Engineering Mechanics

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’.
 Resolution of A Force

o “Resolution” of a force is breaking up a force

into components.

o It is kind of like using the parallelogram law

in reverse.
 Cartesian Force Notation

Fy F

Fx x

We ‘resolve’ forces into components using the Cartesian

coordinate (x and y axes) system
 Cartesian Force Notation

Fy F

Fx x
 Sign Convention for force components:

y
y
x
+ve

x
+ve

The adjacent diagram gives the sign convention for force

components, i.e., 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.
 (Q1.1) Numerical Problems & Solutions

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

20 kN

250

35 kN

2 60 kN
3
 (Q1.1) Numerical Problems & Solutions

solution:

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

35 kN

2
60 sin θx = 60 sin33.7
3

60 cos θx 60 kN

= 60 cos33.7
 (Q1.1)

solution:
20 kN
20 cos
=θ20
x
cos65 250 20 sin = 20
θx sin65
35 kN

2
60 sin = 60 sin33.7
3 θx Answer:
60 cos 60 kN
θ
=x 60 Force X-comp Y-comp
cos33.7

35kN - 35 0
20kN - 20 cos 65 -20 sin 65
60kN - 60 cos 33.7 + 60 sin 33.7
(Q1.2) Numerical Problems & Solutions

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

105 kN

15 kN

150

75 kN 400

350
60 kN
45 kN
 (Q1.2)

solution:

105 kN
15 sin150

15 kN
15
150 cos150
75 kN 550 400
350 60
45 cos400
60 kN
cos550
45 kN
60 sin400
45 sin550
 (Q1.2)

105 kN
15
sin150
15 kN 15
150 cos150
75 kN 55 400
0
350 60 cos400
45 cos550 60 kN
45 kN
60
45 sin400
sin550 Force X-comp. Y-comp
105 0 +105
75 -75 0
15 + 15 cos15 + 15 sin15
45 - 45 cos55 - 45 sin55
60 + 60 cos40 - 60 sin40
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting

as shown in figure

105 kN
15 kN

150
75 kN 400
350
45 kN 60 kN
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

solution:

105 kN
15 sin150

15 kN
15
150 cos150
75 kN 550 400
350 60
45 cos400
60 kN
cos550
45 kN
60 sin400
45 sin550
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

105 kN
15
sin150
Force X-comp. Y-comp
15 kN 15 105 0 +105
150 cos150
75 kN 55
0
400 75 -75 0
350 60 cos400
45 cos550
45 kN
60 kN 15 + 15 cos15 + 15 sin15
60
45 sin400 45 - 45 cos55 - 45 sin55
sin550
60 + 60 cos40 - 60 sin40
------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
- 40.359 + 33.453
(Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

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

= - 40.359 kN = 40.359 kN

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

= + 33.453 kN

Answer:
R
R  Fx  Fy  52.42kN
ΣFy = 33.453 kN F y  Fx 
θx tan  x  ;  x  tan 
-1

Fx  F 
 y 
ΣFx = 40.359kN   39.69 0
(Q1.4)

Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting as shown

in figure.

50kN 100kN
º
120
2
3
1 30º
2
75kN
25kN
(Q1.4)

Solution:

100 cos θx
50 sin θx = 50 sin = 100 cos
26.3 100kN
33.7
50kN

º 100 sin θx
50 cos θx 120 = 100 sin
2 33.7
= 50 cos
26.3 3 º
30
25 cos θx 1
= 25 cos 75 cos θx
2 = 75 cos
63.43
30
25kN 25 sin θx 75kN
= 25 sin 75 sin θx
63.43 = 75 sin 30
 (Q1.4)

50 sin 100 cos 33.7

Solution: 50kN 26.3
100k
N
Force X-comp. Y-comp º
120 100 sin
50 cos 26.3 2
3 33.7
100 -100 cos33.7 -100 sin33.7 3
25 cos 1 75 cos 30
2 0
50 -50 cos26.3 +50 sin26.3 63.43
25kN 75kN
25 -25cos 63.43 -25 sin63.43 25 sin 63.43 75 sin 30

75 +75 cos30 -75 sin30

------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
- 74.26 kN -93.17 kN
 (Q1.4)

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

= -74.26kN = 74.26kN

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

= -93.17kN = 93.17kN

Contd..
(Q1.4)

Answers:
∑Fx


∑Fy
R

R = (∑Fx) 2 + (∑Fy) 2 = 119.14 kN

Θ = tan-1(∑Fy / ∑Fx ) = 51.44o
 (Q1.5)

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
110
º 50°

45º

50N
120N
 (Q1.5)

Solution:
- 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
110 º
50°
20º α
45° R =250 N

50N
120N
 (Q1.5)

Solution:
- Resolve the forces along X & Y axis

150N 200N

F5y=F5 sin α
F5

110 º
50° F5x=F5 cos α
20º α

45° R =250 N

120N 50N
 (Q1.5)Solution:

150 200N
N F5y=F5 sin
α F5

50° F5x=F5 cos

20º α α Force X-comp. Y-comp
45° R =250 N
F5 +F5 cosα +F5 sinα
120 50N
N 50 -50 cos45 +50 sin45
200 +200cos 50 +200 sin 50
120 0 -120
150 -150 cos20 +150 sin20
------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
+250 kN 0
 (Q1.5)

∑FX = R = + 250 & ΣFy = 0

because the resultant is acting along x-direction
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 tan α = F5sin α /F5cos α
=0.402
Answers α = 21.90º
F5= 320.97N
F5cosα = 297.75
α = 21.90º N

F5 = 320.97N
F5sinα = 119.87N