1

MECH 182
STATICS /
MECH 106
BASIC MECHANICS
FORCES
 Forces
2
• A force represent the action of one body on another.
• It is characterized by its point of application, its
magnitude and its direction. Therefore a force is a vector
quantity.
• When several forces act on a body or group of bodies, the
constitute a system of forces or force system.
• A system of forces can be classified as collinear (i.e. they
act along the same line), parallel (coplanar) (i.e. they lie
in the same plane) or concurrent (i.e. their line of action
intersect at a common point).
 Classification of System of Forces
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 Resultant of a System of Concurrent Coplanar Forces
4
• The resultant of a system of forces is the simplest equivalent force
system to which the system can be reduced.
• Forces obey the parallelogram law of vector addition and this law
can be used to find the resultant of a pair of concurrent forces.
• The parallelogram law of vector addition states that if two vectors
P and Q are represented in magnitude and direction by straight
lines OA and OB, then their resultant R is represented in
magnitude and direction by the diagonal OC of the parallelogram
OACB.
 Diagram demonstrating parallelogram law
5 A A
α
P Q
P

R θ C
O O θ

Q Q P
α
B B
Parallelogram Law

• The vector equation is

• 𝑂𝐴 + 𝑂𝐵 = 𝑂𝐶
• 𝑃+𝑄 =𝑅
 Cosine Law and Sine Law
6
 Example 1: Two coplanar forces with magnitudes 96 N and 80 N act
at a point O. Determine the magnitude and direction (with
7 respective to the x-axis) of the resultant if the angle between the
forces is 120˚

96 N

120◦

80 N
 Example 1 solution
8 • Free-Body Diagram (FBD)

80 N B
A
60◦
θ
R 96 N

96 N

120◦

C 80 N
 Example 1 solution continues
9 • Considering triangle ABC and using the cosine law,
• Magnitude of the resultant R

• 𝑅= 962 + 802 − 2 96 80 𝑐𝑜𝑠60°

• 𝑅 = 7936
• 𝑅 = 89.084 N ………..ans
• The direction θ of the resultant force is calculated using the sine law
96 𝑁 89.08 𝑁
• =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛60°

• 𝜃 = 68.96°……….ans
 Example 2: The screw eye below is subjected to two forces
10 𝑭𝟏 and 𝑭𝟐 . Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force.
 Example 2 solution:
11 • FBD
 Example 2 solution continues:
• From the parallelogram, the vector triangle is constructed.
12
• Using the cosine law and the sine law;
 Exercise 2: What is the angle θ if the resultant R of the
13 two forces have a magnitude of 1000-Ib? For this
condition, what will be the angle β between R and the
horizontal?
 Exercise 1: The two forces 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 are joined as shown.
14 Determine the resultant force.

𝐹1 = 100 𝑁

130˚
𝐹2 = 100 𝑁
 Forces 𝐹1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 act on the bracket as shown. Determine
the resultant and the direction of the resultant with
15 respect to 𝐹2 .
 Resolution of Forces into Components
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• When a force is resolved into two components
along the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes, the components are
called rectangular components.

• The process of obtaining the rectangular

components is called resolution of forces.
 Resolving the Force F into its Rectangular Components
17 (using the angle 𝜃)
• 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

• 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
 Resolving the Force F into its Rectangular Components
18 (using the dimensions on the triangle)
𝐹𝑥 𝑎
• =
𝐹 𝑐

𝐹𝑦 𝑏
• =
𝐹 𝑐
 Example 1: Three coplanar forces of magnitude 80 N, 50 N and
60 N act at a point O as shown. Determine the resultant of these
19 forces.

