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ENG 202
ENGINEERING MECHANICS: STATICS
CHAPTER 2: FORCE VECTORS CHAPTER 2: FORCE VECTORS
KHALDOUN N. RAHAL
PROFESSOR
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
KUWAIT UNIVERSITY
2.1 SCALAR AND VECTORS
Most physical quantities can be expressed
h i ll l f mathematically as scalar of vectors
Scalar: Quantity characterized by a positive or negative
number is called a scalar. Example: mass, volume, length.
In the book, scalars are shown in italics: A
Vector: A vector is a quantity that has both a magnitude and
a direction. Example: position, force, moment. In the book,
the vectors are shown in bold font: F Mto avoid having to the vectors are shown in bold font: F, Mto avoid having to
point an arrow on top of it. In your exams and homework,
use the arrow. The magnitude of the vector, which is always
positive is represented in italics F, M, or
, F M
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2.1 SCALAR AND VECTORS
Show vector as an arrow, which enables to show its
i d di i d magnitude, direction and sense.
The length of the arrow is proportional to its
magnitude. Its direction is defined by the angle
between the arrow and a reference axis such as the x-
axis (or horizontal axis)
Its sense is indicated Its sense is indicated
by the arrowhead
2.2 VECTOR OPERATION
Multiplication and division of a vector by a scalar: If
l i l b l b i you multiply a vector A by a scalar a you obtain a
vector aA, of magnitude aA, it has the same direction
as A but is opposite in sense if the scalar a is negative.

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VECTOR ADDITION
Adding two vectors A and B results in a resultant
h

vector R where R=A+B, or
Vectors are jointed at their tail, then a parallelogram is
formed with the vectors as sides. The resultant vector
is the diagonal starting from the tail.
R A B = +
Can also use the triangle construction (easier)
VECTOR ADDITION
Vector B is added to vector A is a tail-to-head
f hi i h h d f h il f fashion, i.e. to connect the head of A to the tail of B.
The resultant extends from the tail of A to head of B.
A special case when two vectors
are collinear, the addition
reduces to scalar addition
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VECTOR SUBTRACTION
The resultant difference between two vectors A and B
b d f ll can be expressed as follows:
( ) R A B A B = = +

RESOLUTION OF A VECTOR
Opposite to finding a resultant, a vector R can be
resol ed into t o ectors A and B along t o lines It resolved into two vectors A and B along two lines. It
is said that it is resolved into components acting
along lines a and b or x and y. Note that R can be a
resultant of an infinite number of two vectors, and
similarly, can be resolved into infinite possibilities
depending on a and b.
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2.3-VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Experimental evidence that forces can be treated as
i i h i d di i d vectors since it has magnitude, direction and sense,
and can be added using the parallelogram law.
Two common problems in Statics:
Find the resultant of two or more forces
Resolve a force into two components
If more than two forces are added If more than two forces are added
Add them two at a time
Replace the two by equivalent
Order of addition is not important
2.3-VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Example of adding and resolving forces
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2.3-VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
The parallelogram law requires the use of
i ill l i l h d trigonometry. We will learn a simpler method
Make use of Sine and Cosine laws
It applies to any triangle
and not only to those with
90 degrees angle
Pythagoras law is a special
case of the Cosine law
Remember in Sine Law
Sine is not ratio of sides
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HOMEWORK 2
Homework 2.1 is:
Problems: 2-1, 2-6, 2-23
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2.4-ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF
COPLANAR FORCES
Easier way to add forces and vectors is to resolve
h i h i l them into their rectangular components.
Selecting the axes over which the forces are resolved
allows us to add the forces algebraically because they
are in the same direction
2.4-ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF
COPLANAR FORCES
The axes are orthogonal.
A unit vector is a vector of magnitude = 1
The unit vectors in the direction of the x and y axies
are i and j
The vector F
x
is taken as the magnitude x i
x y x y
F F F F i F j = + = +

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2.4-ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF
COPLANAR FORCES
1 1 1 x y
F F i F j = +

Resolve each of the three
2 2 2
3 3 3
x y
x y
F F i F j
F F i F j
= +
=


forces along the x and y axes
2.4-ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF
COPLANAR FORCES
F F F F F

Add the 3 components

1 2 3
1 2 3
2 2 1
; tan
Rx x x x x
Ry y y y y
Ry
R Rx Ry
Rx
F F F F F
F F F F F
F
F F F
F
u

= + =
= + =
| |
= + =
|
\ .

each direction
algebraically
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