STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

L3: EQUIVALENT SYSTEMS OF FORCES

MOMENT OF A FORCE

 The moment of a force about an axis or line is the measure of

its ability to produce turning or twisting about the axis.
 The magnitude of the moment of a force about an axis which
is perpendicular to a plane containing the line of action of the
force is defined as the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of
the force (M = Fd). The distance d is frequently called the
moment arm of the force.
 The axis of moments, which is perpendicular to the plane of
forces, appears as a point commonly called the center of
moments. In the figure, point O is the center of moments.
 The center of moments is really the intersection of the axis of
moments with the plane of the forces.
 The unit of moment is correspondingly the product of the dimensional units of force and
distance (N-m or lb-ft).
 To be more convenient, we shall assume to be positive whichever direction (clockwise or
counterclockwise). We must be careful to use only one convention throughout any particular
problem.

THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

Varignon’s Theorem. The moment of a force is equivalent to the sum of the moments of its
components.

Application: In some cases it is more convenient to determine the moment of a force from the
sum of the moments of its components rather than from the force itself. For example, suppose a
force F, making an angle 𝜃 with the X axis, passes through a point A having the coordinates (x, y).

In this case it is convenient to calculate the moment arm d. By resolving the force into its
components Fx and Fy at A, the moment arm of Fx about O is the coordinate distance y, and the
moment arm of Fy about O is the coordinate distance x. Then the moment of F is expressed by
<Taking clockwise as positive> Mo = F.d = Fx.y – Fy.x
From which the value of the moment arm d may be computed if desired.
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To solve for the intercepts of the line of action of F with X and Y axes, replace F by its components
at B and C in figure. Then, we have
<Taking clockwise as positive> Mo = Fx . iy
<Taking clockwise as positive> Mo = Fy . ix

Note that Fy at B and Fx at C both have zero moment about O since they both pass through O
and therefore have zero moment arms.

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1. In figure, a force F passing through C causes a

clockwise moment of 120 ft-lb about A and a clockwise moment
of 70 ft-lb about B. Determine the force and its x intercept ix.

RESULTANT OF PARALLEL FORCES

 A parallel force system is one in which the action lines of all

the forces are parallel. The resultant of such a system is
determined when it is known in magnitude, direction, and
position.
 The difference between a concurrent and a parallel force
system is that in the former the position of the resultant is
known by inspection whereas in the latter it is not.
 Consider the system of forces P, Q, and S shown in figure.
Select reference axes as shown, with the Y axis parallel to the
forces so that none of the forces have an X component and
the Y component of each force is its own magnitude.
 ∑ 𝑋 = 0 and ∑ 𝑌 = ∑ 𝐹 where ∑ 𝐹 is the algebraic summation
of the forces. Therefore, R =∑ 𝐹.
 To determine the position of R, select some convenient point
O as a moment center and employ the principle that the moment of a resultant equals the
moment sum of its parts: 𝑹 . 𝒅 = ∑ 𝑴𝒐 .

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2. Determine the resultant of the

parallel force system acting on the bar AB shown in
figure. The forces and positions are given.

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COUPLES
 Sometimes the resultant of a force system will be zero
in magnitude and yet have a resultant moment sum.
 The special case in which the resultant has zero
magnitude but does have a moment is said to consist
of a couple.
 Couple is made up of two equal, parallel, oppositely
directed forces.
 The perpendicular distance between the action lines
of the forces is called the moment arm of the couple.
 Their moment sum is constant and independent of the
moment center. This is proved by selecting moment
centers at A and B (see figure) to give respectively
<Taking clockwise as positive> ∑ 𝑀𝐴 = F . d
<Taking clockwise as positive> ∑ 𝑀𝐵 = F(d + a) – F . a = F . d
 To conclude, the moment of a couple C is equal to the product of one of the forces
composing the couple multiplied by the perpendicular distance between their action lines.
(C = F . d)

 Since the only effect of a couple is to produce a moment that is independent of the moment
center, the effect of a couple is unchanged if
a) The couple is rotated through any angle in its plane
b) The couple is shifted to any other position in its plane
c) The couple is shifted to a parallel plane
 For the somewhat special case in which the given force system is composed entirely of
couples in the same or parallel planes, the resultant consist of another couple equal to the
algebraic summation of the moment sum of the original couples.

