National University of Sciences & Technology

Engineering Mechanics
(Statics)
Chapter 2
Force Vectors

 Instructor
 Lect. Usman Abdullah
 (Lecture - 2)

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Learning Outcomes

To show how to add forces and resolve them into

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components using the Parallelogram Law

To express force and position in Cartesian vector form

2 and explain how to determine the vector’s magnitude
and direction

To introduce the dot product in order to determine the

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angle between two vectors or the projection of one
vector onto another

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Scalars and Vectors

Scalars Vectors
Examples: Mass, Volume Force, Velocity
Characteristics: It has a magnitude It has a magnitude and
(positive or negative) direction

Addition rule: Simple arithmetic Parallelogram law

Special Notation: None Bold font, a line, an
arrow or a “carrot”

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Vectors

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Vector Representation
 The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of
the vector, and the angle between the vector and a
fixed axis defines the direction of its line of action

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Vector Operations

Multiplication and Division of a Vector

by a Scalar

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Vector Addition using the Parallelogram
Law

Triangle method (always ‘tip

to tail’):

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Addition of Several Vectors (Forces)

How do you subtract a vector?

How can you add more than two concurrent vectors graphically ?

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Resolution of a Vector
 “Resolution” of a vector is breaking up a vector into
components.

 It is kind of like using the parallelogram law in

reverse.

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Addition of a System of Coplanar Forces

 We ‘resolve’ vectors into components using the x and y axis system.

 Each component of the vector is shown as a magnitude and a
direction.
 The directions are based on the x and y axes. We use the “unit
vectors”, i and j to designate the x and y axes.

 The x and y axis are always perpendicular to each other. Together,

they can be directed at any inclination.

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Addition of a System of Coplanar Forces (cont’d)

 For example,

F = Fx i + Fy j or F' = F'x i + ( F'y ) j

 The x and y axis are always perpendicular to each other.

Together, they can be directed at any inclination.

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Addition of Several Vectors (using coplanar
scheme)
 Step 1 is to resolve each
force into its components.
 Step 2 is to add all the x-
components together,
followed by adding all
the y components
together. These two totals
are the x and y
components of the
resultant vector.
 Step 3 is to find the
magnitude and angle of
the resultant vector.

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Addition of Several Vectors (cont’d.)
 An example of the process:

 Break the three vectors into components, then add them.

FR = F1 + F2 + F3
= F1x i + F1y j  F2x i + F2y j + F3x i  F3y j
= (F1x  F2x + F3x) i + (F1y + F2y  F3y) j
= (FRx) i + (FRy) j

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Representing a 2–D vector with a magnitude and
angle

Considering FR in the figure. It can be

resolved in Cartesian coordinates as:.
FRx = FR cosθ
FRy = FR sinθ

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Example Problems

1. The screw eye in Fig. 2–11a is

subjected to two forces, F1 and
F2. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force.
2. Resolve the horizontal 600-lb
force in Fig. 2–12a into
components acting along the u
and v axes and determine the
magnitudes of these components.

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Example Problems

3. Determine the magnitude of the

component force F in Fig. 2–13a and
the magnitude of the resultant force
FR if FR is directed along the
positive y axis.
4. It is required that the resultant force
acting on the eyebolt in Fig. 2–14a
be directed along the positive x axis
and that F2 have a minimum
magnitude. Determine this
magnitude, the angle q, and the
corresponding resultant force.

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

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Example Problems

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Practice

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Message of the day

“A strong positive self image is the best

possible preparation for success in life”

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Fourier slice theorem (FST)

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