THREE-DIMENSIONAL FORCE SYSTEMS

Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to solve 3-D particle equilibrium problems by
a) Drawing a 3-D free body diagram, and,
b) Applying the three scalar equations (based on one vector
equation) of equilibrium.
In-class Activities:
• Check Homework
• Reading Quiz
• Applications
• Equations of Equilibrium
• Concept Questions
• Group Problem Solving
• Attention Quiz
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 READING QUIZ

1. Particle P is in equilibrium with five (5) forces acting on it in

3-D space. How many scalar equations of equilibrium can be
written for point P?
A) 2 B) 3 C) 4
D) 5 E) 6
2. In 3-D, when a particle is in equilibrium, which of the
following equations apply?
A) ( Fx) i + ( Fy) j + ( Fz) k = 0
B)  F = 0
C)  Fx =  Fy =  Fz = 0
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS

You know the weight of the

electromagnet and its load.
But, you need to know the
forces in the chains to see if
it is a safe assembly. How
would you do this?

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

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 APPLICATIONS (continued)

This shear-leg derrick

Offset distance is to be designed to lift
a maximum of 200 kg
of fish.
How would you find
the effect of different
offset distances on the
forces in the cable and
derrick legs?

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 THE EQUATIONS OF 3-D EQUILIBRIUM

When a particle is in equilibrium, the vector

sum of all the forces acting on it must be
zero ( F = 0 ) .
This equation can be written in terms of its
x, y and z components. This form is written
as follows.
( Fx) i + ( Fy) j + ( Fz) k = 0
This vector equation will be satisfied only when
Fx = 0
Fy = 0
Fz = 0
These equations are the three scalar equations of equilibrium.
They are valid for any point in equilibrium and allow you to
solve for up to three unknowns.
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE I

Given: The four forces and

geometry shown.
Find: The tension developed in
cables AB, AC, and AD.
Plan:

1) Draw a FBD of particle A.

2) Write the unknown cable forces TB, TC , and TD in Cartesian
vector form.
3) Apply the three equilibrium equations to solve for the
tension
in cables.
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE I (continued)

Solution: FBD at A
TC
TB = TB i TD
TC =  (TC cos 60) sin30 i
+ (TC cos 60) cos30 j
+ TC sin 60 k TB

TC = TC (-0.25 i +0.433 j +0.866 k )

TD = TD cos 120 i + TD cos 120 j +TD cos 45 k

TD = TD ( 0.5 i  0.5 j + 0.7071 k )
W = -300 k

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE I (continued)

Applying equilibrium equations:

FR = 0 = TB i
+ TC ( 0.25 i +0.433 j + 0.866 k )
+ TD ( 0.5 i  0.5 j + 0.7071 k )
 300 k
Equating the respective i, j, k components to zero, we have
S Fx = TB – 0.25 TC – 0.5 TD = 0 (1)
S Fy = 0.433 TC – 0.5 TD = 0 (2)
S Fz = 0.866 TC + 0.7071 TD – 300 = 0 (3)

Using (2) and (3), we can determine TC = 203 lb, TD = 176 lb

Substituting TC and TD into (1), we can find TB = 139 lb
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II

Given: A 600 N load is supported

by three cords with the
geometry as shown.
Find: The tension in cords AB,
AC and AD.
Plan:

1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force

magnitudes be FB, FC, FD .
2) Represent each force in its Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II (continued)
FBD at A z
FD FC

2m

1m 30˚ y
2m A
FB
x
600 N
FB = FB (sin 30 i + cos 30 j) N
= {0.5 FB i + 0.866 FB j} N
FC = – FC i N
FD = FD (rAD /rAD)
= FD { (1 i – 2 j + 2 k) / (12 + 22 + 22)½ } N
= { 0.333 FD i – 0.667 FD j + 0.667 FD k } N
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE II (continued)

FBD at A
Now equate the respective i, j, and k
z
components to zero. FD FC

 Fx = 0.5 FB – FC + 0.333 FD = 0 2m
y
 Fy = 0.866 FB – 0.667 FD = 0 1m
2m A 30˚

FB
 Fz = 0.667 FD – 600 = 0 x
600 N

Solving the three simultaneous equations yields

FC = 646 N (since it is positive, it is as assumed, e.g., in tension)
FD = 900 N
FB = 693 N
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 CONCEPT QUIZ

1. In 3-D, when you know the direction of a force but not its
magnitude, how many unknowns corresponding to that force
remain?
A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four

2. If a particle has 3-D forces acting on it and is in static

equilibrium, the components of the resultant force ( Fx,  Fy,
and  Fz ) ___ .
A) have to sum to zero, e.g., -5 i + 3 j + 2 k
B) have to equal zero, e.g., 0 i + 0 j + 0 k
C) have to be positive, e.g., 5 i + 5 j + 5 k
D) have to be negative, e.g., -5 i - 5 j - 5 k

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: A 400 lb crate, as shown, is

in equilibrium and supported
by two cables and a strut AD.
Find: Magnitude of the tension in
each of the cables and the
force developed along strut
AD.
Plan:
1) Draw a free body diagram of Point A. Let the unknown force
magnitudes be FB, FC, F D .
2) Represent each force in the Cartesian vector form.
3) Apply equilibrium equations to solve for the three unknowns.
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBD of Point A
z

FC FB

FD
W
x y

W = weight of crate = - 400 k lb

FB = FB(rAB/rAB) = FB {(– 4 i – 12 j + 3 k) / (13)} lb

FC = FC (rAC/rAC) = FC {(2 i – 6 j + 3 k) / (7)}lb
FD = FD( rAD/rAD) = FD {(12 j + 5 k) / (13)}lb
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

The particle A is in equilibrium, hence

FB + FC + FD + W = 0
Now equate the respective i, j, k components to zero
(i.e., apply the three scalar equations of equilibrium).
 Fx = – (4 / 13) FB + (2 / 7) FC = 0 (1)
 Fy = – (12 / 13) FB – (6 / 7) FC + (12 / 13) FD = 0 (2)
 Fz = (3 / 13) FB + (3 / 7) FC + (5 / 13) FD – 400 = 0 (3)
Solving the three simultaneous equations gives the forces
FB = 274 lb
FC = 295 lb
FD = 547 lb
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 ATTENTION QUIZ
z
1. Four forces act at point A and point
A is in equilibrium. Select the F3 = 10 lb
P
correct force vector P. F2 = 10 lb

A) {-20 i + 10 j – 10 k}lb F1 = 20 lb A y
B) {-10 i – 20 j – 10 k} lb
C) {+ 20 i – 10 j – 10 k}lb x
D) None of the above.

2. In 3-D, when you don’t know the direction or the magnitude

of a force, how many unknowns do you have corresponding
to that force?
A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.
R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.