BTEC MECHANICAL

Level 3 Unit 5
PRINCIPLES AND
APPLICATIONS
FORCES AS VECTORS

Vectors have a magnitude

(amount) and a direction.

Forces are vectors

 FORCES AS VECTORS (2
FORCES)
Forces F1 and F2
are in different F1

directions They
are NOT in F2
equilibrium
 FORCES AS VECTORS (2
FORCES)
The two forces can be
F2
drawn like this. (In the
correct direction and the F1
lengths should be drawn to
scale to represent the
magnitude of the forces)
FORCES AS VECTORS (2
FORCES)
If the two
forces do F2

not
meet, the
F1
system is not in
equilibrium
 FORCES AS VECTORS (2 FORCES)
F2

If a third force (FE) was added in

the way shown the three would be F1
in equilibrium (They are all joined FE

up following each other, The force

system is balanced)

This force is called the

EQUILIBRANT
 FORCES AS VECTORS (2 FORCES)
If the line joining the two forces F2
is in the opposite direction to
the equilibrant it is the F1

RESULTANT of the two forces FR

The forces area not in equilibrium and the

resultant shows the direction and
magnitude of the combination of the two
forces
 FORCES AS VECTORS (3 FORCES)

F3 F3 F2
F2 FE

FE F3
F1 F2
F1 F1
The order in which you draw
the forces does not affect FE
Resultant (3 FORCES)

F3
F2 F3
FR

F1
F2
F1
 F2
FORCES AS VECTORS ( 3 50o

FORCES) 2ND EXAMPLE F3

F1

Equilibran
t FE
F1
Resultan
F2 t FR
F1
F3 50
o
50o

F2
F3
RESOLVING FORCES

35o 70o

Consider a weight of 2000 Newtons

suspended from a beam by two ropes at
the angles shown. Find the forces in each
rope.

2000 Newtons
Weight suspended by two
ropes Draw the perpendicular

Identify the angles between the forces A and B and the perpendicular

Draw the triangle using the angles

A B

55o 20o A
55o
35o 70o
105o
2000 N

20o
The length of the sides of
the triangle represent the
2000 Newtons
magnitude of the forces
NOT the length of rope
 USING THE SINE RULE (IF YOU
KNOW THE ANGLES)
a = b = c
sin A sin B sin C
55o a

angle A = 20o angle B = 55o (opposites to sides a & b)

105o
Angle C = 105o and side c represents 2000N
2000 N
(c)
b
20o
 USING THE SINE RULE (IF YOU
KNOW THE ANGLES)
a/sin A = c/sin C
therefore a/sin 20o = 2000/sin105o

a = 2000 x sin 20o/sin105o a

55o
708.17N
105o
2000 N
b/sin B = c/sin C
(c)
therefore b/sin 55o = 2000/sin105o
b
a = 2000 x sin 55o/sin105o 20o

1696.1N
USING THE COSINE RULE ( IF YOU
KNOW ONE ANGLE AND TWO
SIDES)
F2 = 60N
F3

70o

F1 = 30N
 USING THE COSINE RULE ( IF YOU KNOW
ONE ANGLE AND TWO SIDES)
A2 = B2 + C2 -2BCcosA

(F3)2 = 302 + 602 – 2x60x30x cos110o

F2 = 60N (C)
= 75.7N F3 (A)

A =110o
70o

F1 = 30N (B)
VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL
COMPONENTS OF FORCES
Sketch the diagram

Fv can be drawn at the other

end of the sketch

Fv F
θ
FH
VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL
COMPONENTS OF FORCES
Sketch the diagram

sin θ = Fv/F
F.sin θ = Fv
Fv F Fv
θ
cos θ = FH/F
FH
F.cos θ = FH
back
FORCES AS Forces on a
flat F2 = 4N

VECTORS rectangular 40cm

F1 = 10N
60cm

plate 50o
F3 =
12N
Equilibrant Resultan
FE t FR
F1 10N
50o 50o

4N 4N
12N 12N
FINDING FE
IDENTIFY THE DIRECTION AND
MAGNITUDE OF THE FORCES F2 = 4N
60cm
THEN
CONSTRUCT A VECTOR 40cm F1 = 10 N

DIAGRAM 50o

F3 =12 N
DRAW TO SCALE TO FIND
THE MAGNITUDE AND
FE
DIRECTION OF FE 10N

(EQUILIBRANT) 50o

4N

12N

FE = 22N
(Measured)
DRAW IT IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION TO FIND THE
MAGNITUDE AND
DIRECTION OF
RESULTANT FORCE FR
10N

50o

4N

12N

FE = 22N
(Measured)
FINDING THE POSITION OF
THE EQUILIBRANT (FE)
4N

60cm

22N 40cm 10N

F1

50o
4N
12N
12N
 Put FE where you think it should be to
balance the other forces

Clockwise = Anticlockwise 4N
60cm
22N x X =4N x 40cm 10N
+ 10N x 0
40cm
+ 12N x 0

= 160Ncm x
22N 50o A
X = 160 ÷ 22 = 7.27 cm
12N

The 10N and the 12N pass

through the pivot A so
the turning moment = 0
 B TECH Question
P1 example
The diagram shows a uniform rectangular
plate supported in a vertical plane by forces
acting at the three corners of the plate. The
2.6kN
plate is 4m x 3m and has a mass of 200kg
A
1.4kN 4m 35o
a) Calculate the magnitude and direction of
the resultant force
3m
b) Show the magnitude and direction of the
130o
equilibrant force

c) Calculate the position of the resultant

force with respect to the corner A (ie. Use A 1.4 kN

as a pivot)
 Weight of
2.6kN

A
plate = 200Kg 1.4kN 4m 35o

x 9,81 = 3m
1.96kN 130o

(acting from
the centre of
gravity of the 1.96 kN
1.4 kN

uniform
plate
VECTOR DIAGRAM
WITH RESULTANT
2.2kN

1.4kN

1.96kN

This shows
a) the magnitude and direction of
2.6kN the resultant

1.4kN
VECTOR DIAGRAM
WITH EQUILIBRANT
2.2kN

1.4kN

1.96kN

This shows
b) the magnitude and direction of the
2.6kN
equilibrant

1.4kN
Resolve the diagonal forces 2.6kN
and 1.4kN into vertical and
horizontal components V1, H1
and V2 (H2 not needed)

V2
2.2kN 2.6kN
For explanation x
Click here A
1.4kN 35o
H2 not needed , it
passes through A
V2 = 2.6xsin 35 3m
= 1.49kN
1.96 kN
V1 = 1.4xsin40 = H1
4m 40
o

0.90kN
H1 1.4 x cos40 =
1.4 kN
1.07kN 130 - 90
V1
 Resolve turning moments 1.49kN
V2
2.2kN 2.6kN
x
A
1.4kN
Clockwise = Anticlockwise 35o
H2 not needed , it
1.96 x 2 + V2 x 4 + passes through A

V1 x 4 H1 x 3 3m
+ 1.96 kN
H1 1.07kN
2.2 x X 4m 40o

1.4 kN

V1
0.9kN
 Resolve turning moments 1.49kN
V2
2.2kN 2.6kN
x
A
Clockwise = Anticlockwise 1.4kN 35o
H2 not needed , it
1.96 x 2 + 1.49 x 4 + passes through A

0.9 x 4 + 1.07 x 3
2.2 x X 1.96 kN
H1 1.07kN
7.52 + 2.2X = 9.17 4m 40o

2.2X = 9.17 – 7.52

2.2X = 1.65X = 1.4 kN
1.65 ÷ 2.2 = 0.75m V1
0.9kN