Question # 01: Solve the following numerical problems?

1. Two forces P and Q are applied as shown at point A of a hook

support.Knowing that P = 60lb and Q = 25 lb, determine the
magnitude and direction of their resultant using (a) the
parallelogram law, (b) the triangle rule.
Solution
P = 60lb
Q = 25lb
( a ) The parallelogram law
Let 10lb = 1cm
Then, 60lb = 6cm and 25lb = 2.5cm
The parallelogram is formed by drawing a line from the head of P that is
parallel to Q, and another line from the head of Q that is parallel to P. The
resultant force FR is the diagonal of this this parallelogram.
Calculations
Length of diagonal = 7.7cm
7.7 × 10 = 77
So the resultant force is equal to 77lb.
( b ) The triangle law
From the parallelogram, the vector triangle is
constructed,
Using law of cosines for resultant force
(��)2 = (65)2 + (25)2 - 2(65)(25)cos125
= 3600 + 625 - 3000(-0.57)
=3600 + 625 + 1710
=5935
Fr = 5935 = 77.03
So the resultant force is equal to 77.03lb.
Using law of sins for direction of resultant force
���θ ���125
=
60 77.03
−1 60
θ = ��� 77.03
(sin125)
θ = (0.779)(0.819)
θ = ���−1 0.638
θ = 39.64°
θ = 39.64° + 55° = 94.64°
So the direction of the resultant force is 94.64° from negative x-axis

2. Determine the magnitude and direction of resultant force as shown

in figure
Solution
Resolution of components of forces
Let F1 ═ 4KN, F2 ═ 10KN
It is clear from figure that x and y components of F1 are
F1x ═ 0
F1y ═ 4KN
For F2
�2�
Cos� = �2 , �2� ═ �2cox
�2� ═ 10cos30 ═ 10×0.866
�2� ═ 8.66KN
Now,
�2�
sin� = �2 , �2� ═ �2sinx
�2� ═ 10sin30 ═ 10×0.5
�2� ═ 5KN
Now resultant force Fr
Fr = (�1� + �2�)2 + (�1� + �2�)2
= (0 + 8.66)2 + (4 + 5)2
= 75 + 81 = 156
Fr = 12.48KN
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 12.48KN
Now, direction of resultant force
(�1� +�2�) (�1� +�2�)
���θ = (�1� +�2�) , θ = ���−1 (�1� +�2�)
(9)
θ = ���−1 (8.66) = ���−1 (1.039)
θ = 46°
So, the direction of resultant force is at 46° from x-axis

3. Two forces are applied to an eye bolt fastened to a

beam. Determine the magnitude and direction of their
resultant using
(a) the parallelogram law, (b) the triangle rule.

Solution
(a) the parallelogram law
let 1KN ═ 1cm
Then, 4.5KN ═ 4.5cm and 6KN ═ 6cm
The parallelogram is formed by drawing a line from the
head of line which represents 6kN that is parallel to force
4kN, and another line from the head of 4kN that is parallel
to 6kN. Then resultant force FR is the diagonal of this this
parallelogram.
Calculations
Length of diagonal = 8.4cm
8.4 × 1 = 8.4
So the resultant force is equal to 8.4kN.
(b) the triangle rule.
From the parallelogram, the vector triangle is
constructed,
Using law of cosines for resultant force
(��)2 = (6)2 + (4.5)2 - 2(6)(4.5)cos105
= 36 + 20.25 - 54(-0.259)
=36 + 20.25 + 13.976
═ 70.226
Fr = 70.226 = 8.38 ═ 8.4kN
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 8.4kN.
Direction
Using law of sins
���� ���105
=
4.5 8.4
−1 4.5
� = ��� ���105
8.4
� = ���−1 (0.5357)(0.9659) ═ ���−1(0.517)
θ ═ 31.13°
θ ═ 31.13° + 40° ═ 71.13°
So, the direction of the resultant force is at 71.13° from the
positive x-axis.

4. Two control rods are attached at A to lever AB.

Knowing that the force in the left-hand rod is F1= 120 N,
determine (a) the required force F2 in the right-hand
rod if the resultant of the forces exerted by the rods on
the lever is to vertical (b) the corresponding magnitude
of FR.
Solution
It is stated that the resultant force is exerted vertically to the
lever .
(a) Finding F2
using law of sin
���62 ���80
=
�2 120
���62
�2 = 120 ( ���80)
0.883
�2 = 120 (
0.985
)
�2 = 120 (0.896) ═ 107.57
Thus, the magnitude of F2 is 107.57N.
(b) the corresponding magnitude of FR
Using law of cosines
(��)2 = (120)2 + (107.57)2 - 2(120)(107.57)cos38
= 14,400 + 11,571.3049 -
25,816.8(0.788)
=14,400 + 11,571.3049 - 20,343.6384
═ 5,627.66
Fr = 5,627.66 = 75.017 ═ 75
Thus, the corresponding magnitude of resultant force is
75N.
5. Two forces are applied as shown to a hook support.
Knowing that the magnitude of P is 35 N, determine by
(a) the required angle α if the resultant of the two
forces applied to the support is to be horizontal, (b) the
corresponding magnitude of resultant.
Solution
Given that Resultant force is horizintal.
Using laws of sines for finding angle α.
���α ���25
=
50 35
−1 50
α = ��� 35 ���25
α = ��� (1.4285)(0.4226) ═ ���−1 (0.6037)
−1

α ═ 37.137°
Now,
α + β + γ ═ 180°
37.137° + β + 35° ═ 180°
β ═ 180° - 62.13° ═ 117.9°
(b) the corresponding magnitude of resultant.
Using law of sines
���117.9 ���25
=
�� 35
���117.9
�� = 35 (
���25
)
0.8837
�� = 35 ( 0.4226)
�� = 35 (2.091) ═ 73.188N
Thus, the coresponding magnitude of FR is 73.188N.

