FORCE and FORCE

SYSTEMS
2

GE 213 Engineering Mechanics

At the end of these topics, the learners will be able to:

1. Define force and force system and describe their

characteristics.
2. Solve the resultants of a single force and the different types
of force systems.
3. Construct a free-body-diagram of an object or a system of
connected objects.

2
 2

Force

A force is the cause of change in the state of motion of a particle or

body. It is the product of the mass of the particle and its
acceleration. Force is the manifestation of action of one partcle on
the other. It is a push or a pull that one body exerts on another. It is a
vector quantity.
External forces are those actions of other bodies on a rigid body
while those forces that hold together parts of a rigid body are called
internal forces.
2
 2

Force

Characteristics of a Force
1. Magnitude
2. Direction
3. Point of Application
4. Line of Action

2
2

Force

2
 2

Force

Components of a Force:
Forces acting at some angle from the coordinate axes can be
resolved into mutually perpendicular forces called components.
The component of the force parallel to the x-axis is the
x-component while the one parallel to the y-axis is called the
y-component.

2
Force

2
components of a force

2
 System of Forces

System of forces is a collection of forces acting on an object

simultaneously.
Types of system of forces:
1. Coplanar
2. Non-coplanar

2
 2

System of Forces
1. Coplanar force system- is when the lines of action of a set of forces
acting on a body lie in the same plane as the body.
Types of Coplanar Force System:
a. Collinear coplanar force ystem
b. Concurrent coplanar
c. Parallel coplanar
d. Non-concurrent coplanar force system

2
 2

Force Systems
2, Non-coplanar Force System-is when the line of action of all the
forces do not lie in one plane.
Types of non-coplanar force system:
a. concurrent non-coplanar force system
b. parallel non-coplanar
c. non-concurrent non-coplanar force system

2
 Force Systems
Definitions:
Coplanar- same plane
Collinear force system-when the lines of action of a force system act along
the same line.
Parallel force system- are forces parallel to each other.
Concurrent force system-when forces pass through a single point (when
extended). that point is called the point of concurrency.

2
 Force Systems

Definitions:
Non- Coplanar Force System-when the line of action of all forces do
not lie in one plane.
Non-concurrent force system-when the forces of a system do not
meet at a common point of concurrency. Parallel forces are
examples o this type of force system. Non-concurrent forces may
be coplanar or non-coplanar.
2
 2

Force Systems

Coplanar and concurrent force system- is when all the forces lie in a
single plane and meet at one point. Example: forces acting at a joint
of a roof truss
Coplanar and Non-concurrent force system- is when forces do not
meet at a common point ; however, they lie in a single plane. Ex.
forces acting on a beam

2
 2

Force Systems

Non-coplanar and concurrent force system- is when forces lie in

different planes but pass through a single point. Ex. forces acting at
the top end of an electrical pole.
Non-coplanar and non-concurrent force system-is when forces do
not lie in a single plan and do not pass through a single point. Ex.
loads transferred through columns to the rectangular mat
foundation

2
2

Force Systems

2
 2

Resultants of Force Systems

Steps in determining the resultant of Coplanar Concurrent Force

Systems:

2
2

resultant of a force system

2
2

Activity:

2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2