CE1000 – Engineering Mechanics

Dr. Karthikeyan M
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
NIT Rourkela
Resultant force

• a single force representing the sum

of two or more forces acting on an
object

• providing the same total effect of

the original forces

• with larger or smaller magnitude

than the original forces

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Resultant of coplanar forces

• It is defined as that single force which can replace a set of

forces, in a force system, and cause the same external
effect 1. Parallelogram Law

2. Triangle Method (tip-to-tail)

R
F2
=
F1

A A

F3
R = F1 + F2 + F3
external effect on particle, A is same
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Parallelogram law of forces

• If two forces acting at a point are represented in magnitude

and direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram,
then the resultant of these two forces is represented in
magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the
parallelogram passing through the same point

Magnitude of the resultant

R = P12 + P22 + 2P1P2Cos α
B C
P2
R
 Inclination of the resultant w.r.t. the force P1
  = tan-1 [(P2 Sin ) / (P1 + P2 Cos )]
O
P1 A

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Parallelogram Law

Q
R

 Law of cosines:

P

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Parallelogram law of forces

B C
P2 R


O
P1 A

If α = 900 , (two forces acting at a point are at right angle)

B C
R = P1 + P 2 2
2

P2 R
 P2
tan =
O P1
P1 A

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Triangle law of forces

• If two forces acting at a point can be represented both in

magnitude and direction, by the two sides of a triangle taken
in tip to tail order, the third side of the triangle represents
both in magnitude and direction of the resultant force F, the
sense of the same is defined by its tail at the tail of the first
force and its tip at the tip of the second force

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Triangle law of forces (Cont’d.)

• Let F1 and F2 be the two forces acting at a point A and θ is the included
angle.

F1 F1

R θ
=
θ
A F2
F2

• Arrange the two forces as two sides of a triangle taken in tip to tail order, the
third side of the triangle represents both in magnitude and direction the
resultant force R.

• The sense of the resultant force is defined by its tail at the tail of the first force
and its tip at the tip of the second force.

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Triangle law of forces (Cont’d.)

F1
F1

R θ
=
θ
A F2
F2

F1 F R
R = 2 =
 F1 sin  sin  sin(180 −  −  )


F2
where α and β are the angles made by the resultant force with the
force F1 and F2 respectively.
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Analyzing a force triangle

R 
A

 Law of sines
B

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Triangle - Law of cosines


a

 b

c 

c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos()
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos()
a2 = c2 + b2 – 2cb cos()

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Right triangle trigonometry

C
A


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Problems and solutions

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Problems and solutions

R2 = (100)2 + (150)2 + 2 (100) (150) Cos 65°

Tan  = 150 Sin 65°/ 100 + 150 Cos 65°

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Problems and solutions

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Problems and solutions

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Component of a force

• Component of a force, in simple terms, is the effect of a

force in a certain direction. A force can be split into infinite
number of components along infinite directions

• Usually, a force is split into two mutually perpendicular

components, one along the x-direction and the other along
y-direction (generally horizontal and vertical, respectively)

• Such components that are mutually perpendicular are called

‘Rectangular Components’

• The process of obtaining the components of a force is called

‘Resolution of a force’ 17
Resolution of a force

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Oblique component of a force

F2
M F  F
F 2


 F1
F1


The resolved part of the force F along OM and ON can obtained by using the
equation of a triangle.

F1 / Sin  = F2 / Sin  = F / Sin(180 -  - )

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Cartesian force notation

Fy F

Fx x

We ‘resolve’ forces into components using the Cartesian coordinate

(x and y axes) system
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Cartesian force notation

Fy F

Fx x

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Sign convention for force components

y
y x
+ve

x
+ve
• Force components that are directed along positive x-direction are taken +ve for
summation along the x-direction.

• Also force components that are directed along +ve y-direction are taken +ve for
summation along the y-direction.