SAMPLE PROBLEM.
3. Transform the couple shown in figure into an equivalent couple
whose forces are horizontal and act through points C and D.

4. Determine the resultant moment about point A of the system

of forces shown in figure. Each square is 1 ft. on a side.

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RESOLUTION OF A FORCE INTO A FORCE AND A COUPLE
 It sometimes becomes necessary to replace force acting at a given point by equal force
acting through some other point. This introduces a couple.
 For example, in figure a, let a known force F be acting through A. By adding two collinear
forces F’ and F” equal and parallel to F at B, the effect of F is unchanged. The forces F and F”
form a couple having the moment arm d. Since the moment of a couple is independent of its
moment center, it is convenient to represent this couple by the curved vector C = Fd in figure
b. F and F” having been disposed of, there remains only F’ which acts at B. The original force
at A has therefore been replaced by equal force acting at B plus a couple C having the
magnitude Fd.

Resolution of a Force into a Force and a Couple

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
5. In figure a system of forces reduces to a downward vertical force
of 400 lb through A plus a counterclockwise couple of 800 lb-ft.
Determine the single force that will produce an equivalent
effect.

6. Replace the system of forces acting on the frame in figure by a

resultant R at A and a couple acting horizontally through B and C.

RESULTANT OF NON-CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEMS

 It will be shown in kinetics of rigid bodies (dynamics) that the effect of an unbalanced non-
concurrent force system on a body is to give the body a motion consisting of a combined
translation and rotation.
 The translational effect is determined by the magnitude of the resultant R whose components
are ∑ 𝑋 and ∑ 𝑌.

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 The rotational effect is determined by the moment of the resultant force which may be
expressed in terms of the applied forces by R.d = ∑ 𝑀.
 Always remember that a resultant of a force system is defined as a force (or forces if the
resultant is a couple) which produces the same effect as the original set of forces. The
resultant must therefore equal the component effects of the given force system.
𝑅𝑥 = ∑ 𝑋 𝑅𝑦 = ∑ 𝑌 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑅 = 𝑅 . 𝑑 = ∑ 𝑀

SAMPLE PROBLEM 7: The rectangular framework shown in figure is

subjected to the indicated non-concurrent system of forces. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant; also its moment arm
relative to the origin O. Specify the action line of the resultant in terms of
its intercepts with the reference axes.

PROBLEMS:
1. In figure, assuming clockwise moments as positive, compute the
moment of a force F = 450 lb and of force P = 361 lb about points A,
B, C, and D. (Ans. F: MA = 1350 lb-ft CCW, MB = 2160 lb-ft CW, Mc =
1350 lb-ft CW, MD = 810 lb-ft CW; P: MA = 1.53 x 10-3 lb-ft CW or 0, MB
= 300 lb-ft CCW, Mc = 1201.48 lb-ft CCW, MD = 1201.48 lb-ft CW)

2. A parallel force system acts on the lever shown in figure.

Determine the magnitude and position of the resultant. (Ans. R =
110 lb downward, d = 6ft right of A)

3. Determine the resultant of the four parallel forces acting

on the rocker arm. (Ans. R = 50 lb downward, d = 4 ft to
the right of O)

4. Locate the amount and position of the

resultant of the loads acting on the Fink truss shown in
figure. (Ans. R = 3400 lb downward, d = 12. 06 ft to the
right of A)

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5. The three-step pulley shown in figure is subjected to the given
couples. Compute the value of the resultant couple. Also, determine
the forces acting at the rim of the middle pulley that are required to
balance the given system. (Ans. C = 760 lb-in CCW, F = 63.33 lb CCW)

6. A vertical force P at A and another vertical

force F at B in figure produce a resultant of 100
lb down at D and a counterclockwise couple C
of 200 lb-ft. Find the magnitude and direction
of forces P and F. (Ans. P = 300 lb downward, F
= 200 lb upward)

