2.

1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law

2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 1, page 1 of 4
1. Determine the magnitude and direction
of the resultant of the forces shown.
150 N

30°
200 N

1 Construct a parallelogram by drawing two

lines. Each line starts at the tip of one vector
Tip and is parallel to the other vector.

150 N
Parallel
Tip
30° 30°

200 N
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 1, page 2 of 4
2 Since opposite sides of a parallelogram are
equal in length, the length of each line
represents the magnitude of the vector opposite.
200 N

150 N
150 N

30° 30°

200 N

200 N

150 N 150 N
R

30°

200 N
Tails
3 The resultant R is drawn from the tails of the
vectors to the opposite vertex of the parallelogram.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 1, page 3 of 4

4 This is not the resultant because it is not

200 N drawn from the intersection of the tails.

Heads 150 N
150 N

200 N
Tails Head

200 N

150 N 150 N 150 N

R R

30° 30°

200 N 200 N

5 To calculate the magnitude and direction of R, consider

the triangle formed by one half of the parallelogram.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 1, page 4 of 4
Trigonometric formulas for a
150 N general triangle are given below.
R
a
30°

200 N
C B
6 Use trigonometry to calculate the magnitude and direction
of the resultant.

R2 = (200 N)2 + (150 N)2 2(200 N)(150 N) cos 30°

b c
The result is
A
R = 102.66 N Ans. Law of cosines

sin = sin 30° C2 = A2 + B2 2AB cos c

150 N R
= 102.66 N
Solving gives Law of sines
sin a sin b sin c
= 46.9° Ans. = =
A B C
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 2, page 1 of 3
2. Determine the magnitude and direction
of the resultant of the forces shown.
y

x
10°

3 kN

2 kN

20° 1 Construct a parallelogram by drawing

two lines parallel to the forces. y
x
10°
3 kN

2 kN
2 kN

3 kN 20°
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 2, page 2 of 3
2 Draw the resultant R from the tails of the vectors to the
opposite vertex of the parallelogram. y
Tails
x
10°

3 kN

20°
2 kN R
2 kN

3 kN

3 To calculate the magnitude and direction of R, consider y

the triangle formed by one half of the parallelogram.
x
10° 20° 20°
R
3 kN 2 kN

20° 10°
2 kN R
2 kN 3 kN

10°
3 kN
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 2, page 3 of 3
4 Use trigonometry to calculate the magnitude 5 Law of cosines
and direction of the resultant.
R2 = (3 kN)2 + (2 kN)2 2(3 kN)(2 kN) cos 120°

20° R = 4.359 kN Ans.

R 20°
2 kN

10° total angle

= 10° + 90° + 20° = 120°
3 kN

6 Law of sines 7 Angle measured with y

respect to the vertical axis
sin sin 120°
=
3 kN R = 4.359 kN x
Solving gives

= 36.6° = 36.6°

R = 4.36 kN
20°

36.6° + 20° = 56.6° Ans.

2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 3, page 1 of 3
3. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.

100 N

110°

1 Construct a parallelogram
100 N
40°
80 N
y

110°

40°
80 N
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 3, page 2 of 3
2 Draw the resultant R from the tails of the vectors to 3 To calculate R, consider the triangle formed
the opposite vertex of the parallelogram. by the lower half of the parallelogram.

100 N 100 N 4 Calculate angle

80 N
y y
180° 110° 40° = 30°

R R

110° 110° 5 Parallel lines make 30° angle

with vertical direction
100 N 40°
40°
80 N 40° 30°

80 N

6 Calculate angle

30° + 40° = 70°

7 Law of cosines

R2 = (80 N)2 + (100 N)2 2(80 N)(100 N) cos 70°

R = 104.54 N Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 3, page 3 of 3
8 Calculate the angle that the y
resultant makes with the vertical.
R = 104.54 N
Law of sines
sin sin 70°
=
100 N R 104.54 N
Solving gives 40° 70° 100 N

= 64.0°

9 Angle measured from the vertical

y

R = 104.54 N

64°

40° + 64.0° = 104.0° Ans.

40°
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 4, page 1 of 4
4. The resultant of the two forces acting on the screw eye is known to
be vertical. Determine the angle and the magnitude of the resultant.

x
30°

40 lb

60 lb
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 4, page 2 of 4
1 To determine what needs to be calculated, make some
sketches of several possible parallelograms.
y y y

x x x
30° R 30° 30°
40 lb
40 lb 40 lb

2 Each parallelogram is based on two facts that are given:

1) One side of the parallelogram is known (40 lb at 30°), and

2) The resultant R lies on the y axis.

2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 4, page 3 of 4
3 How do we determine the actual parallelogram? We have
to use the additional fact that one of the forces is 60 lb.
y

x
30°
40 lb
4 The point of the intersection of the arc and the
vertical axis must be the vertex of the
parallelogram since it lies on the vertical axis and
also lies a "distance" of 60 lb from the tip of the
40-lb vector.
5 Now the parallelogram is completely defined.
Radius of circular y
arc = 60 lb x
30°
40 lb
60 lb

60 lb 40 lb
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 4, page 4 of 4
6 To calculate the resultant R and and the
angle (see below), analyze the triangle
formed by the left half of the parallelogram. 9 Law of sines
7 Angle = 90° 30° sin sin 60° 40 lb
y =
30° = 60° 40 lb 60 lb
x 60°
Solving gives + 30°
40 lb R
30° = 35.26°
60 lb

R
Parallel
10 The sum of the angles of the triangle is 180°:

+ ( + 30°) + 60° = 180°

60 lb 35.26°
8 Corresponding angles are equal Solving gives

= 54.74° Ans.