6. The two forces P and Q act on bolt A as shown in

diagram.Find their resultant and direction.

Solution
Resultant force Fr
Using law of cosines
(��)2 = (40)2 + (60)2 - 2(40)(60)cos155
= 1600 + 3600 - 4800(-0.9063)
=1600 + 3600 + 4350.277
═ 9,550.277
Fr = 9,550.277 = 97.72
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 97.72N.
Direction of resultant force
Using law of sines
���� ���155
=
60 97.72
−1 60
� = ��� 97.72 ���155
� = ��� (0.6139)(0.4226) ═ ���−1(0.2594)
−1

θ ═ 15.03° ═ 15°
θ ═ 15° + 20° ═ 35°
The direction of Fr is 35° from positive x axis.
7. Two structural members A and B are bolted to a
bracket as shown. Knowing that both members are in
compression and that the force is 10 kN in member A
and 15 kN in member B, determine by trigonometry the
magnitude and direction of the resultant of the forces
applied to the bracket by members A and B.
Solution
Resultant force.
A parallelogram is constructed by expanding the lines A
and B either sides.
Using law of cosines
(��)2 = (15)2 + (10)2 - 2(15)(10)cos120
= 225 + 256 - 300(-0.5)
=225 + 256 + 150
═ 631
Fr = 631 = 25.1 ═ 25.1kN
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 25.1kN.
Direction
Using law of sins
���� ���120
=
15 25.1
15
� = ���−1 25.1 ���120
� = ���−1 (0.5976)(0.866) ═ ���−1 (0.517)
θ ═ 31.13°
θ ═ 31.13° + 50° ═ 81.13°
So, the direction of the resultant force is at 81.13° from the
positive x-axis.

8. Determine the magnitude and direction of the

resultant of the two forces

Solution
By constructing parallelogram.
Using law of cosines for resultant
(��)2 = (2000)2 + (1500)2 - 2(2000)(1500)cos135
=4,000,000 + 2,250,000 - 6,000,000(-0.707)
 = 4,000,000 + 2,250,000 + 4,242,000
═ 10,492,000
Fr = 10,492,000 = 3,239.13 ═ 3239N
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 3,239N.
Direction
Using law of sins
���� ���135
=
1500 3239
−1 1500
� = ��� ���135
3239
� = ��� (0.463)(0.707) ═ ���−1 (0.327)
−1

θ ═ 19.08°
θ ═ 19.08° + 30° ═ 49.08°
So, the direction of the resultant force is at 49.08° from the
-ve x-axis.

9. The cable stays AB and AD help support pole AC.

Knowing that the tension is 500 N in AB and 160 N in
AD, determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant of the forces exerted by the stay sat A using (a)
the parallelogram law, (b) the triangle law

Solution
we need to find angle α and β
10
α = ���−1
8
α = ���−1(1.25) ═ 51.34°
10
β = ���−1
6
β = ���−1 (1.66) ═ 59°
(a) the parallelogram law
Let 80N ═ 1cm then,
500N ═ 6.25cm and 160N ═ 2cm
The parallelogram is formed by drawing a line from the
head of B that is parallel to D, and another line from the
head of D that is parallel to B. The resultant force FR is
the diagonal of this this parallelogram.
Calculations
Length of diagonal = 7.2cm
7.2 × 80 = 576
So the resultant force is equal to 576N
(b) the triangle law
Using law of cosines
(��)2 = (500)2 + (160)2 - 2(500)(160)cos110.34
= 250000 + 25,600 -160,000(-0.3475)
=250000 + 25600 + 55614.45
═ 331214.45
Fr = 331214.45 = 575.5 ═576
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 576N.
Direction of resultant force
Using law of sines
���� ���110.34
=
160 576
−1 160
� = ��� 576 ���110.34
� = ��� (0.277)(0.937) ═ ���−1 (0.259)
−1

θ ═ 15.01° ═ 15°
θ ═ 15° + 51.34° ═ 66.35°
The direction of resultant is 66.35° from -ve x-axis.

10.The two structural member one in tension and other

in compression, exerts on point O, determine the
resultant and angle θ.
Solution
Resultant
The parallelogram is formed by extending the 6kN line and
then joining the heads of vectors.

Using law of sines.

(��)2 = (6)2 + (4)2 - 2(6)(4)cos120
= 36 + 16 -48(-0.5)
=36 + 16 + 24
═ 76
Fr = 76 = 8.7
Thus, the magnitude of resultant force is 8.7kN.
Direction of resultant force
Using law of sines
���� ���120
=
6 8.7
6
� = ���−1 ���120
8.7
� = ���−1 (0.689)(0.866) ═ ���−1 (0.597)
θ ═ 36.65° ═ 36.7°
θ ═ 36.7° + 135° ═ 171.7°
The direction of resultant is 171.7° from +ve x-axis.