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006 - Force ES 211

Introduction

In this point in time... after review and readings... we are now ready to face force.
We will now be considering the effect of force/s on a particle. The use of the word
particle here and in some books does not mean that we are going to study forces
up to the very small molecules of the body. It only means that the size and shape
of the body is not significant because we treat and represent it as point like a
“particle”.

Key Questions: 1. What is Force?

2. How to express force in Cartesian coordinate system (x,y
coordinate system) showing its magnitude and direction.
3. How to add forces using the Parallelogram and Triangle
Law.

Scalars and Vectors

Force is a quantity. Just like many other physical quantities in engineering it is

classified and can be expressed by either scalars or vector.

Scalar quantities. These are physical quantities expressed in just pure magnitude
(just amount). Example of it is length, mass, and time (time - as of now).

Vector quantities. These are physical quantities that are expressed in terms of
magnitude and direction. Example of these quantities are force, moment,
velocities.

Below is an example of how force is drawn in a paper. In other books head is

sometimes called tip.

Figures (c)
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Things to remember in drawing a force in paper. Force has the following:

1. Magnitude
2. Direction
3. Line of action.
4. Point of application (optional but equally important)

Magnitude

In Figure a and b the magnitude is printed in red color and is equal to 10 lb. In
Figure c the magnitude is A which is unknown. When we represent magnitude
graphically just like in Figure c magnitude A can be represent by 4 units as
represented by the calibration lines.

Direction

When we say direction, it is composed of an angle and a reference line. In Figure

a and b we see direction of the force as 30o with respect to the horizontal broken
lines. In Figure c we see 20o with respect to the solid horizontal line. Considering
a force with respect to it point of application (point A the green dot line, and point
O in the tail), direction can be into the point or away from the point.

Note: We draw a force exactly as depicted in Figure a, b, and c.

Usually we abbreviate “with respect to” as wrt.

The best way to describe direction is by following what can be seen in Figure a, b
and c. It is also inevitable to describe direction of the force algebraically using x,y
coordinate system (Cartesian coordinate system).

+y

P = 6 KN

-x S = 3 KN o Q = 5 KN +x

T = 10 KN

-y

Figure 1.
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Ways in describing direction of a force depicted in Figure 1.

Force Magnitude Direction (algebrailly) Verbal Description

P 6 KN + (y axis) upward
Q 5 KN + (x axis) to the right
S 3 KN - (x axis) to the left
T 10 KN - (y axis) downward

You can only use one type of describing direction either algebraically or verbal
description. For simple single resultant force we can use verbal description but in
complicated system of forces we always use algebraically or the one use in Figure
a, b, and c.

Line of Action

In mechanics it is always important that we can plot the line of action of a force.
Line of action is drawn as broken lines (Figure a and b) or solid line Figure c. Line
of action is the line where the tip and the tail of the force lies.

Important thing to note is that... the effect of the force is the same in every point in
its line of action.

The four diagrams below show that fore P with a magnitude 7 KN to the right has
always the same effect in point o wherever it is located in its line of action.

P = 7KN line of action

o

P = 7KN line of action

o

P = 7KN line of action

o

line of action P = 7KN

o
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Point of application (Optional)

Point of application of a force sometimes optional at lower level but very important
to note as we go up to higher subject. Point of application of the force can be
located at either at the tip of the force or at the tail of the force. Point of application
of a force always go hand in hand with line of action.

Note: The best way to describe a force is to draw the force indicating its
magnitude, direction, line of action and the point of application. Ito yung
tinitingnan ni Titser.

Vector Operations used in our Subject

Multiplication and Division of a Vector by a Scalar. If a vector (shall we say a force

A) is multiplied by a positive scalar its magnitude is increased by the amount of
the scalar. Multiplying same vector with negative scalar will change the magnitude
as will as the direction of the vector. See Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Vector Addition. Adding vectors is different from adding scalars. Scalars are
added algebraically while vectors (especially forces) are added considering the
magnitude and direction. To add vectors we use parallelogram method or
commonly known in some books as parallelogram law of addition. To illustrate
consider the two co-planar force A and B below (Figure 3a, 3b, and 3c).

