ENGINEERING MECHANICS

BAA1113

Chapter 2: Force Vectors (Static)

by
Pn Rokiah Bt Othman
Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources
rokiah@ump.edu.my
 Chapter Description

• Aims
– To review the Parallelogram Law and Trigonometry
– To explain the Force Vectors
– To explain the Vectors Operations
– To express force and position in Cartesian Vectors

• Expected Outcomes
– Able to solve the problems of force vectors in the mechanics
applications by using Parallelogram law and Trigonometry

• References
– Russel C. Hibbeler. Engineering Mechanics: Statics & Dynamics,
14th Edition
 Chapter Outline

2.1 Scalars and Vectors – part I

2.2 Vectors Operations – part I
2.3 Vectors Addition of Forces – part I
2.4 Cartesian Vectors – part II
2.5 Force and Position Vectors – part III
 2.1 Scalars and Vectors

What is What is
Scalars? Vectors A quantity that
A quantity that
has both
has only a
magnitude and
magnitude
direction

Source:http://www.automobiledimension.com/

Length of a mini car is 3.821 mm

quantity magnitude
Source:http:http://www.shodor.org

Position of the plane is 25 miles from west southwest

quantity magnitude direction

Identify scalars and vectors

Scalars Identify Vectors Identify

example of example of
scalars? vectors?
 Comparison of Scalars and Vectors

Scalars Vectors
A quantity that has
A quantity that has
both magnitude and
only a magnitude
direction

Position,
Mass, Length, Displacement,
Time, Velocity,
Temperature, Acceleration,
Volume,Density Momentum,Force
 Vectors

 Represent
 by a letter with an arrow over it such
as A or A 
 Magnitude is designated as A or simply A
 Commonly, vector is presented as A and its
magnitude (positive quantity) as A
 Characteristics of Vectors

 Represented graphically as an arrow

 Length of arrow = Magnitude of Vector
 Angle between the reference axis and arrow’s line of
action = Direction of Vector
 Arrowhead = Sense of Vector
 Example of Vectors

Magnitude of Vector = 4 units

Direction of Vector = 20° measured counterclockwise
from the horizontal axis
Sense of Vector = Upward and to the right

The point O is called tail

of the vector and the point
P is called the tip or head
 2.2 Vector Operations
 Multiplication and Division of a Vector
by a Scalar
 Product of vector A and scalar a = aA
 Magnitude = aA
 If a is positive, sense of aA is the same as sense
of A
 If a is negative sense of
 aA, it is opposite to the
 sense of A
 2.2 Vector Operations

 Multiplication and Division of a

Vector by a Scalar
 Negative of a vector is found by multiplying
the vector by ( -1 )
 Law of multiplication applies
 Eg: A/a = ( 1/a ) A, a≠0
 2.2 Vector Operations
 Vector Addition
 Addition of two vectors A and B gives a
resultant vector R by the parallelogram
law
 Result R can be found by triangle
construction
 Communicative
 Eg: R = A + B = B + A
 2.2 Vector Operations
 Vector Addition
 2.2 Vector Operations
 Vector Addition
 Special case: Vectors A and B are collinear
(both have the same line of action)
 2.2 Vector Operations

 Vector Subtraction
 Special case of addition
 Eg: R’ = A – B = A + ( - B )
 Rules of Vector Addition Applies
 2.2 Vector Operations
 Resolution of Vector
 Any vector can be resolved into two components by
the parallelogram law
 The two components A and B are drawn such that
they extend from the tail or R to points of
intersection
 2.3 Vector Addition of Forces
 When two or more forces are added,
successive applications of the
parallelogram law is carried out to find the
resultant
 Eg: Forces F1, F2 and F3 acts at a point O
 First, find resultant of
 F1 + F2
 Resultant,
 FR = ( F1 + F2 ) + F3
 Example of Vector Addition of Forces

 Fa and Fb are forces exerting on the hook.

