Chapter II The relations between these components and F is

RESULTANTS OF FORCE SYSTEMS determined by the basic definitions of sine and cosine of
the angle theta (θ x) between F and the X-axis, i.e.,
2.1 Introduction Fx
The effect of a system of forces on a body is cos θ x =
usually expressed in terms of a resultant. The value of this F
resultant determines the motion of the body. Fy
If the resultant is zero, the body will be in sin θ x ¿
equilibrium and will not change its original state of F
motion.
If the resultant of a force is not zero, the body will Which are usually rewritten in the following form:
have a varying state in motion, thereby creating a problem F x =F cos θx
in dynamics. Equation (2-1)
F y =F sin θ x
2.2 Forces and Components
A resultant may be resolved into any pair of The components Fx and Fy are considered positive
components, but it is generally most convenient to use if they act in the positive directions of the X and Y axes,
rectangular components. and negative if direced in the negative sense of the
Components of a resultant are considered as the reference axes.
parts of the resultant. The choice of the X and Y axes is arbitrary; they
In engineering, forces are not generaly at right may be in any convenient position; the relations given
angles. While the resultant of such forces may be found above are independent of the orientation of the X axis.
graphically, it is not always convenient to do so. It is If desired, the angle between F and Y axis,
frequently desirable to resolve each force into a pair of designated as θ y, may also be used; whence the
right-angle components for analytical calculation. components are then given by
These components usually called as x and y
components or horizontal and vertical components. F x =F sinθ y
Consider Fig. 2-2 in which force F acts upon the F y =F cos θ y
given body. The effect of the force is to move the body
rightward and upward. Choosing these directions as the It is obvious that the magnitude, inclination, and
positive directions of perpendicular X and Y reference direction of a force can be derived when its rectangular
axes, we project the force F upon them to obtain the components are known. For example, assuming values of
perpendicular components Fx and Fy. Fx and Fy to be known, we obtain from Fig. 2-2 the
following equations:
2 2
√
F= ( F x ) + ( F y )
Fy
tanθ x = Equation (2-2)
Fx

The directions of F is determined by the signs of

its components; this is clearly explained in the table which
follows.
 The major difference between this problem and
the preceeding one is that the direction of the force is
defined by its slope instead of its angle. We can compute
θ x from its tangent and then substitue its sine and cosine
function into Eq. (2-1), but it is simpler and more direct to
compute the hypotenuse of the slope triangle as
2 2
√ ( 2 ) + ( 3 ) =√ 13=3.61 and then applying the definitions
of sine and cosine as follows:

3
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
F x =F cos θx F x =300 ×
3.61
201. A force of 200 lb is directed as shown in Figure 2-3. F x =249 lb
Determine the X and Y components of the force:
2
F y =F sin θ x F y =300 ×
3.61
F y =−166 lb

An even better procedure is to note the similarity

between the slope triangle and the force triangle in Fig. 2-
4b whose corresponding sides are proportional to each
other. This gives
F y F x 300
= =
2 3 3.61
Whence
Solution F y =−166 lb F x =249 lb
By projecting the force upon the axesm we
discover that the sign of Fx is minus and of Fx positive.
Applying Equation (2-1), we obtain
203. The components of a certain force are defined by Fx =
F x =F cos θx F x =−200 cos 30 ° 300 lb and Fy = -200 lb. determine the magnitude,
F x =−173.20 lb inclination with the X axis, and pointing of the force.

F y =F sin θ x F y =200 sin 30°

F y =100 lb

202. Determine the components of the 300 lb force

directed down to the right at a slope of 2 to 3 as shown in
Fig. 2-4:

Solution
The magnitude of the force is found by applying
the first Eq. (2-2).
2 2 2 2
√
F= ( F x ) + ( F y ) F=√ ( 300 ) + ( 200 )
F=361lb
The inclination with the X axis is determined by the
second part of Eq. (2-2)
Solution
 Fy 200
tanθ x = tanθ x = =0.667
Fx 300
θ x =33.7 °