Figure 3.
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If we add vector (force) A and vector (force) B then the resulting quantity is also a
vector (force), we call this vector a resultant vector (force). It is usually denoted by
R.

R=A+B=B+A

How will we do it...

1. We join first the tail of vector (force) A and vector (force) B as seen in Figure
3b., to make them concurrent.
2. From the head of B, draw a line parallel to A, and then draw line parallel to B
from the head of vector (force) A. See Figure 3b, the lighter line intersection
point P.
3. The diagonal of this parallelogram which is drawn from the tail of the two
vectors (A and B) to the point of intersection of two parallel lines will now be
called the resultant of the two vectors A and B. The resultant is now called
resultant R. See the blue line in Figure 3c.
4. The resultant R is now describe as a regular vector (force).
R will now have its own magnitude.
R will have its own direction.
R will have its own line of action.
R point of application can now be located or plotted.

Aside from parallelogram method, we also use triangle rule to add two vectors
(forces).

Figure 4.

Take note class, that triangle rule is a special case of parallelogram method. If we
add force A to force B (provided they are concurrent) we connect them in
“head-to-tail” or “tip-to-tail” fashion (see Figure 4b and Figure 4c).

Note: At this point... you can relate sine and cosine law of trigonometry here.
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A special case occur (simple case) when force A and force B lie in the same line
of action (collinear). Parallelogram method will just become a simple algebraic or
scalar addition (see diagram below).

Vector Subtraction. Vector subtraction is just another extension of parallelogram

method. It is a slight modification of the parallelogram method. Consider Figure 5
below.

Figure 5 (a) (b) (c)

Suppose we are going to subtract B from A, it is denoted by A - B.

R’ = A - B

R’ = A + (- B)

Figure 5b showed the parallelogram involved and Figure 5c showed the triangle
law construction.

Note: In this juncture... importance of sine and cosine law evident. We can use
sine law to easily find angles for direction and cosine law for unknown
magnitude of force. Please review your sine and cosine law and relate
that our triangle law in adding vectors.

Sine Law Cosine Law

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Wait.... (make further readings about the topics below)

Co-planar Forces

These are forces which lie on the same plane. They may be concurrent, parallel,
non-concurrent or non-parallel.

Example: All forces written on a sheet of paper.. Forces drawn on the board.

Co-planar concurrent forces

Co-planar non-concurrent forces

Co-planar parallel forces

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Co-planar non-parallel forces (F1, F2, F3 and F4 are on the same plane)

Concurrent Forces

These are forces or system of forces which intersect on same point. It may not be
co-planar.

Concurrent co-planar (force F1, F2, and F3 and concurrent and also co-planar).

Concurrent non-co-planar forces (forces in 3 dimension that passes through one

point)
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Co-linear Forces

These are forces that lie on the same line.

Example: Force F3, F1 and F2 are co-linear.

Finding a Resultant Force

Below are some illustration on how to find the resultant of a force

(diagrammatically).

Figure 6. This figure shows that the

resultant of force F1 and F2 is
FR. FR = F1 + F2.

Figure 7. The figure shows P + Q

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Figure 8. Figure showing F = Fv + Fu

Note: In this juncture... please prepare your pocket calculator, familiarize with
its functionalities and review your algebra and trigonometry.

Series of examples taken from books are shown next pages.

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Illustration 1.

This illustration shows important points in red boxes.

1. The Given (data and drawings Figure 2-11a)
2. The FBD (Figure 2-11b and 2-11c)
3. The Solution
4. The Answer
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Illustration 2.
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Illustration 3.

Disclaimer: Illustration 1, 2, 3 are not created by the Instructor. It is taken from the
book of Russel Hibbeler Engineering Mechanics (2015). CTTO.

Next Stop will be Resolution of Forces to Components onwards...

Please Solve similar problems on the Book of Hibbeler.