Lec-2 Understanding

Composition and
Resolution of Forces

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 Introduction to Force Composition and
Resolution
• Force Composition: Combining multiple
forces into a single force.
• In engineering, structures and systems
often experience multiple forces acting
simultaneously.
• Force composition allows us to simplify
the analysis by representing these
forces as a single equivalent force.
• This concept is essential for
understanding the overall effect of
multiple forces on a system.
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 Introduction to Force
Composition and
Resolution

• Concurrent forces are forces whose lines of

action intersect at a common point.
• The resultant force is the single force that can
replace the concurrent forces and produce the
same effect on the body.

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Definition of Force Resolution
• Force Resolution: Breaking down a force into its components.
• Forces acting in a specific direction can be broken down into components
along coordinate axes.
• This decomposition simplifies the analysis, making it easier to understand the
impact of forces in different directions.
• Resolution is crucial in situations where forces are not aligned with standard
coordinate axes.

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 Importance in Engineering
Analysis (5 minutes)

• Significance of Force Composition and

Resolution in Engineering Analysis:
• Simplification of Analysis: Force
composition and resolution simplify
complex force systems, aiding in analysis
and calculations.
• Equilibrium Studies: Understanding how
forces combine or resolve is fundamental
for determining system equilibrium.
• Structural Design: Engineers use these
concepts to design structures that can
withstand and distribute forces efficiently.

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Graphical Method
• Graphical Composition of Forces:
• Introduce the graphical method for combining forces.
• Use vector diagrams to represent forces graphically.
• Discuss how the resultant force is obtained by connecting the vectors head-
to-tail.

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Analytical
Method
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 • : Consider three concurrent forces acting at a point
Problem A:sitive x-axis.
• Task for Students: Use both graphical and
Scenario analytical methods to find the resultant force ⃗R
acting at point A.

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Parallelogram Law:
• When two vectors are simultaneously acting on a point, the vector
sum or resultant vector is represented by the diagonal of the
parallelogram formed by the vectors.
• Mathematically, if ⃗A and ⃗B are two vectors, their resultant ⃗R can be
represented by the diagonal of the parallelogram formed by ⃗A and
⃗B.

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Parallelogram Law:
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Triangle Rule
• Triangle Rule:The Triangle Rule is a special case of the Parallelogram
Law specifically applied to concurrent forces.
• It states that forces can be added head-to-tail to form a closed
triangle, where the sides of the triangle represent the magnitudes
and directions of the forces.

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Triangle Rule
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Force Resolution:
• Forces acting at an angle to a coordinate system can be broken down
into horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components.
• This resolution simplifies force analysis, allowing for easier calculation
of resultant forces.

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Force Resolution:
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 Significance in Practical Engineering Applications
(5 minutes)

Structural Analysis:

Force • Resolving forces is crucial in analyzing structures subjected to

complex loading conditions.
• It allows engineers to determine the internal forces and

Resolution: stresses in each structural component.

Mechanical Systems:

• In mechanical systems, resolving forces aids in understanding

the motion and equilibrium of components.
• It is essential for designing linkages, gears, and other
mechanical elements.
 Applications in
Engineering

• Force Composition in Bridge Design

• Bridge Load Analysis:
• In bridge design, engineers deal with
various loads, including the weight of the
bridge itself, live loads (traffic,
pedestrians), and environmental loads
(wind, earthquakes).
• Force composition is employed to analyze
how these loads are distributed across
different sections of the bridge.

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Interactive Problems

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Interactive Problems
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