FORCES IN SPACE

FORCE IN SPACE
RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS:
In the first part of this chapter, problems in two dimensions were considered;
they could be formulated and solved in a single plane. In this section, we will
discuss problems involving the three dimensions of space.
Consider a force F acting at the origin O of the
system of rectangular coordinates x, y, z. To define
the direction of F , we draw the vertical plane OBAC
containing F. This plane passes through the vertical
y axis; its orientation is defined by the angle  it
forms with the xy plane. The direction of F within the
plane is defined by the angle y that F forms with the
y axis.
 FORCE IN SPACE
The force F may be resolved But Fh may be resolved into two rectangular
into a vertical component Fy components Fx and Fz along the x & z axes,
and a horizontal component Fh. respectively. We obtain the ff. expressions
for the corresponding scalar components:

The corresponding scalar

components are F x = F h cos  = F sin  y cos 
F y = F cos  y F h = F sin  y F z = F h sin  = F sin  y sin 
 FORCE IN SPACE
Applying the Pythagorean theorem Applying the Pythagorean theorem to the
to the triangles OAB: triangles OCD:

2 2 2 2 2
F 2 = Fh + F y Fh = F x + F Z

Eliminating F2h from these two equations and solving for F , we obtain the following relation
between the magnitude of F and its rectangular scalar components:
2 2 2
F = Fx + Fy + FZ
 FORCE IN SPACE
The relationship existing between the force F and its three components Fx , Fy , Fz is more
easily visualized if a “box” having Fx , Fy , Fz for edges is drawn as shown:

F x = F cos  x F y = F cos  y F z = F cos  z

The three angles x , y , z define the direction of the force F. The cosines of x , y , z are
known as the direction cosines of the force F .
 FORCE IN SPACE

Introducing the unit vectors i , j , and k , directed respectively along the x , y , and z
axes, we can express F in the form

F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sample Problem:
Determine the x, y, and z components of the (a) 750-N force, (b) 900-N force.
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sol’n. y F x = 430.182 cos 25 o = 389.878 N
a) 750-N force
F z = 430.182 sin 25 o = 181.803 N

Fy Fx
x
25
Fz
F h = 430.182 N

z Therefore, the components are:

F x = 389.878 N F z = 181.803 N
Fh
F y = 614.364 N

F y = 750 cos 35 o = 614.364 N Expressing the force in vector form:

F h = 750 sin 35 o = 430.182 N F = 389.878 i + 614.364 j + 181.803 k

 FORCE IN SPACE
…con’t.
b) 900-N force F h = 900 cos 65 o = 380.356 N
F y = 900 sin 65 o = 815.677 N
Fy y
F x = −380.356 sin 20 o
Fx
x = −130.089 N
Fh 20 F z = 380.356 cos 20 o
Fz = 357.418 N
z
Therefore, the components are:
F x = −130.089 N F z = 357.418 N
Fh
F y = 815.677 N
In vector form:
F = −130.089 i + 815.677 j + 357.418 k
 FORCE IN SPACE
FORCE DEFINED BY ITS MAGNITUDE AND TWO POINTS ON ITS LINE
OF ACTION:
F dx F dy
Fx = Fy =
d d
F dz
Fz =
d

F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k

F
F = (d x i + d y j + d z k )
d
 FORCE IN SPACE
y y
(x, y, z) (x, y, z)
Fy F y d
Fx x
o x o x
Fz z

d = x2 +y2 +z2
z z

Fx x Fy y Fz z
= = = In vector form:
F d F d F d
F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
F x F y F z
Fx = Fy = Fz = F
d d d F = (xi + yj + zk )
d
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sample Problem:
A tower guy wire is anchored by means of a bolt at A. The tension in the wire
is 2500 N. Determine (a) the components Fx , Fy , Fz of the force acting on the
bolt, (b) the angles x , y , z defining the direction of the force.
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sol’n.
Asked: a) the components of the force acting on the bolt at A
b) the angles x , y , z defining the direction of the force.
d = x2 +y2 +z2 F x 2500 (− 40 )
Fx = ; Fx = ; F x =00000
−1060 N
d AB = (− 40 ) + 80 2 + 30 2 d 94.34
2

d AB = 94.34 m F y 2500 (80 )

Fy = ; Fy = ; F y =00000
2120 N
d 94.34
T = 2500 N F z 2500 (30 ) ; F z = 795 N
Fz = ; Fz =
d 94.34
Fx F
−1 y F
j  x = cos−1
 y = cos  z = cos −1 z
i F F F
k  − 1060   2120  −1  795 
 x = cos −1    y = cos −1    z = cos  
 2500   2500   2500 
 x = 115.087 o  y = 32 o  z = 71.458 o
 FORCE IN SPACE
Alternate Sol’n.
Asked: a) the components of the force acting on the bolt at A
b) the angles x , y , z defining the direction of the force.
F
d = x2 +y2 +z2 F = (xi + yj + zk )
d AB = (− 40 )2 + 80 2 + 30 2 d 26.5
2500
d AB = 94.34 m
F = (− 40 i + 80 j + 30 k )
94.34
T = 2500 N
F x = −1060 N F y = 2120 N F z = 795 N

Fx F
−1 y F
j  x = cos−1
 y = cos  z = cos −1 z
i F F F
k  − 1060   2120  −1  795 
 x = cos −1    y = cos −1    z = cos  
 2500   2500   2500 
 x = 115.087 o  y = 32 o  z = 71.458 o
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sample Problem:
a) Knowing that the tension in
cable AB is 1425 N, determine
the components of the force
exerted on the plate at B.
b) Knowing that the tension in
cable AC is 2130 N, determine
the components of the force
exerted on the plate at C.
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sol’n.
Given: TAB = 1425 N, TAC = 2130 N Recall:
Asked: a) components of the force exerted on the plate at B F x F y F z
Fx = Fy = Fz =
b) components of the force exerted on the plate at C d d d
Force at B: d AB = (− 900 ) + 600 2 + 360 2 = 1140 mm
2

1425 (− 900 ) 1425 (600 ) 1425 (360 )

FB x = FB y = FB z =
1140 1140 1140
FB x = −1125 N FB y = 750 N FB z = 450 N
j
i Force at C: d AC = (− 900 ) + 600 2 + (− 920 ) = 1420 mm
2 2
k
2130 (− 900 ) 2130 (600 ) 2130 (− 920 )
FC x = FC y = FC z =
1420 1420 1420
FC x = −1350 N FC y = 900 N FC z = −1380 N
 FORCE IN SPACE
Sol’n.
Given: TAB = 1425 N, TAC = 2130 N
Asked: a) components of the force exerted on the plate at B Recall: F = F (xi + yj + zk )
d
b) components of the force exerted on the plate at C
d AB = (− 900 )2 + 600 2 + 360 2 d AC = (− 900 )2 + 600 2 + (− 920 )
2

= 1140 mm = 1420 mm
1.25
1425
FB = (− 900 i + 600 j + 360 k )
1140
j FB z = 450 N
k i FB x = −1125 N FB y = 750 N
1.5
2130
FC = (− 900 i + 600 j − 920 k )
1420
FC x = −1350 N FC y = 900 N FC z = −1380 N