Example: 1

Find the resultant force of the collinear forces, shown in figure.

Given data
Let, F1 = 8N 8N 10N 12N
F2 = 10N
F3 = 12N
To find
Resultant force (R)
Resultant force R = 8 + 10 + 12
= 30N
Line of action and direction of resultant force is same as that of the given
forces. i.e., act towards left.
Resultant force is shown in figure.

30N
Example: 1
Find the resultant force of the collinear forces, shown in figure.

Given data
Let, F1 = 8N 8N 10N 12N
F2 = 10N
F3 = 12N
To find
Resultant force (R)
Resultant force R = 8 + 10 + 12
= 30N
Line of action and direction of resultant force is same as that of the given
forces. i.e., act towards left.
Resultant force is shown in figure.

30N
Example: 2
Find the resultant force of the collinear forces, shown in figure.

Given data
Let, F1 = 8N
F2 = 10N
F3 = 12N
To find
Resultant force (R)
Resultant force R = 2 – 3 + 6 - 11
=6N
Direction of Resultant force: As R is negative measure, Resultant force acts in
the negative direction. i.e., towards left .
Resultant force is shown in figure.

6N
Example: 3
Two concurrent forces acts at an angle of 30°. The resultant force is 15N and one of the
forces is 10N. Find the other force.
Solution
Given data
Let R= 12N
P= 10N 30
θ = 300 P
To find
150
Force (Q) Q
 Formula used
Resultant Force Q
Squaring on both sides,
R2=P2+Q2+2PQCosθ
30
Sub P, R and θ values
P
15 =10 +Q +2*10*Q*Cos30
2 2 2 0

225=100+Q2+17.32Q
Q2+17.32Q-125=0
Q = -22.8N (or) 5.48N
 Reject -22.8 N force, because if the force is reversed the included angle will be
150° not 30°. Hence Q = 5.48 N
Example: 4 Find the magnitude of the two Case (2) (θ = 600)
forces, such that if they act at right angles, Sub θ = 600
their resultant is N. But if they act at R2=P2+Q2+2PQCos600
60°, their resultant is N. 13 = P2 +Q2 +PQ ------- (3)
Solution Substituting equation (2) in (3)
Given data 13 = 10+PQ
Let R1= N Q PQ=3
R Now using
θ1 = 900
(P+Q)2= P2+Q2+2PQ
R2= N
P+Q = 4 ------- (4)
θ2 = 600 (P-Q)2= P2+Q2-2PQ
To find P P-Q = 2 ------- (5)
Force (P) and (Q) Solving equation (4) and (5)
Formula used P = 3N and Q = 1N
Resultant Force
Case (1) (θ = 900)
Squaring on both sides, Q
R2=P2+Q2+2PQCosθ
Sub θ = 900 R
R2=P2+Q2+2PQCos900 60
10 = P2 +Q2 ------- (2)
P
RESULTANT FORCE OF MORE THAN TWO CONCURRENT FORCES
 If more than two concurrent forces act’s at a point also, we can use the theorem of
parallelogram law of forces to calculate their resultant.
 First any two forces can be taken and their resultant is found by parallelogram law.
 Then combine this resultant with the third force and again apply parallelogram law.
 Thus, we will have the resultant of three forces.
 Combine this resultant with next (fourth) force and get the resultant.
 This Procedure is continued till all the forces have been combined.
 PROCEDURE OF FINDING THE RESULTANT FORCE OF MORE
THAN TWO CONCURRENT FORCES

To find the resultant force, resolve the force horizontally and vertically
 Y F1 sinθ1
F2 sinθ2
F1

F2

F1 cosθ1
-F2 cosθ2

θ2 θ1
X
θ3

F3 cosθ3

F3

-F3 sinθ3
Step 1: Find the Algebraic sum of Horizontal forces. (i.e., ΣH)
Resolving the forces horizontally and find the net horizontal force,
taking right hand side force as positive and left hand side force
as negative
ΣH =F1cosθ1 – F2cosθ2+ F3cosθ3
Step 2: Find the Algebraic sum of vertical forces. (i.e., ΣV)
Resolving the forces vertically and find the net vertical force, taking
upward force as positive and downward force as negative
ΣV =F1 sin θ1 + F2 sin θ2 – F3 sin θ3
Step 3: Find the Magnitude of Resultant force.
Magnitude of Resultant force,

Step 4: Direction of Resultant force.

Let, α be the inclination of Resultant force with horizontal
To locate inclination of Resultant force
 Draw the co-ordinate axis and mark ΣH and ΣV
(If, ΣH is positive draw towards right;
ΣH is negative draw towards left;
ΣV is positive draw towards upwards;
ΣV is negative , draw downwards)
O ΣH =Positive

ΣV = Negative
Example 5
Three coplanar concurrent forces are acting at a point as shown in figure.
Determine the resultant in magnitude and direction.
 200 sin45
400 sin30 Y
200N

400N

200 cos45

-400 cos30
30 45

60 X

600 cos60

600N

-600 sin60
Step 1: Algebraic sum of Horizontal forces. (i.e., ΣH)
Resolving the forces horizontally
ΣH =200 cos45° - 400 cos30° + 600 cos60°
=141.42 - 346.41 + 300
= 95.01N
Step 2: Algebraic sum of vertical forces. (i.e., ΣV)
Resolving the forces vertically
ΣV =200 sin 45° + 400 sin 30° - 600 sin 60°
=141.42+200-519.62
= -178.2N
Step 3: Magnitude of Resultant force.
Magnitude of Resultant force,

