(150 N) cos 115° 115°

u
= 2 10 000 + 22 500 - 30 000(-0.4226) = 212.6 N f
15° 100 N

= 213 N Ans. (c)

Applying the law of sines to determine u, Fig. 2–11

150 N 212.6 N 150 N
= sin u = (sin 115°)
sin u sin 115° 212.6 N
u = 39.8°
Thus, the direction f (phi) of FR , measured from the horizontal, is

f = 39.8° + 15.0° = 54.8° Ans.

NOTE: The results seem reasonable, since Fig. 2–11b shows FR to have
a magnitude larger than its components and a direction that is
between them.
 24 CHAPTER 2 FO RC E VECTO R S

EXAM PLE 2.2

Resolve the horizontal 600-lb force in Fig. 2–12a into components
acting along the u and v axes and determine the magnitudes of these
components.
2

u
u B
Fu Fu
30° 30°
30° 30° Fv
120° 120°
30° 30° 30°
A
600 lb 120° 600 lb 600 lb
Fv

C
v

v
(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 2–12

SOLUTION
The parallelogram is constructed by extending a line from the head of
the 600-lb force parallel to the v axis until it intersects the u axis at
point B, Fig. 2–12b. The arrow from A to B represents Fu. Similarly, the
line extended from the head of the 600-lb force drawn parallel to the
u axis intersects the v axis at point C, which gives Fv.
The vector addition using the triangle rule is shown in Fig. 2–12c.
The two unknowns are the magnitudes of Fu and Fv. Applying the law
of sines,

Fu 600 lb
=
sin 120° sin 30°
Fu = 1039 lb Ans.

Fv 600 lb
=
sin 30° sin 30°
Fv = 600 lb Ans.

NOTE: The result for Fu shows that sometimes a component can have
a greater magnitude than the resultant.
 2.3 V ECTOR A D D I T IO N O F F ORCES 25

EXAMPLE 2.3
Determine the magnitude of the component force F in Fig. 2–13a and
the magnitude of the resultant force FR if FR is directed along the
positive y axis.

y
y

F 45° 45° F
FR FR
200 lb 45°
45° 75°
F 45° 60° 30° 60°
30° 200 lb 200 lb
30°

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 2–13

SOLUTION
The parallelogram law of addition is shown in Fig. 2–13b, and the
triangle rule is shown in Fig. 2–13c. The magnitudes of FR and F are the
two unknowns.They can be determined by applying the law of sines.

F 200 lb
=
sin 60° sin 45°

F = 245 lb Ans.

FR 200 lb
=
sin 75° sin 45°

FR = 273 lb Ans.
26 C H APTER 2 FO RC E VECTO R S

EXAMPLE 2.4
It is required that the resultant force acting on the eyebolt in Fig. 2–14a
be directed along the positive x axis and that F2 have a minimum
magnitude. Determine this magnitude, the angle u, and the corresponding
resultant force.

F1 = 800 N

F1 = 800 N F2 F1 = 800 N

F2
60° 60°
u
60°
x x x
FR FR
u u =
90°
(b) (c)

F2
(a)

Fig. 2–14
SOLUTION
The triangle rule for FR = F1 + F2 is shown in Fig. 2–14b. Since the
magnitudes (lengths) of FR and F2 are not specified, then F2 can actually
be any vector that has its head touching the line of action of FR , Fig. 2–14c.
However, as shown, the magnitude of F2 is a minimum or the shortest
length when its line of action is perpendicular to the line of action of
FR , that is, when
u = 90° Ans.

Since the vector addition now forms the shaded right triangle, the two
unknown magnitudes can be obtained by trigonometry.
FR = (800 N)cos 60° = 400 N Ans.
F2 = (800 N)sin 60° = 693 N Ans.

It is strongly suggested that you test yourself on the solutions to these

examples, by covering them over and then trying to draw the
parallelogram law, and thinking about how the sine and cosine laws
are used to determine the unknowns. Then before solving any of
the problems, try to solve the Preliminary Problems and some of the
Fundamental Problems given on the next pages. The solutions and
answers to these are given in the back of the book. Doing this throughout
the book will help immensely in developing your problem-solving skills.