7. In a certain non-concurrent force system it is found that ∑ 𝑋 = −80 𝑙𝑏, ∑ 𝑌 = +160 𝑙𝑏, and
∑ 𝑀𝑂 = 480 𝑙𝑏 − 𝑓𝑡 in a counterclockwise sense. Determine the point at which the resultant
intersects at x-axis. (Ans. d = 2.68 ft right of O)

8. Determine completely the resultant of the forces acting on

the step pulley shown in figure. (Ans. F = 1254.89 lb, 44.21° S of
E)

9. Compute the resultant of the three forces shown in

figure. Locate its intersection with X and Y axes. (Ans.
R = 957.74 lb, 32.17° S of E, ix = 2.20 ft right of O, iy =
1.38 ft above O)

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10. A 500-N vertical force is applied to the end of a lever, which is
attached to a shaft at O. Determine (a) the moment of the
500-N force about O; (b) the horizontal force applied at A
that creates the same moment about O; (c) the smallest
force applied at A that creates the same moment about O;
(d) how far from the shaft a 1.2 kN vertical force must act to
create the same moment about O; (e) whether any one of
the forces obtained in parts b, c, or d is equivalent to the
original force. (Ans. a. 150 Nm CW, b. 288.46 N, c. 250 N, 30° S
of E, d. 0.25 m)

11. Replace the couple and force shown by an equivalent single

force applied to the lever. Determine the distance from the
shaft to the point of application of this equivalent force. (Ans. F
= 400 N downward, distance from shaft to pt. of application =
420 mm)

12. Two 80-N forces are applied as shown to the corners B

and D of a rectangular plate. (a) Determine the
moment of the couple formed by the two forces by
resolving each force into horizontal and vertical
components and adding the moments of the two
resulting couples. (b) Use the result obtained to
determine the perpendicular distance between lines BE
and DF. (Ans. a. 7.32 Nm CCW, b. 91.5 mm)

13. A worker tries to move a rock by applying a 360-N

force to a steel bar as shown. If two workers
attempt to move the same rock by applying a
force at A and a parallel force at C, determine
these two forces so that they will be equivalent to
the single 360-N force shown in the figure. (Ans. A
= 168 N 50° S of W, C = 192 N 50° S of W)

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14. A 4.80-m-long beam is subjected to the forces
shown. Reduce the given system of forces to
(a) an equivalent force-couple system at A,
(b) an equivalent force-couple system at B, (c)
a single force or resultant. Note: Since the
reactions at the supports are not included in
the given system of forces, the given system
will not maintain the beam in equilibrium. (Ans.
a. 1880 Nm CW, b. 1000 Nm CCW, c. 3.13 m
right of A)

15. Four tugboats are bringing an ocean liner

to its pier. Each tugboat exerts a 5-kN force
in the direction shown. Determine (a) the
equivalent force couple system at the
foremast O, (b) the point on the hull where
a single, more powerful tugboat should
push to produce the same effect as the
original four tugboats. (Ans. a. F = 13.33 kN,
47.28° S of E, b. x = 12.38 m)

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

 Adding two or more couples. This results in a new couple, the moment of which is obtained by
adding vectorially the moments of the given couples.
 Replacing a force with an equivalent force-couple system at a specified point. The force of a
force-couple system is equal to the original force, whereas the required couple vector is equal
to the moment of the original force about the given point. In addition, it is important to note
that the force and the couple vector are perpendicular to each other. Conversely, it follows
that a force-couple system can be reduced to a single force only if the force and couple
vector are mutually perpendicular (see the next paragraph).
 Replacing a force-couple system (with F perpendicular to M) with a single equivalent force.
The requirement that F and M be mutually perpendicular is satisfied in all two-dimensional
problems. The single equivalent force is equal to F and is applied in such a way that its
moment about the original point of application is equal to M.

Reference:
Beer, F. P., Johnston , E., & Mazurek, D. F. (2016). Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics 11th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Education.
Singer, F. L. (n.d.). Engineering Mechanics 2nd Ed. Harper & Row, New York, Evanston & London.

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