FORCES IN

3D SPACE

engineering mechanics
review course 3
COMPONENTS OF FORCES IN 3D SPACE
angles of the force with respect to
1 COMPONENTS METHOD positive axes
Given: Magnitude and three directions of the force θx , θy, θz

Fx = F cosθx Fy = F cosθy Fz = F cosθz

θx , θy , θz define the direction of the force

cos θx , cos θy , cos θz define the direction cosines of the force
F = Fx2 + Fy2 + Fz2 define the resultant of the force
PROBLEM NO. 1
A force of 500 N forms angles of 60°, 45°, and 120°, respectively, with the x,
y, and z axes. Find the components Fx , Fy , and Fz of the force.

Fx = F cosθx = 500 cos60° = 250 N

Fy = F cosθy = 500 cos45° = 353.55 N scalar components
Fz = F cosθz = 500 cos120° = -250 N

In vector form:
F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
F = 250 i + 353.55 j - 250 k
COMPONENTS OF FORCES IN 3D SPACE
2 VECTOR APPROACH
Given: Magnitude and two points
F magnitude of the force
F =Fλ
λ unit vector along the line of action of the force
y
F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
F = F cosθx i + F cosθy j + F cosθz k
Fy = y
(x2, y2, z2) F = F (cosθx i + cosθy j + cosθz k)
(x1, y1, z1) F= d
x
Fz = z
Fx = x
F = F ( d i + d j + d k)
x y z

x = x2 – x1 y = y2 – y1 ( xi + yj + zk )
z ( xi + yj + zk )
z = z2 – z1 F = F =F
d x2 + y2 + z2
d = x2 + y2 + z2
PROBLEM NO. 2
A force F of magnitude 500N is directed from A(-4,5,2) to B(6,1,-2). Find the
components Fx , Fy , and Fz of the force.
( xi + yj + zk )
1 Mode – 8 (Vctr) F =F
y
x2 + y2 + z2
2 1 (Vct A) ➛ 1 (3)
(-4,5, 2) F = 500 N x = 6 - (-4) =10 y = 1 - 5 = -4
3 (x, y, z) ➛ (10, -4, -4) ➛ CA
(6, 1,-2) z = -2 - 2 = -4
x➛÷

[
4 500( ➛ APPS ➛ 3 (Vct A)
]
10i - 4j - 4k
➛ Abs ➛ APPS ➛ 3 (Vct A) F = 500
z 102 + (-4)2 + (-4)2
500( Vct A ÷ Abs( Vct A))
F = 435.19 i - 174.08 j - 174.08 k
Fx Fy Fz
PROBLEM NO. 3
In the figure below, three cables support the 1500 kN weight.

1 Determine the tension in cable AB.

2 Determine the tension in cable AC.

3 Determine the tension in cable AD.

 (-3, -1.2,0) [
TAB = TAB
2i + 0j + 2.5k
22 + 02 + 2.52 ]
TAB = TAB (0.625i + 0j + 0.781k)

[ ]
(0,1.5, 0) -3i - 1.2j + 2.5k
TAC = TAC
TAC
TAD (-3)2+ (-1.2)2 + 2.52
(2, 0, 0)
TAB
TAC = TAC (-0.734i - 0.294j + 0.612k)
(0,0,-2.5)
TAD = TAD
[ 0i + 1.5j + 2.5k
02 + 1.52 + 2.52 ]
TAD = TAD (0i + 0.514j + 0.857k)
W = 1500 kN W = 0i + 0j - 1500 k
 TAB = TAB (0.625i + 0j+ 0.781k)

(-3, -1.2,0) TAC = TAC (-0.734i - 0.294j + 0.612k)

TAD = TAD (0i + 0.514j + 0.857k)

(0,1.5, 0) W = 0i + 0j – 1500k
TAC
TAD ΣFx = 0] 0.625TAB - 0.734TAC + 0TAD = 0 1
(2, 0, 0)
TAB ΣFy = 0]0TAB - 0.294TAC + 0.514TAD = 0 2
(0,0,-2.5) ΣFz = 0] 0.781TAB + 0.612TAC + 0.857TAD -1500 = 0
0.781TAB + 0.612TAC + 0.857TAD = 1500 3

TAB = 872.34 kN 1 TAD = 424.87 kN 3

W = 1500 kN
TAC = 742.80 kN 2
PROBLEM NO. 4
The horizontal boom OC, which is supported by a ball-and-socket joint and
two cables, carries the vertical force P = 8000 N.

1 Determine the tensile force in

cable AD.

2 Determine the tensile force in

cable CE.