50 N
60 N

60˚
120˚
80 N
 Example 1 solution:
• FBD y
20
R
෍ 𝑭𝒚

60 N
50 N
α
෍ 𝑭𝒙
60˚
120˚
x
80 N
 Example 1 solution continues:
21 • Resolution of the forces;
• The sum of the x components
• σ 𝐹𝑥 = 80 cos 0° + 50 cos 60° − 60 cos 60°
• σ 𝐹𝑥 = 75 𝑁
• The sum of the y components
• σ 𝐹𝑦 = 80 sin 0° + 50 sin 60° + 60 sin 60°

• σ 𝐹𝑦 = 95.26 𝑁

• Applying Pythagoras’ theorem or using the cosine law

2
• 𝑅= (σ 𝐹𝑥 ) +(σ 𝐹𝑦 )2
 Example 1 solution continues:
22 • 𝑅= (75.00)2 +(95.26)2

• 𝑅 = 121.24 𝑁………………..ans
 Example 2: The link below is subjected to two forces, 𝐹1
23 and 𝐹2 . Determine the magnitude and the direction of the
resultant force.
 Example 2 solution:
24
• Resolving the forces in their rectangular components and summing
them the magnitude of the resultant force is calculated as follows;
 Example 2 solution continues:
25
• The direction of the resultant force can be calculated as
 Exercise 2: Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force.
26
 Exercise 1: Four forces act on bolt as shown below.
27 Determine the magnitude of the resultant force.
 Rectangular Components of a Force in Space
28
y

𝐹𝑦

𝜃𝑦 𝑭
𝜃𝑧 𝜃𝑥 𝐹𝑥
x

𝐹𝑧

z
 Rectangular Components of the force F with the angles
29 between the force and the axes
• 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑥
• 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑦
• 𝐹𝑧 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑧
• The force vector or cartesian vector

• 𝑭 = 𝑭𝒙 𝒊Ԧ + 𝑭𝒚 𝒋Ԧ + 𝑭𝒛 𝒌

• 𝑭 = 𝑭(𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒙 𝒊Ԧ + 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒚 𝒋Ԧ + 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒛 𝒌)

 Rectangular Components of the force F with the angles
30 between the force and the axes

• 𝐹𝑅 = 𝐹 𝜆Ԧ
• Where

• 𝜆Ԧ = (cos 𝜃𝑥 𝑖Ԧ + cos 𝜃𝑦 𝑗Ԧ + cos 𝜃𝑧 𝑘)

• 𝜆Ԧ = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
• Relationship between the angles 𝜃𝑥 , 𝜃𝑦 , 𝜃𝑧
• 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒙 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒚 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒛 = 𝟏
 Example 1: Express the force F shown in the figure
31 below as a cartesian vector
 Example 1 solution:
32
 Example 2: Determine the magnitude and the coordinate
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direction angles of the resultant force acting on the ring in
the figure below
 Example 2 solution
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 Example 3: the pole is subjected to a force F which has
components 𝐹𝑥 = 1.5 𝑘𝑁 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑧 = 1.25 𝑘𝑁. If β=75˚,
35 determine the magnitudes of 𝐹 and 𝐹𝑦
 Solution:
36 • 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛼 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛽 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝛾 = 1
1.5 2 1.25 2
• + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 75𝜊 + =1
𝐹 𝐹

• Therefore:
• 𝑭 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟐 𝒌𝑵
• 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛽
• 𝐹𝑦 = 2.021 𝑐𝑜𝑠 75𝜊 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟑𝟏 𝒌𝑵
 Rectangular Components of the force F defined by the
location of two points
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y
B (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , 𝑧2 )

F 𝑑𝑦 = (𝑦2 −𝑦1 )

𝑑𝑧 = (𝑧2 −𝑧1 )
A (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , 𝑧1 )
𝑑𝑥 = (𝑥2 −𝑥1 )
z
 Rectangular Components of the force F defined by the
location of two points
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• 𝑑Ԧ = 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵

