Forces in Plane

Basic Mechanics I: Statics-271

Spring 2016
January 13, 2016

Scalar and Vector

A scalar is a positive or negative number. Example: mass and temperature.
A Vector has a magnitude and direction where the arrowhead represents
the sense of the vector.
Multiplication or division of a vector by a scalar will change only the
magnitude of the vector.
If the scalar is negative, the sense of the vector will change so that it acts
in the opposite sense.

Multiplication

Division

Vector Addition
If vectors are collinear, the resultant vector is the algebraic or scalar addition.
R =A+ B
Parallelogram Law: Two (non-collinear) forces add according to the parallelogram
law.
The component form the sides of the parallelogram and the resultant is the diagonal.
To find the components of a vector force along any two axes, extend lines
from the head of the force, parallel to the axes, to form the components.
To obtain the resultant or the components, show how the forces add by tip-totail using the triangle rule, and then use the law of cosines and the law of
sines to calculate their magnitudes.
FR F1 F2 2F1 F2 cos R
2

FR
F
F2
1
sin R sin 1 sin 2

Example 1: Resultant Force on a Screw Eye

The screw eye shown in subjected to two forces F 1 and F2. Determine the
magnitude and the direction of the resultant force
Solution:
Step 1: Form a parallelogram.

Step 2: From the parallelogram, construct the vector triangle.

Example 1: Resultant Force on a Screw Eye

The screw eye shown in subjected to two forces F 1 and F2. Determine the
magnitude and the direction of the resultant force
Step 3: Use the law of cosines to determine the magnitude of the resultant force.
FR F1 F2 2F1 F2 cos R 100 2 150 2 2100 150 cos 115 o
2

212 .6 N

Step 4: Use the law of sines to determine the magnitude angle .

150
212 .6
150
o
sin

sin
115
39 .8 o

o
212 .6
sin 115
sin

Step 5: Now, determine the direction () of FR measured from the horizontal.

15 39 .8 15
54 .8 o

FR 212 .6 N

54 .8

Rectangular Components (2D)

Vectors Fx and Fy are rectangular components of vector F.

The resultant force is determined from algebraic sum of its components.

FRx Fx
FR

tan

FRy Fy
2

Rx

FRy
FRx

FRy

Example 2: Components of Forces Acting on a Boom

Determine the x and y components of F1 and F2 acting on the boom, and find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
Solution:
Step 1: Find the components of F1.
F1 is resolved into x and y direction by the parallelogram law.
Because, F1x acts in the x direction, and F1y acts on +y direction,
we have
F1x 200 sin 30 o 100 N
F1y 200 cos 30 o 173 N

Step 2: Find the components of F2.

F2 x 12

260 13
F2 y
5

260 13

F2 x 240 N

x direction

F2 y 100 N

y direction

Example 2: Components of Forces Acting on a Boom

Determine the x and y components of F1 and F2 acting on the boom, and find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
Step 3: Find the sum of all components in x direction.
FRx F1x F2 x 100 240 140 N
FRy F1y F2 y 173 100 73 N

Step 4: Find the magnitude of the resultant force.

FR 140 2 73 2 158 N

Step 5: Find the direction of the resultant force.

tan 1

FRy
FRx

tan 1

73
27 .5o
140