Engineering Mechanics may be defined as the

science which considers the effect of forces on rigid

bodies.
Rigid Body – defined as a definite amount of matter
the parts of which are fixed in position relative to
each other.

Force – defined as that of which changes, or tends to

change the state motion of a body.

Force System – any arrangement where two or more

forces act on a body or on a group of related bodies.
1. The parallelogram law: The resultant of two
forces is the diagonal of the parallelogram formed
on the vectors of these forces.
2. Two forces are in equilibrium only when equal in
magnitude, opposite in direction, and collinear in
action.
3. A set of forces in equilibrium may be added to any
system of forces without changing the effect of the
original system.
4. Action and reaction forces are equal but
oppositely directed.
Scalars – quantities which possess magnitude only
and can be added arithmetically.
Vectors – quantities which possess both magnitude
and direction and can be combined geometrically.

The parallelogram law states that the resultant of

two forces is the diagonal of the parallelogram
formed on the vectors of these forces.
Resultant – a single force or vector that is the
equivalent of a set of forces or vectors.
If two forces are represented by their free vectors
placed tip to tail, their resultant vector is the third
side of the triangle, the direction of the resultant
being from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the
last vector.

v2 = vo2 + 2as

Convert: 60 miles per hour to feet per second

Graphical Method. Two vectors can be added to give
a resultant; this resultant in turn can be added to a
third vector, etc. until all the vectors have been
added together to give an overall resultant. These
vectors can be added in any order. This method is
sometimes called the head-to-tail method.
Analytical Method. The vectors can be resolved into
components that coincide with arbitrarily chosen
axes.
Rx =  Fx (x-comp. of the resultant)
Ry =  Fy (y-comp. of the resultant)
R= Rx2 + Ry2 (resultant)
tan x = Ry/Rx (direction of the resultant
with respect to x-axis)

Note: In determining the signs, follow the quadrant

signs of Cartesian Coordinate System.
Determine completely the resultant of the con-
current force system as shown.
Y
300 N
200 N

60° 30° X
400 N
45°

50 N 100 N
Compute the value of the resultant of the con-
current forces shown.
Y
300 N

100 N
2
1
60° X
45° 30°

200 N 400 N
The resultant of the concurrent forces shown is
300N pointing up along the Y axis. Compute the
values of F and  required to give this resultant.
Y
F

 X
500 N
30°

240 N
The block is acted upon by its weight W = 200N, a
horizontal force Q = 600N, and the pressure P
exerted by the inclined plane. The resultant R of
these forces is up and parallel to the incline thereby
sliding the block up it. Determine P and R.
W = 200N

Q = 600N

P
30° 15°
If R is the resultant of the forces P and Q, find P and
Q.
Y

O 25° X
50°
5
12
R = 260 lb
Q
Determine the resultant of the three concurrent
forces as shown.
Y
F1 = 50 N
F2 = 10 N

4
3
60° X
O

F3 = 60 N
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.
That is: Mo = F x d

where: F = force
d = perpendicular distance or the
moment arm
The moment is equal to twice the area of the triangle
formed by joining the center of moments with the
ends of the force.
F

Mo = F x d
The effect of an external force on a rigid body
remains unchanged if that force is moved along its
line of action.

F2 = F

F
d
F1 = F

O
The moment of a force is equivalent to the sum of
moments of its components.
d
b
P R f

c g
a F
e Rxd=Fxd

o
Assuming clockwise moments as positive, compute
the moment of force F = 450 N and a force P = 361 N
about points A, B, and C.
A

P
1m

1m B
In the figure below, a force F passing through C
causes a clockwise moment of 120 N-m about A and
a clockwise moment of 70 N-m about B. Determine
the force and its x-intercept ix.
A
2m
Fx C Action Line of F

3m Fy
Fx D B
O ix
Fy
5m
A force P passing through points A and B has a
clockwise moment of 300 N-m about O. Compute the
value of P.
Y

3m
B
X
O 6m
The moment of a certain force F is 180 N-m
clockwise about O and 90 N-m counter-clockwise
about B. If its moment about A is zero, determine the
force.
Y

3m
B
X
O 6m
PARALLEL FORCES – one in which the action lines
of all the forces are parallel.

Rx =  Fx
Ry =  Fy
R= Rx2 + Ry2
tan x = Ry/Rx
Determine the resultant of the parallel forces system
acting on the bar AB shown below.

20 N 10 N 40 N

2m 3m 3m

A B

10 N
A parallel force system acts on the lever shown
below. Determine the magnitude and position of the
resultant.

30 N 60 N 20 N 40 N

2m 3m 2m 4m
A
A beam of length L supports a load which varies
from w N/m at the right end to zero at the left end.
Determine the magnitude and position of the
resultant load.
w N/m

L
The beam AB supports a load which varies from an
intensity of 50 N/m to 200 N/m. Calculate the
magnitude and position of the resultant load.

200 N/m

50 N/m

A B

12m
COUPLE – two parallel, non-collinear forces that are
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. It is a
special case in which the resultant has zero
magnitude but does have a moment. This moment
sum is constant and independent of the moment
center.
F

d
A
a
B
F
Determine the resultant of the parallel forces shown
below. Determine also the moments at points A, B, C,
D and E.

10 N 40 N

2m 3m C D 2m

A B E
1m

20 N 30 N
Determine the resultant moment about point A of the
system of forces shown below. Each square is 1m on
a side.
80 N 80 N
100 N
100 N
100 N

A 200 N
The cantilever truss shown carries a vertical load of
2400 N. The truss is supported by bearings at A and
B which exert the forces Av, Ah and Bh. The four
constitute two couples which must have opposite
moment effects to prevent movement of the truss.
Determine the magnitude of the supporting forces.
B B h

4m

Ah
6m A
2400 N Av
It is sometimes becomes necessary to replace a
force acting at a given point by an equal force acting
through some other point. This introduces a couple.
F”

A d d
B B
F
F
F’
(a) (b)
A short compression member carries eccentric load
P = 200 N situated 0.2m from the axis of the member.
Determine the equivalent axial load and a couple
that is applied at the axis of the member.
P = 200N
Replace the system of forces acting on the frame by
a resultant R at A and a couple acting horizontally
through B and C.
20N

1m
A
B
3m
2m

C
4m
30N 60N
 Rx =  Fx
Ry =  Fy
R= Rx2 + Ry2
tan x = Ry/Rx

Rxd=M
The rectangular framework shown in the next slide 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.
 Y 100N
20N
45°
60N
30°
3m
4m
O X
60°

30N
100N
In a certain non-concurrent force system, it is found
that  Fx = -80 N,  Fy = +160 N and  Mo = 480 N-m in
a counter-clockwise sense. Determine the point that
which the resultant intersects at X-axis.
Compute the resultant of the three forces shown
below. Locate its intersection with the X and Y-axes.
Each square is 1m on a side.

Y
390 N

5
12

300 N
O X
722 N
Determine the resultant of the three forces acting on
the dam and locate its intersection with the base AB.
For good design, this intersection should occur
within the middle third of the base. Does it?

7m

F = 6,000 N
P = 10,000 N W = 24,000 N
4m
6m 60°

A 18m B