IEI2B2 – Engineering Mechanics

System of
Forces

Engineering Mechanics Team Teaching

–
Odd Semester 2021/2022

Bachelor of Industrial Engineering

School of Industrial and System Engineering
 Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) &
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)

PLO1-Competent in understanding theoretical concepts of natural sciences,

engineering mathematic applications, engineering fundamentals, engineering
science and engineering design which are required for analyzing and designing
integrated systems

CLO2-Student is able to calculate

the forces, moments and
equilibrium condition
Content

System of
Forces

Scalar
Example of
Position Notation for
Vectors Vectors
Addition

Introduction
Engineering
Mechanics
Cartesian
Vector
Position Notation for
Vectors Vectors
Addition
Applying
Rectangular
Components
in Vector
Addition
 System of Forces

When two or more forces act on a body, they are called to form a system of forces.

Following systems of forces are important from the subject point of view:
 Coplanar forces: the forces, whose lines of action lie on the same plane
 Collinear forces: the forces, whose lines of action lie on the same line
 Concurrent forces: the forces, which meet at one point. Concurrent forces may or may not
be collinear
 Coplanar concurrent forces: the forces, which meet at one point and their lines of action lie
on the same plane
 Coplanar non-concurrent forces: the forces, which do not meet at one point and their lines
of action lie on the same plane
 Non-coplanar concurrent forces: the forces, which meet at one point and their lines of
action do not lie on the same plane
 Non-coplanar non-concurrent forces: the forces, which do not meet at one point and their
lines of action do not lie on the same plane
 Please name the type of System
of Forces

y y y
1 2 𝐹4
3 4
𝐹1 𝐹2 𝐹3

𝐹3 Coplanar Concurrent Collinear 𝐹2

𝐹1 𝐹2
𝐹1
X X X
Coplanar Collinear Coplanar Concurrent Coplanar parallel
y y

5 𝑊1 𝑊2 𝑊3 6 7
𝐹1
𝐹2 𝐹1
……. 𝐹2

𝑅𝐴 𝑅𝐵 X X
𝐹4
Coplanar parallel 𝐹3

Non-coplanar concurrent Non-concurrent non-parallel

z
 Addition of a System of Coplanar
Forces

When a force is resolved into two components along the x and y

axes, the components are then called rectangular components.

For analytical work, we can represent these components in one of

two ways: scalar notation or Cartesian vector notation.
Proportional length of
triangle sides
SCALAR NOTATION:
Using the angle   Rectangular components of force F are obtained using
parallelogram law, 𝐹 = 𝐹𝑥 + 𝐹𝑦
 Due to a right triangle, the magnitude of Fx and Fy can be
calculated from
𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ; 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 𝑠𝑖𝑛 
 We can also use the proportional length of the triangle side to
determine the components of force F
𝒂 𝑭𝒚 𝒃
𝑭𝒙
𝑭 =
𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭 ; 𝑭 = 𝒃
𝒄 𝑭𝒚 = −𝑭
𝒄 𝒄
𝒂
𝒄
 Addition of a System of Coplanar
Forces - 1

CARTESIAN VECTOR NOTATION:

 Represent x and y components of a force in terms of Cartesian
unit vectors i and j
𝑭 = 𝐹𝑥 𝒊 + 𝐹𝑦 𝒋

Coplanar Force
Resultants
Rectangular components
of a vector F 3 4

1 2
 Addition of a System of Coplanar
Forces - 2

5 Any number of coplanar 6 Once these components are 7 Using Phytagorean theorem,
forces can be determined, they may be sketched magnitude of FR is obtained
represented by the along the x and y axes with their
components of the proper sense of direction, the
resultant force by the resultant force can be determined
algebraic sum of the x from vectors addition shown below Angle , specifies the
8
and y components of all direction of the resultant
the forces force can be computed from
trigonometry:
 Position Vector

A position vector r is defined as a fixed vector which locates a point in space

relative to another point.

For example, if r extends from the origin of coordinates, O, to point P (x,y,z)

then r can be expressed in Cartesian vector form as

1
3

2
 Position Vector

A position vector r is defined as a fixed vector which locates a point in space

relative to another point.

For example, if r extends from the origin of coordinates, O, to point P (x,y,z)

then r can be expressed in Cartesian vector form as

1
3

2
 Position Vector Addition
Using head-to-tail vector addition and triangle rule, one can obtain
Position Vector Example

An elastic rubber
band is attached to
points A and B as
shown in the figure.
Determine its
length and its
direction measured
from A toward B!
Example 1

Determine the x and y components of

F1 and F2 acting on the boom shown in
the figure! Express each force as a
Cartesian vector!
Example 2

The link is subjected to two

forces F1 and F2. Determine
the magnitude and direction
of the resultant force.
 Reference
Hibbeler, R.C. (2010). Engineering Mechanics Statics Twelfth
Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.