CHAPTER TWO

COPLANAR CONCURRENT FORCES

Resultant of concurrent force (algebraically)

Find ∑ Fx, ∑ Fy then determine the resultant force and the angle

Ax = A cos α, Bx = B cos , Cx = C cos

Ay = A sin α, By = B sin , Cy = C sin

∑ Fx = A cos α - B cos - C cos

∑ Fy = A sin α + B sin - C sin

Resultant force, R = [(∑ Fx)2 + (∑ Fy)2]1/2

Direction or angle, tanθ′ = ∑ Fy / ∑ Fx

Example- 16:

Find algebraically the resultant of the force system shown in Fig 20 (a)
Solution:

∑ Fx = A cos0º + B cos60º - C cos45º - D cos0º - E cos30º

= 500 * cos0º + 600 cos60º - 700 cos45º - 800 cos0º - 900 cos30º

= - 1274.3 lb

∑ Fy = A sin0º + B sin60º - C sis45º - D sin0º - E sin30º

= 500 * sin0º + 600 sin60º - 700 sin45º - 800 sin0º - 900 sin30º

= - 1000 lb

Resultant force, R = [(∑ Fx)2 + (∑ Fy)2]1/2

= [(- 1274.3)2 + (-1000)2]1/2

= 1620 lb Ans.

Direction or angle with horizontal, θ = tan-1(∑ Fy / ∑ Fx)

= tan-1 ((- 1000) / (- 1274.3))

= 38.1º Ans.

Equilibrium

∑ Fx = 0

∑ Fy = 0

Assignment: Example 21 page

Problem 58:

R is the resultant of F, T and Q, shown in Fig. 33. Q = 800 lb., α = 30º, R = β kips. Find F and θ.
Solution:

∑ Fx = Q cosα + F sinθ = 0

=> 800 cos30 + F sinθ = 0

=> 692.82 + F sinθ = 0

=> F sinθ = - 692.82 ………. (1)

∑ Fy = Q sinα + T sin90 - F cosθ = 2000

=> 800 sin30 + 100sin90 – F cosθ = 2000

=> F cosθ = 2500 …………… (β)

Equation (1) ÷ (2),

tan θ = - 0.77

=> θ = - 15.5

=> θ = γ44.5º Ans.

Therefore, F = 2500/ cos344.5º = 2594 lb Ans.

Problem- 60

In Fig 34, a boat is being pushed forward against a resistance of Q = 50 lb. If the resultant force
in the x direction is R = + 100 lb, Determine F and θ algebraically.
Solution:
80 sin30º
80 lb

80 cos30º

50 lb 30º R = 100 lb
θ
F cosθ

F sin θ

+
∑ Fx = 0 (→)

=> - 50 + F cosθ + 80 cos30 = 100

=> F cos θ = 80.71 ……………….. (1)

∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> - F sin θ + 80 sin30 = 0

=> F sin θ = 40 …………………… (β)

So, tan θ = ∑ Fy / ∑ Fx = 40 / 80.71

=> θ = β6.γ6º Ans.

Therefore, F sin 26.36º = 40

=> F = 90.08 lb Ans.

Assignment: 61, 66

Problem- 72

A 5000 lb sphere rests on a smooth plane inclined at an

angle θ = 45 º with the horizontal and against a smooth
vertical wall. What are reactions at the contact surface A
and B, Fig. 39?
Solution: RA sin 45º
RA

RA cos45º
45º
RB

500 lb
∑ Fx = 0 (→)
+

=> RB - RA cos45º = 0

=> RB = RA cos45º ………………………….. (1)

∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> RA sin 45º - 5000 = 0

=> RA sin 45º = 5000

=> RA = 7071.06 lb Ans.

So, RB = 7071.06 cos45º

=> RB = 5000 lb Ans.

Assignment: Problem- 74

Problem- 77

A 2500 lb wheel with a radius of 3 ft is acted upon by a force F, Fig. 40 which tends to pull the
wheel over the obstruction at A. At the instant the wheel is about to move, the pressure between
the wheel and the ground is zero. What is the magnitude of the force F at this instant if θ = 40º?
Solution:

RA sin30º
F sin40º
sin α = (γ – 1.5) / 3 RA
F
=> α = γ0º RA cos30º
F cos40º
α = γ0º 40º

2500 lb
+
∑ Fx = 0 (→)

=> F cos40º - RA cos30º = 0

=> F = 1.13 RA ………………………….. (1)

∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> RA sin 30º + F sin 40º - 2500 = 0

=> RA * 0.5 + 1.13 RA * 0.64 = 2500

=> 1.22 RA = 2500

=> RA = 2049 lb Ans.

So, F = 1.13 * 2049

=> F = 2315 lb Ans.

