Force Vectors

Principles of Engineering © 2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Vectors

Vector Quantities
Have both a magnitude and direction
Examples: Position, force, moment

Vector Notation
Vectors are given a variable, such as A or B
Handwritten notation usually includes an
arrow, such as  
A or B
Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Magnitude: The length of the line segment
Magnitude = 3

30°
+X
Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Direction: The angle between a reference axis and
the arrow’s line of action
Direction = 30° counterclockwise from the
positive x-axis

30°
+x
Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Sense: Indicated by the direction of the tip of
the arrow
Sense = Upward and to the right

30°
+x
Sense

+y (up) +y (up)

-x (left) +x (right)
(0,0)
-y (down) -y (down)

-x (left) +x (right)
Trigonometry Review
Right Triangle
A triangle with a 90° angle
Sum of all interior angles = 180°
Pythagorean Theorem: c2 = a2 + b2

h yp)
us e( Opposite Side
ten
po (opp)
H y

 90°
Adjacent Side (adj)
Trigonometry Review
Trigonometric Functions soh cah toa
sin θ° = opp / hyp
cos θ° = adj / hyp
tan θ° = opp / adj

h yp)
us e( Opposite Side
ten
po (opp)
H y

 90°
Adjacent Side (adj)
Trigonometry Application
The hypotenuse is the Magnitude of the
Force, F
In the figure here,
The adjacent side is the x-component, Fx
The opposite side is the y-component, Fy

F
u se Opposite Side
oten
H yp Fy

 90°

Adjacent Side Fx
 Trigonometry Application
sin θ° = Fy / F Fy= F sin θ°

cos θ° = Fx / F Fx= F cos θ°

tan θ° = Fy / Fx
F
use Opposite Side
o ten
H yp Fy

 90°

Adjacent Side Fx

Fx and Fy are negative if left or down, respectively.

 VectorX and Y Components
Vector A
Magnitude = 75.0 lb
Direction = 35.0°CCW from positive x-axis
Sense = right, up
+y

⃗A=75.0 lb
 
opp=F
  A y

35.0°
-x +x
adj=F
  A x
-y
 Vector X and Y Components
 
Solve for
  adj   FA   FA
cos θ= cos θ= x
cos 35.0 °= x

hyp A 75.0 lb
 
F A =75.0 lb cos 35.0 ° up
x
+y
 
F A =61.4 lb
x

⃗A=75.0 lb
 
opp=F
  A y

35.0°
-x +x
adj=F
  A x
-y
 Vector X and Y Components
 
Solve for
  opp   FA   FA
sin θ= sin θ= y
sin 35.0 °= y

hyp A
⃗ 75.0 lb

+y
 
F A =75.0 lb sin 35.0° up
y

 
F A =43.0 lb
y

⃗A=75.0 lb
 
opp=F
  A y

35.0°
-x +x
adj=F
  A x
-y
Vector X and Y Components – Your Turn

Vector B
Magnitude = 75.0 lb
Direction = 35.0°CW from positive x-axis
+y
Sense = right, down
adj=F
  B x

-x +x
35.0°

opp=F
  B y

⃗B =75.0 lb
 

-y
Vector X and Y Components – Your Turn
 
Solve for
  adj   FB   FB
cos θ= cos θ= x
cos 35.0 °= x

hyp B 75.0 lb
+y  
F B =75.0lb cos 35.0 ° ¿
x

adj=F
  B x
 
F B =61.4 lb
x
-x +x
35.0°

opp=F
  B y

⃗B =75.0 lb
 

-y
Vector X and Y Components – Your Turn
 
Solve for
  opp   − FB   − FB
sin θ= sin θ= y
sin 35.0 °= y

hyp B 75.0 lb
+y
F B =75.0 lb sin 35.0° down
 
y

adj=F
  B x
F B =− 43.0 lb
 
y
-x +x
35.0°

opp=F
  B y

⃗B =75.0 lb
 

-y
Resultant Force
Two people are pulling a boat to shore.
They are pulling with the same magnitude.

⃗A=75.0 lb
 

  35.0
  35.0

⃗B =75.0 lb
 
 Resultant Force List the forces according to
sense.
 F A =43.0 lb ⃗A=75.0 lb
 
y Label right and up forces
as positive, and label left
and down forces as
negative.
 F A =61.4 lb  
  35 x

  35  F B =61.4 lb
x

 F B =− 43.0 lb
y ⃗B =75.0 lb
 
Resultant Force
  Sum (S) the forces
 

Magnitude is 122.9 lb
Direction is 0° from the positive x-axis
Sense is right
 Resultant Force
•Draw
  the resultant force ()
Magnitude is 123 lb
Direction is 0° from the positive x-axis
 F A
y
=43.0 lb Sense is right

 F A =61.4 lb
x

 F R =122.9 lb
 F B =61.4 lb
x

 F B =− 43.0 lb
y
Resultant Force

C =300 lb
⃗
 

Determine the sense,

magnitude, and
direction for the
  60.
resultant force.
  30.

D=400 lb
⃗
 
Resultant Force
Find the x and y components of vector C.

C =300 lb
⃗
 

FC
 
y

60.
FC
 
x
Resultant Force
Find the x and y components of vector D.

 
 FD x

30.
FD
 
y

D=400 lb
⃗
 
 Resultant Force List the forces according to
sense.
Label right and up forces
 F C
y
=259.8 lb C =300 lb
⃗
 
as positive, and label left
and down forces as
negative.
  60  
 FC
=150.0 lb
x

  30 F D =346.4 lb
 
x

 F D
y
=− 200.0 lb D=400 lb
⃗
 
 Resultant Force
Sum (S) the forces
 

Sense is right and up.

Resultant Force
Draw the x and y components of the resultant
force.
 

Two equivalent ways to draw the X and Y components

 F 496.4 lb
R
59.8 lb 59.8 lb
 F
R
496.4 lb
Resultant Force
Solve for magnitude.

 
 F
R
59.8 lb

496.4 lb

Magnitude is 500. lb
Resultant Force
Solve for direction.
opp
tan  
adj

59.8 lb
500. lb tan  
59.8 lb 496.4 lb
 59.8 
1 
  tan  
496.4 lb  496.4 

  7

Direction is 7° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis.

Resultant Force
Draw the resultant force (FR)
Magnitude = 500. lb
Direction = 7° CCW from positive x-axis
Sense = right and up

500. lb

7°