11 Law of sines 54.74°

sin 60°= sin( + 30°)
60 lb R
Solving gives

R = 69.0 lb Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 5, page 1 of 2
5. Determine the magnitude F and the angle , if the
resultant of the two forces acting on the block is to be a
horizontal 80-N force directed to the right.

50 N
F

25°

1 Draw the parts of parallelogram that are known:

50 N
3 Two sides are of length 50 N and make
25° an angle of 25° with the horizontal axis.
80 N

50 N
25°
2 The diagonal of the parallelogram (the
resultant) is 80 N long and horizontal.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 5, page 2 of 2
4 Complete the parallelogram.
50 N
F

25° 80 N
25°

50 N
F 25°

5 Analyze the triangle forming the lower half of the parallelogram.

80 N
25°

50 N 6 Calculate F from the law of cosines.

F
F2 = (50 N)2 + (80 N)2 2(50 N)(80 N) cos 25°

The result is
7 Calculate from the law of sines.
sin 25° sin F = 40.61 N Ans.
=
F 50 N
40.61 N
Solving gives

= 31.4° Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 6, page 1 of 2
6. To support the 2-kg flower pot shown, the resultant of the two
wires must point upwards and be equal in magnitude to the
weight of the flower pot. Determine the angles and , if the
forces in the wires are known to be 25 N and 30 N.

A
C

25 N
30 N
B

2 Resultant, R, of forces in wires

balances the weight.
1 Weight of flower pot

mg = (2 kg)(9.81 m/s2) R = 19.62 N

= 19.62 N
B B

19.62 N 19.62 N
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 6, page 2 of 2
3 The resultant R = 19.62 N must be the diagonal of a 4 Analyze the triangle forming the left-hand
parallelogram with sides 25 N and 30 N long. half of the parallelogram.
25 N
30 N
30 N
19.62 N 19.62 N

30 N 25 N
25 N B
5 Law of cosines to calculate

(25 N)2 = (30 N)2 + (19.62 N)2 2(30 N)(19.62 N) cos

Solving gives

= 55.90° Ans.

6 Law of sines to calculate

sin sin
= 55.90°
30 N 25 N
Solving gives

= 83.6° Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 7, page 1 of 2
7. Resolve the 120-lb force into components
acting in the u and v directions.

120 lb

v 25°

40°

1 Construct a parallelogram with

the 120-lb force as a diagonal.

v
40° 2 Draw a line from the tip of the
120 lb force vector parallel to v.

25°
Rv
u
3 Draw another line from the Ru
tip but parallel to u.
40° 4 Label the components Ru and Rv.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 7, page 2 of 2
5 Analyze the triangle forming the left-hand half of the
parallelogram.
180° 40° 25° = 115°
Ru

40° 120 lb

7 Calculate Rv from the law of sines.

Rv 25°
sin 115° sin 40°
=
Rv 120 lb
Solving gives
6 Calculate Ru from the law of sines.
Rv = 169.2 lb Ans.
sin 25° sin 40°
=
Ru 120 lb
Solving gives

Ru = 78.9 lb Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 8, page 1 of 2
8. Resolve the 4-kN 4 kN
horizontal force into A
components along truss
members AB and AC.
12
5
35°
B C

1 Construct a parallelogram with the

4-kN force as the diagonal.
2 Extend line AC.
12
5
3 Draw a line from the tip of the A
force vector parallel to AB. 4 kN

4 Draw another line from

the tip but parallel to AC. 12
5 35°
B C
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 8, page 2 of 2
5 Label the components RB and RC. 6 Analyze the triangle forming the upper half of the
parallelogram (The drawing has been enlarged for clarity).
12 RC
5 35°
A RC
4 kN
RB 12

RB 5
12
5 35° 35°
B C 4 kN

8 Law of sines to calculate RC

67.38°
7 Geometry sin sin
=
12 RC 4 kN 77.62°
= tan-1 = 67.38°
5 Solving gives
= 180° 35° 67.38°
RC = 3.78 kN Ans.
= 77.62°
9 Law of sines to calculate RB
sin 35° = sin 77.62°
RB 4 kN
Solving gives

RB = 2.35 kN Ans.
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 9, page 1 of 3
9. Find two forces, one acting along rod AB and one
along rod CB, which when added, are equivalent to the
200-N vertical force.
200 N

30° 40°
A C
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 9, page 2 of 3
1 Construct a parallelogram with
sides parallel to AB and BC and
with the 200-N force as a 4 Draw a line from the tail of the
diagonal. force vector parallel to AB.
5 Draw another line from the
30° tail but parallel to BC.
200 N

2 Extend BC. 3 Extend AB.

40° 30°
B
6 Label the sides of the
parallelogram RA and RC.
RA
RC
30°
30° 40° 200 N
A C RC
RA
40° 30°
B
2.1 Adding Forces by the Parallelogram Law Example 9, page 3 of 3
7 Analyze the triangle
formed by the RA
left-hand side of the 10
parallelogram.
180° 50° (30° + 40°) = 60°
30°

40° 200 N

8 Angles are equal RC 9

40° 90° 40° = 50°

11 Law of sines to calculate RA 12 Law of sines to calculate RC

sin 50° = sin (30° + 40°) sin 60° = sin (30° + 40°)
RA 200 N RC 200 N
Solving gives Solving gives

RA = 163.0 N Ans. RC = 184.3 N Ans.