Forces and Components
Component of a force is that effective value of a force in a given direction.
Fy F Free Vector of Fy
θx
X
O Fx
Consider force F acting on an object and drawn on the rectangular coordinates as
shown
Draw vector arrows FX and FY representing rectangular coordinates of force vector F
Consider free vector of FY to form a right triangle
From the right triangle formed by the three force vectors F, F X and FY , define the
following basic trigonometric functions:
or = F
or = F
or = also F=
Table 2.1 Sign Conventions of Rectangular Components
X-Component Y-Component
General Direction of Force Vector Diagram (FX ) (FX )
(F)
Up to Right + +
Down to Right + -
Up to Left - +
Down to Left - -
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
1. Determine the x- and y- components of each of the forces shown in Fig. 2.7
PX
PY
60o
Solution:
a) For force P = 200kN given ϴX = 600, draw its x- and y- components
b) Apply definition of components from formula
PX = P × cos ϴX
PX = 200kN × cos 600
PX = 100 kN
PY = P × sin ϴX
PY = 200kN × sin 600
PY = 173 kN
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
1. Determine the x- and y- components of each of the forces shown in Fig. 2.7
PX
PY
60o
FX
FY
Solution:
a) For force F = 500kN given ϴY = 250, draw its x- and y- components
b) Apply definition of components from formula (Note: the angle of inclination ϴ is
derived or rotated from the y-axis)
FX = F × sin ϴY
FX = 500kN × sin 250
FX = 211 kN
FY = F × cos ϴY
FY = -(500kN × cos 250)
FY = - 453 kN
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
1. Determine the x- and y- components of each of the forces shown in Fig. 2.7
PX
TY PY
60o
TX
FX
FY
Solution:
a) For force T = 722 kN given slope in the ratio 3 vertical to 2 horizontal, draw its x- and y-
components and solve for the angle of inclination from the given slope
ϴX = tan-1 3/2
ϴX = 56.310
b) Apply definition of components from formula
TX = T × cos ϴX
TX = 722 kN × cos 56.310
TX = 400 kN
TY = T × sin ϴX
TY = 722 kN × sin 56.310
TY = 601 kN
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
1. Determine the x- and y- components of each of the forces shown in Fig. 2.7
PX
TY PY
60o
TX
FX
FY
Solution:
a) For force T = 722 kN given slope in the ratio 3 vertical to 2 horizontal, solve for the
hypotenuse by Pythagorean theorem and draw its x- and y- components
r=
r = or r = 3.6
b) Apply ratio and proportion as follows
thus TX = T × 2/ TY = T × 3/
TX = 722 kN × 2/ Ty = 722 kN × 3/
TX = 400 kN TY = 601 kN
2. In Fig. 2.8, the body on the inclined surface is acted upon by a force P inclined at 20o with the horizontal. If P is
resolved into components parallel and perpendicular to the incline and the value of the parallel component is 400
kN, compute the value of the perpendicular component and that of P.
Y
Py X
P
20o
H
50o 30o
Px = 400
kN
Solution: 30
o
a) Draw parallel and perpendicular axes to the inclined and consider term as x- and y- axis,
respectively
b) Draw components from the axes drawn and consider magnitude of PX = 400 kN
c) From the horizontal line H and from geometry, alternate interior angles of parallel lines with a
transverse line are equal
d) Hence, applying definition of components
for P
PX = P × cos (200 + 300)
400kN = P × cos (500)
P = 400kN/cos 500
P = 622 kN
for PY
tan (200 + 300) = PY / PX
tan 500 = PY / 400kN
PY = 400 kN (tan 500)
PY = 477 kN