Problem- 79

A 500 lb cylinder rests on a smooth inclined plane, Fig. 41. For a tension in the rope of 250lb
find the inclination of the plane and the plane reaction.
RA

250 lb
θ

500 lb
Solution:
+
∑ Fx = 0 (→)

=> β50 cosθ - RA sin θ = 0

=> RA sin θ = β50 cosθ ………………………….. (1)

∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> 250 sin θ + RA cosθ - 500 = 0

=> RA cosθ = 500 - β50 sin θ …………………….. (β)

RA cos θ 500 - β50 sin θ

(1) ÷ (2), =
RA sin θ β50 cos θ

cos θ 2 _ sin θ
=> =
sin θ cos θ cos θ
=> cos2 θ = β sin θ – sin2θ

=> cos2 θ + sin2θ = β sin θ

=> 1 = β sin θ

=> sin θ = 0.5

=> θ = γ0º Ans.

From equation (1),

RA sin 30º = 250 cos30º

=> RA = 250*0.866 / 0.5

= 433 lb Ans.

Problem- 87

Two spheres are at rest against smooth surfaces, as shown in Fig. 44.
Sphere A weighs γβ00 lb and sphere B 400 lb. Let F = 1000 lb and θ
= 75º. Find the reactions at C, D and E.
Solution:

∑ Fx = 0 (→)
+

=> 1000 + RC cos15 - RB cos60 = 0

=> 0.5 RB = 1000 + 0.966 RC A

F = 1000 lb
15º 60º
=> RB = 2000 + 1.93 RC …………………….. (1)
RC
RB
3200 lb
∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> RC sin15 + RB sin60 - 3200 = 0

=> 0.259 RC + 0.866 RB = 3200

=> 0.259 RC + 0.866 * (2000 + 1.93 RC) = 3200

=> 0.259 RC + 1732 + 1.67 RC = 3200

=> 1.96 RC = 3200 – 1732

=> RC = 760.62 lb Ans.

From equation (1),

RB = 2000 + 1.93 * 760.62 RD

= 3468 lb Ans.
B RE
60º
∑ Fx = 0 (→)
+
400 lb RB
=> - RE + RB cos60 = 0

=> RE = 0.5 * 3468

=> RE = 1734 lb

∑ Fy = 0 ( + )

=> RD – 400 - RB sin60 = 0

=> RD = 400 + 3468 sin60

=> RD = 3403.4 lb Ans.

Free body

A free body is a presentation of an object, usually a rigid body, which shows all the forces acting
on it.

Assignment: Problem 137, 138

Equilibrium of three forces and force polygon:

Applying the laws of sine to the in Fig. 25 (b), we have

 
sin(   ) sin(   ) sin(   )
W F1 F2

Since sin (π - α) = sinα

 1  2 ………. (1)
sin  sin  sin 
W F F

Which is to say that: Each force in a group of three forces in equilibrium is proportional to the
sine of the angle between the between the other two forces (Lami’s Theorem)

From equation (1),

 sin  
F1   W and
 sin  

 sin  
F2   W
 sin  

Again from the equation of equilibrium,

∑Fx = F2 cos45º - F1 cos60º = 0

∑Fy = F2 sin45º + F1 sin60º = 0

Problem: 91

Two weights are suspended from a flexible cable as shown in Fig. 46. For θ = 1β0º, determine
the internal forces in various parts of the cable and weight W.

Solution:

Free body diagrams,

AB
CD
BC 120º
75º
60º
45º

75º
BC
2000 lb W

F.B. of B F.B. of C

From F.B. of B, we have

 
AB BC 2000
sin 75 sin150 sin135

2000* sin 75

 AB   2732lb Ans.
sin135

2000* sin150
 BC   1414lb Ans.
sin135
From F.B. of C, we have

 
BC CD W
sin135 sin105 sin120

BC * sin105 1414* sin105

 CD    1932lb Ans.
sin135 sin135

BC * sin120 1414* sin120

W    1732lb Ans.
sin135 sin135

Trusses: Joint to joint method

A roof truss is constructed and loaded as shown in Fig. 27. At the pin N, the following internal
forces have been found: NF = 16900 lb (tension), DN = 7000 lb (compression) and NH = 12565
lb (tension). For an external load at the pin o 6000, find the forces in the members NC and NB.

Solution:
∑Fx = 0

=> 16900 – 7000 cos30 – F2 cos30 – 12565 = 0

=> F2 = - 2000 lb (compression) Ans.

∑Fy = 0

=> F1 – 7000 sin30 – 6000 + F2 sin30 = 0

=> F1 = 7000 sin30 – 6000 - 2000 sin30

=> F1 = 10500 lb (tension) Ans.

Assignment: Problem- 114

In the bridge truss of Fig. 56, find the forces in members AB, AF, BF and FE.