Mechanics Assignment
Mechanics Assignment
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.