ME 121: Engineering Mechanics

Exercise: 1
• Determine the resultant of the three
forces below.

y
600 N
800 N

350 N

45o
60o 25o
x
 Exercise: 1 (contd.)
 F x = 350 cos 25o + 800 cos 70o - 600 cos 60o

= 317.2 + 273.6 - 300 = 290.8 N

 F y = 350 sin 25o + 800 sin 70o + 600 sin 60o

= 147.9 + 751 + 519.6 = 1419.3 N

i.e. F = 290.8 N i + 1419.3 N j

y 800 N
Resultant, F 600 N

350 N
F  290.82  1419.32  1449 N
45o
1 1419.3
  tan  78.4 0 60 o
25o
290.8
x
F = 1449 N 78.4 o
 Exercise : 2
• A hoist trolley is subjected to the three forces
shown. Knowing that  = 40o , determine:
(a) the magnitude of force, P for which the
resultant of the three forces is vertical
(b) the corresponding magnitude of the
resultant.


P


2000 N 1000 N
 Exercise: 2 (contd.)
(a) The resultant being vertical means that the
horizontal component is zero.
 F x = 1000 sin 40o + P - 2000 cos 40o = 0
P = 2000 cos 40o - 1000 sin 40o =
1532.1 - 642.8 = 889.3 = 889 kN

(b)  Fy = - 2000 sin 40o - 1000 cos 40o =

- 1285.6 - 766 = - 2052 N = 2052 N

40o P
40o

2000 N 1000 N
 Exercise: 3
• Determine graphically, the magnitude and
direction of the resultant of the two forces
using (a) Parallelogram law and (b) the
triangle rule.

600 N
900 N

45o
30o
 Exercise: 3 (contd.)
Solution: A parm. with sides equal to 900 N and 600 N is drawn to scale as shown.
The magnitude and direction of the resultant can be found by drawing to scale.

600N 900N
600 N R
45o
30o
15o 900 N
45o 30o

The triangle rule may also be used. Join the forces in a tip to tail fashion and
measure the magnitude and direction of the resultant.

600 N
R 45o
135o C
900 N
B 30o
 Exercise: 3 (Trigonometric Solution)
Using the cosine law:

R2 = 9002 + 6002 - 2 x 900 x 600 cos 1350

R 600N
R = 1390.6 = 1391 N 135o

Using the sine law: 30o 900 N

B

R 600 600 sin 135
 i. e. B  sin 1
sin 135 sin B 1391
 17.8
The angle of the resul tan t  30  17.8  47.8

ie. R = 139N

47.8o
 Exercise: 4
• Two structural members B and C are bolted to
bracket A. Knowing that both members are in
tension and that P = 30 N and Q = 20 N, determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force
exerted on the bracket.

25o

50o

Q
 Exercise: 4 (contd.)
Solution: Using Triangle rule:

75o 30 kN
20 kN 105o
 25o
Q
R

R2 = 302 + 202 - 2 x 30 x 20 cos 105 0 - cosine law

R = 40.13 N
Using sine rule:
4013
. N 20 1 20 sin 105o
 and Sin   28.8 o
Sin 105o Sin  4013
.
Angle R  28.8 o  25o  38
. o
i. e R  401
. N, . o
38
 Example:1
The screw eye is subjected to two forces, F1
and F2. Determine the magnitude and direction
of the resultant force.
 Example:1 (contd.)
Parallelogram Law
Unknown: magnitude of FR and angle θ
 Example:1 (contd.)
Trigonometry
Law of Cosines
FR  100 N  2  150 N  2  2100 N 150 N  cos115 
 10000  22500  30000  0.4226  212.6 N  213 N

Law of Sines
150 N 212.6 N

sin  sin 115 
150 N
sin    0.9063
212.6 N
  39.8
 Example:1 (contd.)
Trigonometry
Direction Φ of FR measured from the
horizontal
  39.8  15
 54.8 
 Example:2
Given
Resultant R  1kN ,  30 

To find:
F1 and F2
 Example:2 (contd.)
1. Draw the vector diagram
 Example:2 (contd.)
2. Use the sine law to find F1 and F2

F1 1000
  F1  653 N
Sin30 
Sin130 

F2 1000
  F2  446 N
Sin 20 
Sin130 
 Unit Vector
• A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude
of 1, with no units.
• Its only purpose is to point i.e. they are used
to specify a direction
• We will use i, j for our unit vectors
• i means x – direction and j is y – direction
• We also put little “hats” (^) on i, j to show
that they are unit vectors
Unit Vector (Contd.)
 Unit Vector (cont)
If we want to find the unit vector having the same direction as a given vector,
we find the magnitude of the vector and divide the vector by that value.

w  3i  4 j What is w ?

 3   4   25  5
2 2
w 
If we want to find the unit vector having the same direction as w we need to
divide w by 5.

3 4 Let's check this to see if it really is 1 unit long.

u i j
5 5 3  4
2
25
2

u       1
5  5 25
 Exercise
If we know the magnitude and direction of the vector, let's
see if we can express the vector in ai + bj form.

v  5,   150
As usual we can use the trig we know
to find the length in the horizontal
direction and in the vertical direction.
5
150
v  v  cos  i  sin  j
5 3 5
v  5 cos 150i  sin 150 j   i j
2 2
Addition of a System of Coplanar
Forces
• Scalar Notation
– x and y axes are designated positive and
negative
– Components of forces expressed as
algebraic scalars

F  Fx  Fy
Fx  F cos  and Fy  F sin 
 Cartesian Vector Notation
– Cartesian unit vectors i and j are used to designate the
x and y directions
– Unit vectors i and j have dimensionless magnitude of
unity ( = 1 )
– Magnitude is always a positive quantity,
represented by scalars Fx and Fy

F  Fx i  Fy j