R= 201.95N
Step 4: Direction of Resultant force.
To locate inclination of Resultant force
 Draw the co-ordinate axis and mark ΣH and ΣV as shown in figure.
(As ΣH is positive, drawn towards right;
ΣV is negative , drawn downwards)

O ΣH =95.01N

R=201.95N

ΣV =-178.2N
Example:6
Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the system of forces
shown in figure.
Solution
Given data
Force (F1)=4kN, θ1=20
Force (F2)=6kN, θ2=30
Force (F3)=5kN, θ3=40
Force (F4)=8kN, θ4=60
To find
1. Magnitude of the resultant force
2. Direction of the resultant force

To find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, we should resolve
the forces.
 Y 4 sin20
6 sin30
4kN

6kN

4 cos20

- 6 cos30
300 200
X
400 600

- 5cos40 8 cos60

5kN
8kN

- 5 sin40
- 8 sin60
Step 1: Algebraic sum of Horizontal forces. (i.e., ΣH)
Resolving the forces horizontally
ΣH = 4 cos45° - 6cos30° -5cos40 ° + 8 cos60°
=……… kN
=…….N
Step 2: Algebraic sum of vertical forces. (i.e., ΣV)
Resolving the forces vertically
ΣV =4 sin 45° + 6sin 30°-5sin 40°- 8sin 60°
=……. kN
= …… N
Step 3: Magnitude of Resultant force.
Magnitude of Resultant force,

R= …..N
Step 4: Direction of Resultant force.

α= …..
To locate inclination of Resultant force
 Draw the co-ordinate axis and mark ΣH and ΣV as shown in figure.

ΣH = - 1.250kN
O

α = 77.460

R = 5.90kN

ΣV = - 5.773kN
 Y

F1

F2

θ2 θ1
X
θ3

F3
Problem. 7
The resultant of force system shown in figure is 520N along the negative direction of y axis. Determine P
and θ.
GIVEN DATA
Resultant force (R)=520N (acting along negative Y direction ↓)
Let F1=200N,
F2= 360N
F3=260N
F4= P
TO FIND
1. Unknown force (P)
2. Corresponding angle (ө)

To find the angle for the force F1, Let consider the right angle triangle

θ1= 36.870
Similarly ,For θ2, θ3,
θ2= 56.310
θ3= 67.380
 360 sinθ2 Y
200 sinθ1

360N
200N

- 360 cosθ2 200 cosθ1

X
θ
P cos θ

P
- 260 cosθ3

260N - P sin θ

- 260 sinθ3
Step 1: Algebraic sum of Horizontal forces. (i.e., ΣH)
Resolving the forces horizontally
ΣH =200 cos36.87° - 360 cos56.31° -260 cos56.31°+P Cos θ
=160 – 199.69 -100+P Cos θ
P Cos θ= 139.69N ------------------- (1)
Step 2: Algebraic sum of vertical forces. (i.e., ΣV)
Resolving the forces vertically
ΣV =200 sin36.87° + 360 sin 56.31° -260 sin 56.31°+P sin θ
520 = 120 + 299.53-240 + P sin θ
P sin θ= 699.53 N ---------- (2)
Now,

Eqe2 P sin  699.53

 
Eqe1 p cos  139.69

tan θ = 5.007
θ=
θ = 78.70
Substitute θ value in Equation (1)
P Cos θ= 139.69

P=

P = 712.9N
Example 8
The forces 10N, 20N, 30N and 40N are acting
on one of the vertices of a regular pentagon,
towards the other four vertices taken in order.
Find the Magnitude and direction of the
resultant force R.
Solution
GIVEN DATA
Let F1=10N,
F2=20N
F3=30N
F4= 40N
Forces acting vertices of the regular pentagon
TO FIND
Magnitude of the resultant force (R)
Direction of the resultant force (θ)
Sum of the interior angles of any regular polygon
is (2n - 4) x 900, where “n” number of sides.
Now, for Pentagon,
Sum of interior angles = (2*(5-4)*90)
= 5400
Each included angle = = 1080
 30N

40N D

20N

E C

θ
10N
A B

From the figure, θ = = 360

Now θ1 = 00
θ2 = 360
θ3 =2*36 = 720
θ4 = 180 – (3*36) = 720
 30sin72

40 sin72
30N 30 cos72
40N D
20 sin 36
20N
- 40 cos72

E C 20 cos 36

θ
10N
A B

Now Resolve the forces…

Step 1: Algebraic sum of Horizontal forces. (i.e., ΣH)
Resolving the forces horizontally
ΣH =10 + 20 cos36° + 30 cos72° - 40 cos72°
=10 + 16.18 + 9.27 – 12.36
= 23.09N
Step 2: Algebraic sum of vertical forces. (i.e., ΣV)
Resolving the forces vertically
ΣV =0 + 20 sin 36° + 30 sin 72° - 40 sin 72°
=11.76 + 28.53 + 38.04
= 78.33N
Step 3: Magnitude of Resultant force.
Magnitude of Resultant force,
R = (23.09)2 + (78.33)2
R= 81.67N
Step 4: Direction of Resultant force.
Let, α be the inclination of Resultant force with horizontal

α= 73.570
 R = 81.67N

E C

α = 73.570

A B

From the figure, θ = = 360

Now θ1 = 00
θ2 = 360
θ3 =2*36 = 720
θ4 = 180 – (3*36) = 720
 Y
200N

400N

30 45

60 X

600N