Engineering Mechanics :

STATICS

BNJ 10203
Lecture #05
By,
Dalila Binti Mohd Harun
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
(UTHM),
2
 POSITION & FORCE VECTORS (Sections 2.7 - 2.8)
Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to :
a) Represent a position vector, rxx in
Cartesian coordinate form (i,j,k), from
given geometry; and Unit Vector, uxx
b) Represent a force vector directed along
a line.
Learning Topics:
• Applications /
Relevance
• Write position vectors
• Write a force vector

3
 APPLICATIONS

How can we
represent the force
along the wing
structure in a 3-D
Cartesian vector
form?

Wing strut
4
 POSITION VECTOR
A position vector is defined as
a fixed vector that locates a
point in space relative to
another point.
Consider two points, A & B, in
3-D space. Let their coordinates
be (XA, YA, ZA) and ( XB, YB,
ZB ), respectively.
The position vector directed from A to B, r AB , is defined as
r AB = {( XB – XA ) i + ( YB – YA ) j + ( ZB – ZA ) k }m
Please note that B is the ending point and A is the starting point.
So ALWAYS subtract the “tail” coordinates from the “tip”
coordinates!
5
 EXAMPLE
Given: A position vector r acting from point A(3m,5m,6m) to
point B(5m,-2m,1m)
Find: Represent the position vector in Cartesian vector form and
determine its direction angles and find the distance
between point A and B.
Plan:

1) Represent the position vector in Cartesian vector form

2) Find the magnitude of the position vector
3) Use trigonometry to find the direction angle

6
 EXAMPLE
z

6
A(3,5,6)

1
B(5,-2,1) 5
-2 y
3
5

x
rAB = {( XB – XA ) i + ( YB – YA ) j + ( ZB – ZA ) k }m
= {( 5 – 3 ) i + ( -2 – 5) j + ( 1 – 6 ) k }m
= {2i - 7j - 5k }m
Distance between point A and B,
1

rAB  2 2  (7) 2  (5) 
2 2
 8.83m 7
 EXAMPLE

rx 2
cos   
rAB 8.83
ry 7
cos   
rAB 8.83
rz 5
cos   
r AB 8.83

Solving the equations and we will the answers as below

α = 76.9°, β = 142.4°, γ = 124.5° 8

 IN CLASS TUTORIAL (GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING)
Given: Position vector as shown in the
figure
Find: Express the position vector r in
the Cartesian vector form, its
magnitude and coordinate
direction angle.
Plan:

1) Represent the position vector in Cartesian vector form

2) Find the magnitude of the position vector
3) Use trigonometry to find the direction angle

9
10
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

rAB = {( XB – XA ) i + ( YB – YA ) j + ( ZB – ZA ) k }m
= {( 0 – 3 ) i + ( -8 – 4) j + ( 4 – 0 ) k }m
= {-3i - 12j + 4k }m

Distance between point A and B,

1
 2 2
rAB  (3)  (12)  (4) 
2 2
 13m
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 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

rx 3
cos   
rAB 13
ry 12
cos   
rAB 13
rz 4
cos   
r AB 13

Solving the equations and we will the answers as below

α = 103.3°, β = 157.4°, γ = 72.1° 12

 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL

Q1 (2-84):
Determine the length of the connecting rod AB by first
formulating a Cartesian position vector from A to B and then
determining its magnitude.
Given:
b = 400mm
a = 125mm
α = 25°

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 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)

Q2 (2-85):
Determine the length of member AB of the truss by first establishing a
Cartesian position vector from A to B and then determining its
magnitude.
Given:
a = 1.2m
b = 0.8m
c = 0.3m
d = 1.5m
θ = 40deg

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FORCE VECTOR DIRECTED ALONG A LINE (Section 2.8)

If a force is directed along a line,

then we can represent the force
vector in Cartesian Coordinates by
using a unit vector and the force
magnitude. So we need to:

a) Find the position vector, r AB , along two points on

that line.
b) Find the unit vector describing the line’s direction,
uAB = (rAB/rAB).
c) Multiply the unit vector by the magnitude of the
force, Fcart = Fal uAB .
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 EXAMPLE

Given: The window is held open by

cable AB as shown in the figure
Find: Length of the cable and express
the F force acting at A along the
cable as a Cartesian vector
Plan:

1) Represent the position vector in Cartesian vector form

2) Find the magnitude of the position vector
3) Using a unit vector, express the F force as a Cartesian vector
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 EXAMPLE

rAB = {( XB – XA ) i + ( YB – YA ) j + ( ZB – ZA ) k }mm
= {( 0 – 300cos30°) i + ( 150 – 500) j + (250 + 300sin30°) k }mm
= {-259.8i - 350j + 400k }mm

Distance between point A and B,

1

rAB  (259.8) 2  (350) 2  (400) 
2 2
 591.6mm 18
 EXAMPLE

Use a unit vector to express F in the form of Cartesian vector

F = FuAB = F(rAB/rAB).
F = 30 {(-259.8 /591.6)i + (-350/591.6)j + (400/591.6)k}
= 30{-0.44i – 0.59j + 0.68k}

= {-13.2i - 17.7j + 20.4k} N

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 IN CLASS TUTORIAL (GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING)

Given: The cable attached to the tractor

at B exerts a force of 3500 N no
the framework.
Find: Express this force as a Cartesian
vector
Plan:

1) Represent the position vector in Cartesian vector form

2) Find the magnitude of the position vector
3) Using a unit vector, express the F force as a Cartesian vector
20
21
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

rAB = {( XB – XA ) i + ( YB – YA ) j + ( ZB – ZA ) k }m
= {( 15sin20° – 0 ) i + ( 15cos20° – 0) j + ( 0 – 10.5 ) k }m
= {5.13i + 14.1j - 10.5k }m
Distance between point A and B,
1

rAB  (5.13) 2  (14.1) 2  (10.5) 
2 2
 18.31m 22
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

Use a unit vector to express F in the form of Cartesian vector

F = FuAB = F(rAB/rAB).
F = 3500 {(5.13 /18.31)i + (14.1/18.31)j + (-10.5/18.31)k}
= 3500{0.28i + 0.77j – 0.57k}

= {980i + 2695j - 1995k} N

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 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL
Q3 (2-93):
The plate is suspended using the three cables which exert the forces
shown. Express each force as a Cartesian vector.
Given:
FBA = 3.5kN
FCA = 5kN
FDA = 4kN
a = 0.3m
b = 0.3m
c = 0.6m
d = 1.4m
e = 0.3m
f = 0.3m
g = 0.2m
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 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)
Q4 (2-94):
The engine of the lightweight plane is supported by struts that are
connected to the space truss that makes up the structure of the plane.
The anticipated loading in two of the struts is shown. Express each of
these forces as a Cartesian vector.
Given:
F1 = 4kN
F2 = 6kN
a = 0.15m
b = 0.15m
c = 0.9m
d = 0.75m
e = 0.15m
f = 0.9m
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 HOMEWORK TUTORIAL (continued)

Q5 (2-104) :
The tower is held in place by three cables. If the force of each cable
acting on the tower is shown, determine the magnitude and
coordinate direction angles α,β,γ of the resultant force.
Units Used:
kN := 1000N
Given:
x = 20m, a = 16m
y = 15m, b = 18m
F1 = 600N, c = 6m
F2 = 400N, d = 4m
F3 = 800N, e = 24m

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