CHAPTER 2: DJJ30093: Engineering

mechanics
FORCE VECTOR Pn Nor Assikin binti Khamis
 COURSE SYLLABUS:
2.1 Solve problems related the resultant force of coplanar forces
2.2 Analyze the force vector directed along the line
2.2.1 Explain position vectors and x, y, z coordinate
2.1.1 Distinguish scalars and vectors. 2.2.2 Explain the force vector directed along the line
2.2.3 Analyze the force vector directed along the line
a. Differentiate between scalars and vectors
b. Distinguish between free vectors, sliding vectors, fixed vectors.
2.1.2 Apply concept of vectors and vector operations.
a. Calculate addition of vectors
b. Calculate subtraction of vectors
c. Calculate resolution of vectors
2.1.3 Solve problems related to resultant force of coplanarforces
a. Explain two forces acting on a particle
b. Explain scalar notation
c. Explain Cartesian vector notation
d. Solve related problems using scalar notation and Cartesian notation
2.1.1 DISTINGUISH SCALARS AND VECTORS.
A. DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN SCALARS AND VECTORS

SCALARS VECTORS
A scalar is any positive or negative physical quantity that A vector is any physical quantity that requires both a
can be completely specified by its magnitude. magnitude and a direction for its complete description.

 Examples of scalar quantities include length, mass, and  Examples of vectors encountered in statics are force,
time. position, and moment.
 A vector is shown graphically by an arrow. The length
of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector, and
the angle between the vector and a fixed axis defines
the direction of its line of action. The head or tip of the
arrow indicates the sense of direction of the vector, Fig.
2–1.
2.1.1 DISTINGUISH SCALARS AND VECTORS.
B. D IST ING U ISH B E T WE EN FR E E V E C TO RS, SL ID IN G VE C TO RS , FIX E D V E C TO RS .

Vectors representing physical quantities can be classified as free, sliding or fixed.

Free vectors - is one whose action is not confined to or associated with a unique line in space
- can be moves anywhere in the space
Eg : force applied to a ball

Sliding vectors - is one for which a unique line in space must be maintained
along which the quantity acts
-Do not have a fixed point of action but have only a line of action
Eg : force applied to push an object move horizontally

Fixed vectors - is one for which a unique point of application is specified and
therefore the vector occupies a particular position in space.
Eg : (a) gravitational weight of a body (b) velocity of a particle
2.1.2 APPLY CONCEPT OF VECTORS AND
VECTOR OPERATIONS.
Multiplication and Division of a Vector by a Scalar.
If a vector is multiplied by a positive scalar, its magnitude is increased by that amount. When
multiplied by a negative scalar it will also change the directional sense of the vector. Graphic
examples of these operations are shown in Fig. 2–2.
VECTOR OPERATION
a) Addition of vectors

- Two vectors can be added together to determine the result (or resultant).

The Pythagorean Theorem

- method of adding two (and only two) vectors that make a right angle to each other.
- not applicable or for adding vectors that are not at 90-degrees to each other.
Example : Eric leaves the base camp and hikes 11 km, north and
then hikes 11 km east. Determine Eric's resulting displacement.

The result of adding 11 km, north plus 11 km, east is a vector

with a magnitude of 15.6 km.

The Trigonometric Functions

- The process begins by the selection of one of the two angles (other
than the right angle) of the triangle.
Parallelogram law

- If more than two forces are to be added successive applications of the parallelogram law
can be carried out in order to obtain the resultant force. For example if the three forces 𝐅 𝟏, ,
𝐅 𝟑 act at a point o, the resultant of any two of the forces is found (𝐅𝟏 + 𝐅𝟐 ) and then this
resultant is added tothe third force yielding the resultant of all three forces (𝐅𝐑 = (𝐅𝟏 + 𝐅𝟐 )
+ 𝐅𝟑 )
 Triangle construction
-If two vectors are represented by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then the diagonal of parallelogram
through the common point represents the sum of the two vectors in both magnitude and direction.

b) Subtraction of vectors
c) Resolution of vectors

- Resolving a vector involves splitting into two other vectors which add together to give the total vector.
- This is used to separate horizontal motion from vertical motion by separating the vector into two
perpendicular components:

Here the vector A has been resolved into two vectors, Ax and Ay such that Ax + Ay = A

“Resolution” of a vector is breaking up a vector into components. It is kind of like using the parallelogram
law in reverse.
 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.

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 (theta).

Trigonometry. From the parallelogram, the vector triangle is

constructed, Fig. 2–11c. Using the law of cosines
 CONTINUE EXAMPLE 2.1:
Applying the law of sines to determine Ɵ,

Thus, the direction (phi) of FR, measured from the horizontal, is

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.
 EXERCISES
1. Determine the magnitude of the component Force F in below and the magnitude of resultant force F R if FR is
directed along the positive y axis.

(Ans : F = 245 Ib, FR 273 Ib)

2. It is required that the resultant force acting on the eyebolt in Figure below, be directed the positive x axis and
that F2 have a minimum magnitude. Determine this magnitude,
the angle θ and the corresponding resultant force.

(Ans : θ = 90° , FR = 400 N, F2 = 393 N)

2.1.3 SOLVE PROBLEMS RELATED TO
RESULTANT FORCE OF COPLANARFORCES
Rectangular components
Components of a force in XY plane
EXERCISES
1.Determine the horizontal and vertical components for below vector.
(Ans : a) Vx = 25m/s, Vy = 43.3 m/s
b) Vx = 45.3 m/s, Vy = 21.1 m/s)

a) b)
2. A rope makes an angle of 51° with the horizontal and has a tension of 350 N. Determine the horizontal and
vertical components of the tension force.
(Ans : Fx = 220.3N, Fy = 272N)
3. Determine the horizontal and vertical components of the tension force F 1, F2, F3 and F4.
(Ans : F1x = 129.9N, F1y= 75N, F2x = -27.4N, F2y =75.2N,
F3x = 0N, F3y = 110N, F4x = 96.6N, F4y = -25.88N)
4. Determine the components of these forces.

a) b)
A) SCALAR NOTATION
EXAMPLE SCALAR
NOTATION
1. The link figure below is subjected to two forces F1 and F2. Determine the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
B) CARTESIAN VECTOR
NOTATION
EXAMPLE CARTESIAN
VECTOR NOTATION
Continue from Example scalar notation:
EXERCISES
1) Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
(Ans : FR = 567.3 N, θ = 38.1o)
2) The plate is subjected to the two forces at A and B. If θ=60°, determine the
magnitude of the resultant of these two forces and its direction
(Ans : FR = 10.81 kN N, θ = 3.18o)
3) If φ=30° and F2 = 3 kN, determine the magnitude of the resultant force acting on
the plate and its direction θ measured clockwise from the positive x-axis.
(Ans : FR = 6.76 N, θ = 47.2°)
2.2 ANALYZE THE FORCE VECTOR
DIRECTED ALONG THE LINE
2.2.1 Explain position vectors and x, y, z coordinate
A position vector r is defined as a fixed vector which locates a point in space relative
to another point.