• 𝑑Ԧ = 𝑑𝑥 𝑖Ԧ + 𝑑𝑦 𝑗Ԧ + 𝑑𝑧 𝑘

• 𝐹𝑅 = 𝐹 𝜆Ԧ
1
• 𝜆Ԧ = 𝑑𝑥 𝑖Ԧ + 𝑑𝑦 𝑗Ԧ + 𝑑𝑧 𝑘
𝑑

2
• 𝑑= 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧 2

• Finding the components of the force F

𝑭𝒅𝒙 𝑭𝒅𝒚 𝑭𝒅𝒛
• 𝑭𝒙 = , 𝑭𝒚 = , 𝑭𝒛 =
𝒅 𝒅 𝒅

• 𝑭 = 𝑭𝒙 𝒊Ԧ + 𝑭𝒚 𝒋Ԧ + 𝑭𝒛 𝒌
 Example 4: The hinge plate is supported by a cord AB. If
39 the force in the cord is 340 Ib, express this force directed
from A to B as a Cartesian vector.
 Example 4 solution
40 • 𝑑𝑥 = −8𝑖, 𝑑𝑦 = −9𝑗, 𝑑𝑧 = 12𝑘

2
• 𝑑= 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 + 𝑑𝑧 2 = −8 2 + −9 2 + 12 2 = 17

• 𝐹Ԧ = 𝐹𝑥 𝑖Ԧ + 𝐹𝑦 𝑗Ԧ + 𝐹𝑧 𝑘
𝐹𝑑𝑥 −8𝑖
• 𝐹𝑥 = = 340 × = −0.4706,
𝑑 17

𝐹𝑑𝑦 −9
• 𝐹𝑦 = = 340 × = −0.5294,
𝑑 17

𝐹𝑑𝑧 12
• 𝐹𝑧 = = 340 × = 0.7059
𝑑 17

• Therefore

• 𝑭 = −𝟎. 𝟒𝟕𝟎𝟔Ԧ𝒊 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟗𝟒Ԧ𝒋 + 𝟎. 𝟕𝟎𝟓𝟗𝒌

 The roof is supported by cables as shown in the photo. If the cables
exert forces FAB = 100 N and FAC = 120 N on the wall hook at A as
41 shown in the Figure below, determine the resultant force acting at A.
Express the result as a Cartesian vector.
 Example 5 solution
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 Equilibrium of a Particle
43 • A particle is said to be in equilibrium if it remains at rest if originally at
rest, or has a constant velocity if originally in motion.
• For equilibrium to be maintained, Newton’s first law of motion must be
satisfied.
• This requires that the resultant force acting on a particle should be zero.
i.e.
• σ𝐹 = 0
• Where σ 𝐹 is the vector sum of all the forces acting on the particle.
• Thus, all the forces acting in all direction should sum up to zero.
• σ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎, σ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎, and σ 𝑭𝒛 = 𝟎
• These are known as the equations of equilibrium.
 Example 1: Two cables AC and BC are joined together at C
44 and a load of 2000 N is applied as shown. Determine the
tensions in the cables.

A B
30˚ 45˚

2000 N
 Solution to example 1:
45 • Free-Body Diagram (FBD) of system
y
𝑇1 𝑇2
A B
30˚ 45˚

30˚ 45˚
x
C

2000 N
46 • Applying the equilibrium equations
• σ 𝐹𝑥 = 0
• −𝑇1 cos 30° + 𝑇2 cos 45° = 0
• −0.8660𝑇1 + 0.7071𝑇2 = 0 ………………..(1)

• σ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

• 𝑇1 sin 30° + 𝑇2 sin 45° − 2000 = 0

• 0.500𝑇1 + 0.7071𝑇2 =2000 …………………(2)
• Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously,
• 𝑻𝟏 = 𝟏𝟒𝟔𝟒. 𝟏 𝑵 ……………ans
• 𝑻𝟐 = 𝟏𝟕𝟗𝟑. 𝟏 𝑵……………..ans
 Exercise 1: Determine the tensions in cables BA and BC
47 necessary to support the 60 kg cylinder D
 Exercise 2: A sailor is being rescued using a boatswain’s chair that is suspended
from a pulley that can roll freely on the support cable ACB and is pulled at a
48 constant speed by cable CD. Knowing that α = 30˚ and β = 10˚ and that the combine
weight of the boatswain’s chair and the sailor is 900 N, determine the tension in (a)
the support cable ACB (b) the traction cable CD
49 Questions
50

Assignment Two