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

1) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

20 kN

250

35 kN

2 60 kN
3

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

1) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

20 kN
20 cos θx
= 20 cos65
250
20 sin θx
= 20 sin65
35 kN

2 60 sin θx
= 60 sin33.7
3
60 kN
60 cos θx
= 60 cos33.7
2

3
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Numerical Problems & Solutions

1) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

20 kN
20 cos θx
= 20 cos65
250 Force X-comp Y-comp
20 sin θx
= 20 sin65 35 kN - 35 0
35 kN 20 kN -20 cos 65 -20 sin 65
60 kN -60 cos 33.7 +60 sin 33.7
2 60 sin θx
= 60 sin33.7
3
60 kN
60 cos θx
= 60 cos33.7
2 2

3 3
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Numerical Problems & Solutions

2) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

105 kN

15 kN

150
75 kN 400

350
60 kN
45 kN

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

2) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

15 sin150
105 kN

15 kN

15
0 15 cos150

75 kN 550 40
0

0
35 60 cos400
45 cos550
60 kN
45 kN
60 sin400

45 sin550

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

2) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

2) Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

∑Fx = – 75 + 15 cos 15 – 45 cos 55 + 60 Cos 40
= - 40.35 kN = 40.35 kN

∑Fy = + 105 + 15 Sin 15 – 45 sin 55 – 60 Sin 40

= + 33.45 kN

R = Fx + Fy = 52.42kN

R
Fy 
-1 Fx

tan x = ;  x = tan  
ΣFy = 33.45 kN Fx  Fy 
 
θx
 = 39.690
ΣFx = 40.35 kN

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

3) Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting

as shown in figure.

50kN 100kN
º
120
2
3

1 30º
2
75kN
25kN

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

3) Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting

as shown in figure.
50 sin θx = 50 sin 26.3 100 cos θx
= 100 cos 33.7 100kN
50kN

100 sin θx
º = 100 sin 33.7
50 cos θx 120
= 50 cos 26.3 2
3

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1
25 cos θx 75 cos θx
= 25 cos 63.43 2 = 75 cos 30

25kN 75kN
25 sin θx 75 sin θx
= 25 sin 63.43 = 75 sin 30
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Numerical Problems & Solutions

3) Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting

as shown in figure.

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

∑Fx = -50 Cos 26.31- 100 Cos33.69 – 25 Cos 63.43 + 75 Cos 30

= -74.26 kN

= 74.26 kN

∑FY = 50sin26.31- 100sin 33.69 – 75sin30 – 25sin63.43

= -93.17kN = 93.17kN

∑Fx

R = (∑Fx) 2 + (∑Fy) 2 = 119.14 kN
∑Fy
Θ = tan-1(∑Fy / ∑Fx ) = 51.44o R
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Numerical Problems & Solutions

4) A system of concurrent coplanar forces has five forces of

which only four are shown in figure. If the resultant is a force of
magnitude R = 250 N acting rightwards along the horizontal, find
the unknown fifth force.

150N 200N
110º
50°
45º

50N
120N

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

• Assume the fifth force F5 in the first quadrant, at an angle α, as shown.

• The 150 N force makes an angle of 20o w.r.t. horizontal
• R is the resultant of Five forces including F5

150N 200N
F5
110º
50°
20º α
R =250 N
45°

50N
120N
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Numerical Problems & Solutions

4) A system of concurrent coplanar forces has five forces of which only four
are shown in figure. If the resultant is a force of magnitude R = 250 N acting
rightwards along the horizontal, find the unknown fifth force.

200N
150N
F5y=F5 sin α
F5

110 º F5x=F5 cos α

50°
20º α
R =250 N
45°

120N 50N

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

4) A system of concurrent coplanar forces has five forces of which only four
are shown in figure. If the resultant is a force of magnitude R = 250 N acting
rightwards along the horizontal, find the unknown fifth force.

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Numerical Problems & Solutions

∑FX = R = + 250 & ΣFy = 0

ΣFx = + 250 = 200 cos 50 – 150 cos 20 – 50 cos 45 + F5 cos α

 F5 cos α = +297.75 N

∑FY = 0 = F5 sin α + 200sin 50 + 150 sin 20 – 120 + 50 sin 45

F5 sin α= -119.87 N

F5cosα = 297.75N
tan α = F5sin α /F5cos α
α = 21.90º
=0.402
α = 21.90º
F5 = 320.97N
F5= 320.97N
F5sinα = 119.87N
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• Thank you

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