3 Determine the magnitude of the

reaction at O.
 (-3.5, 0,3) TAD = TAD
[ 2.5i - 3j + 3k
2.52 + (-3)2 + 32 ]
TAD = TAD (0.508i - 0.609j + 0.609k)
(2.5, 0,3)

[ ]
TAD -3.5i - 6j + 3k
TCE
Oy TCE = TCE
(0,0,0)
(-3.5)2 + (-6)2 + 32
(0,3,0)
(0,5,0) TCE = TCE (-0.463i - 0.793j + 0.396k)
Ox
(0,6,0)
Oz RO = Oxi + Oyj + Ozk

∑MO = 0 P = 0i + 0j - 8000 k
 Draw all components and remove
Oz all forces with zero moment.
0.609TAD TAD = TAD (0.508i - 0.609j + 0.609k)
Oy
0.396TCE TCE = TCE (-0.463i - 0.793j + 0.396k)
0.609TAD
Ox ∑MO = 0
0.793TCE
0.508TAD
0.463TCE
 ∑MO = 0] Moment: x - axis Plane: y-z plane
z

0.609TAD 0.396TCE
0.609TAD

0.396TCE 3m A 2m B1m C
y
O

8000 N
0.508TAD ∑MOx = 0]
0.463TCE - 0.609TAD (3) + 8000(5) - 0.396TCE (6) = 0
1.827TAD + 2.376TCE = 40,000 1
 ∑MO = 0] Moment: z - axis Plane: x-y plane

A B C
y
0.609TAD O 3m 2m 1m

0.396TCE
x 0.508TAD 0.463TCE
∑MOz = 0]
+0.508TAD (3) - 0.463TCE (6) = 0
0.508TAD
0.463TCE 1.524TAD - 2.778TCE = 0 2
 ∑MOx = 0]
1.827TAD + 2.376TCE = 40,000 1
∑MOz = 0]
0.609TAD 1.524TAD - 2.778TCE = 0 2
Solving the two equations:
0.396TCE
TAD = 12,777.66 N 1

TCE = 7,009.77 N 2

0.508TAD
0.463TCE
 TAD = 12,777.66 N TCE = 7,009.77 N

∑Fx = 0] Ox + 0.508 (12,777.66) - 0.463

(7,009.77) = 0 Ox =- 3,245.53 N
Oz
∑Fy = 0] Oy - 0.609 (12,777.66) - 0.793
0.609TAD
(7,009.77) = 0 Oy =13,340.34 N
Oy
0.396TCE ∑Fz = 0] Oz + 0.609 (12,777.66) + 0.396
0.609TAD (7,009.77) - 8000 = 0
Ox Oz = -2,557.46 N
0.793TCE
0.508TAD RO = (3245.53)2 + (13,340.34)2 + (2557.46)2
0.463TCE
RO = 13,965.63 N 3
MOMENT OF A FORCE

M= r x F
y Fy j
F = force in vector form
F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
Fx i
r (x, y, z) r = (point where the force passes thru)
O x
- (point where you will take moment)
Fz k
r= xi+yj+zk
z i j k
M= x y z
Fx Fy Fz
 for TAD: TAD = TAD (0.508i - 0.609j + 0.609k)
(-3.5, 0,3)
r = (0,3,0) - (0,0,0) = 0i + 3j+ 0k
MO = r x TAD = TAD (1.827i + 0j - 1.524k)
(2.5, 0,3)
TAD
TCE for TCE: TCE = TCE (-0.463i - 0.793j + 0.396k)
Oy
(0,0,0)
r = (0,6,0) - (0,0,0) = 0i + 6j+ 0k
(0,3,0)
(0,5,0) MO = r x TCE = TCE (2.376i + 0j + 2.778k)
Ox
(0,6,0)
Oz for P: P = 0i + 0j - 8000k)

∑MO = 0 r = (0,5,0) - (0,0,0) = 0i + 5j+ 0k

MO = r x P = -40000i + 0j + 0k
 MO = TAD (1.827i + 0j – 1.524k)
(-3.5, 0,3)
MO = TCE (2.376i + 0j + 2.778k)
MO = -40000i + 0j + 0k
(2.5, 0,3)
TAD
TCE ∑MOx = 0] 1.827TAD + 2.376TCE - 40,000 = 0
Oy
(0,0,0) 1.827TAD + 2.376TCE = 40,000 1
(0,3,0) 2
∑MOz = 0] -1.524TAD + 2.778TCE = 0
(0,5,0)
Ox
(0,6,0) Solving the two equations:
Oz
TAD = 12,777.66 N 1
∑MO = 0
TCE = 7,009.77 N 2