 Resultant, Fc can be found using the

parallelogram law
 Lines parallel to a and b
 from the heads of Fa and Fb are
 drawn to form a parallelogram
 Similarly, given Fc, Fa and Fb
 can be found
 Steps to Solve the Vectors Operations

 Parallelogram Law
 Make a sketch using the parallelogram law
 Two components forces add to form the resultant
force
 Resultant force is shown by the diagonal of the
parallelogram
 The components is shown by the sides of the
parallelogram
 Steps to Solve the Vectors Operations

 Parallelogram Law
 To resolve a force into components along
two axes directed from the tail of the force
 Start at the head, constructing lines
parallel to the axes
 Label all the known and unknown force
magnitudes and angles
 Identify the two unknown components
 Steps to Solve the Vectors Operations

 Trigonometry
 Redraw half portion of the parallelogram
 Magnitude of the resultant force can be
determined by the law of cosines
 Direction if the resultant force can be
determined by the law of sines
 Steps to Solve the Vectors Operations

 Trigonometry
 Magnitude of the two components can be
determined by the law of sines
 Example 2.1

The screw eye is subjected to two forces F1

and F2. Determine the
magnitude and direction
of the resultant force.
 Solution Example 2.1

From Parallelogram Law

Unknown: magnitude of
FR and angle θ
 Solution Example 2.1

Trigonometry
Law of Cosines

FR  100 N 2  150 N 2  2100 N 150 N cos115

 10000  22500  30000  0.4226 
 212.6 N
 213 N
Solution Example 2.1

Trigonometry
Law of Sines

150 N 212.6 N

sin  sin 115 
sin  
150 N
0.9063
212.6 N
sin   39.8
Solution Example 2.1

Trigonometry
Direction Φ of FR measured from
the horizontal

  39.8  15
 


 54.8 

 Example 2.2

Resolve the 1000 N ( ≈ 100kg) force

acting on the pipe into the components in the
(a) x and y directions,
(b) and (b) x’ and y
directions.
 Solution Example 2.2
(a) Parallelogram Law

From the vector diagram,

F  Fx  Fy
Fx  1000 cos 40   766 N
Fy  1000 sin 40   643 N
 Solution Example 2.2

(b) Parallelogram Law

F  Fx  Fy '
 Solution Example 2.2

(b) Law of Sines

Fx ' 1000 N

sin 50  sin 60 
 sin 50  
Fx '  1000 N    884 .6 N
 
 sin 60 
Fy 1000 N

sin 70  sin 60 
 sin 70  
Fy  1000 N    1085 N
 
 sin 60 
 Example 2.3

The force F acting on the frame

has a magnitude of 500N and is
to be resolved into two components
acting along the members AB and
AC. Determine the angle θ,
measured below the horizontal,
so that components FAC is directed
from A towards C and has a
magnitude of 400N.
Solution Example 2.3

Parallelogram Law

500 N  FAB  FAC

 Solution Example 2.3

Law of Sines
400 N 500 N

sin  sin 60 
 400 N 
sin     sin 60 

 500 N 
sin   0.6928
  43.9
 Solution Example 2.3

Hence,

  180  60  43.9  76.1 
   

By Law of Cosines or
Law of Sines
Hence, show that FAB
has a magnitude of 561N
 Solution Example 2.3

F can be directed at an angle θ above the horizontal

to produce the component FAC. Hence, show that
θ = 16.1° and FAB = 161N
 Example 2.4

The ring is subjected to two forces

F1 and F2. If it is required that the
resultant force have a magnitude of
1kN and be directed vertically
downward, determine
(a) magnitude of F1 and F2
provided θ = 30°, and
(b) the magnitudes of F1 and F2 if
F2 is to be a minimum.
 Solution Example 2.4

(a) Parallelogram Law

Unknown: Forces F1 and F2
 Solution Example 2.4

Law of Sines
F1 1000 N


sin 30 sin 130 
F1  653 N
F2 1000 N


sin 20 sin 130 
F2  446 N
 Solution Example 2.4

(b) Minimum length of F2 occur

when its line of action is
perpendicular to F1. Hence
when

  90  20  70

F2 is a minimum
 Solution Example 2.4

(b) From the vector diagram

F1  1000 sin 70 N  940 N



F2  1000 cos 70 N  342 N


 Conclusion of The Chapter 2 part I

• Conclusions

– The scalars and vectors have been identified and

implemented in the mechanics

– The vector operations have been identified and

implemented in the mechanics
 Credits to:
Dr Nurul Nadhrah Bt Tukimat
nadrah@ump.edu.my

En Khalimi Johan bin Abd Hamid

khalimi@ump.edu.my

Roslina binti Omar

rlina@ump.edu.my