ENGINEERING MECHANICS

CHAPTER # 2
Basic Concept - Definition

Particle: Body of negligible dimensions

Rigid body: Body with negligible deformations

Non-rigid body: Body which can deform

In Statics, bodies are considered rigid

unless stated otherwise.
SCALARS AND VECTORS

Scalars: associated with “Magnitude” alone

- mass, density, volume, time, energy, …

Vectors: associated with “Magnitude” and “Direction”

- force, displacement, velocity, acceleration, …

Magnitude: Vector :
 
| V | or V V or V
 : Direction
Vector’s Point of Application

Vectors: “Magnitude”, “Direction”

Fixed Vector Free Vector Sliding Vector

E.g.) Force on rotating motion, couple E.g.) Force on

non- rigid body rotation rigid-body

vector
F
Rigid Body

F
F
Rotational motion occurs at
point of action every point in the object. line of action
 PROJECTIONS OF A VECTOR
Scalar Notation:

Fy
 PROJECTIONS OF A VECTOR
Find the projections of the following two vectors
Example Problem: For the two cases shown below, determine
the components of force ⃗ in the specific coordinate system

⃗ ⃗
Example Problem 2: For the two cases shown below, determine
the components of force ⃗ in the specific coordinate system

⃗ ⃗
Example Problem 3: For the two cases shown below, determine
the components of force ⃗ in the specific coordinate system

⃗ ⃗

13
12

5 13
12
⃗

13
12

5
⃗

5 13
12
2-35. The contact point between the femur and tibia bones of
the leg is at A. If a vertical force of 175 lb is applied at this point,
determine the components along the x and y axes. Note that the
y-component represents the normal force on the load-bearing
region of the bones. Both the x and y components of this force
cause synovial fluid to be squeezed out of the bearing space.

5
13 5
12
13
12
 CARTESIAN VECTOR NOTATION
It is possible to represent the x and y components of a force in
terms of Cartesian unit vectors i and j, where i and j represent
the positive direction of the x and y axes, respectively:
F = Fx i+ Fy j

where Fx and Fy are the scalar components of F

 CARTESIAN VECTOR NOTATION
For the two vectors write the cartesian vectors
 COPLANAR FORCE RESULTANTS
The resultants of several forces can be determined using either
the Cartesian vector notation or the scalar notation.
Example F1, F2 and F3:

Cartesian vector notation:

F1 = F1x i+ F1y j
F2 = – F2x i+ F2y j
F3 = F3x i – F3y j
The resultant is given by: F = FRx i+ FRy j
 COPLANAR FORCE RESULTANTS
 Cartesian vector notation:
The vector resultant FR is then:
FR = F 1 + F2 + F 3
= (F1x i+ F1y j) + (– F2x i + F2y j) + (F3x i – F3y j)
= (F1x i – F2x i+ F3x i) + (F1y j + F2y j – F3y j)
= (F1x – F2x + F3x)i + (F1y + F2y – F3y )j
= (FRx)i + (FRy )j
 Scalar notation:
FRx = F1x – F2x + F3x
FRy = F1y + F2y – F3y
These are the same as the i and j components of FR
 COPLANAR FORCE RESULTANTS
In the general case, the x and y components of the resultant of any number
of coplanar forces can be represented by:

FRx   Fx
FRy   F y

2 2
FR  FRx  FRy
FRy
1
  tan
FRx

DSU_AP_Vectors 18
 PROBLEMS
Example # 2.6 The link is subjected to two forces F1 and F2.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
Example # 2.7 The end of the boom O is subjected to three
concurrent and coplanar forces. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force.
2-44. If the magnitude of the resultant force acting on the bracket is 400 lb directed
along the positive x axis, determine the magnitude of and its direction .

FR
2-45. If the resultant force acting on the bracket is to be directed along the positive x
axis and the magnitude of F1 is required to be a minimum, determine the magnitudes
of the resultant force and F1.

FR
 Vector Projections - Revisited

• The projection of the vector F on x-axis is,

= cos

• Similarly, for ,
= cos
or,
= sin
 CARTESIAN VECTORS
Right handed coordinate system

Cartesian unit vectors

 CARTESIAN VECTOR

Representation : = cos + cos + cos

Magnitude:

Direction :
 CARTESIAN VECTOR

• Unit Vector: = cos + cos + cos

= cos + cos + cos =1

• Vector A:
 PROBLEMS
Example # 2.9 Determine the magnitude and the coordinate
direction angles of the resultant force acting on the ring.
 CARTESIAN VECTOR (USING 2 ANGLES)

3 Angles:
2 Angles:
,

• Vector A (using 2 angles):

CARTESIAN VECTOR
Problem 2-69
If the resultant force acting on the bracket is
= −300 + 650 + 250 , determine the
magnitude and coordinate direction angles of F.
Problem 2-69 Solution
Problem 2-73
• The shaft S exerts three force components on
the die D. Find the magnitude and coordinate
direction angles of the resultant force. Force
acts within the octant shown.
Problem 2-71 (Practice Problem)
• If = 120°, < 90°, = 60° and = 400 .,
determine the magnitude and coordinate direction
angles of the resultant force acting on the hook.
Problem 2-79 (Practice Problem)
Specify the magnitude of and its coordinate
direction angles so that the resultant force =9 ̂ .
Defining the direction of a Vector
POSITION VECTORS
POSITION VECTORS
 PROBLEMS
Example # 2.13 The man shown pulls on the cord with a force of
350 lb. Represent this force acting on the support A as a
Cartesian vector and determine its direction.

rB/A
2-88. Determine the distance between the end points A
and B on the wire by first formulating a position vector
from A to B and then determining its magnitude.
2-96. The tower is held in place by three cables. If the force of
each cable acting on the tower is shown, determine the
magnitude and coordinate direction angles of the resultant
force. Take x = 20 m, y = 15 m.

=? , =? , =? , =?

cos =

cos =

cos =
Solve this as an exercise
2-106. If the resultant of the four forces is = −360 lb,
determine the tension developed in each cable. Due to
symmetry, the tension in the four cables is the same.

Top View

Cables are supported by

symmetric points.

Weight is equally supported

by the four cables.

i.e. each cable supports a

quarter of the weight
Forces are directed from E towards A, B, C and D
So we need,
2-110. The cable attached to the shear-leg derrick exerts a force
on the derrick. Express this force as a Cartesian vector.