⁎ Scalars and Vectors

⁎ Vector Operations
⁎ Vector Addition of Forces
⁎ Addition of a System of Coplanar Forces
⁎ Cartesian Vectors
⁎ Addition of Cartesian Vectors
⁎ Position Vectors
⁎ Force Vectors Directed Along a Line
⁎ Dot Product

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FORCE VECTORS Chapter 1

 OBJECTIVES

After discussing this chapter,

the student must be able to:
• Add forces and resolve them into
components.
• Express force and position in
Cartesian vector form and
explain how to determine the
vector’s magnitude and direction
• Perform the dot product in order
to determine the angle between
two vectors or the projection of
one vector onto another.

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 Review of the
Basics Vector
Operation
Review basic knowledge in vector operations
including both graphical and algebraic methods.

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 REVIEW OF THE BASICS VECTOR OPERATION
Other Important Points

• Scalar and Vector

• Multiplication/ Division of a Vector by a Scalar
• The result will always be a SCALAR, only the magnitude will be affected
• Vector Addition:
• Head to Tail Rule
• Parallelogram or Triangle Law of Vector Addition
• Vector Subtraction
• A special case of vector addition by a vector and a negative of another
vector

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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES

• Experimental evidence has shown that a

force is a vector quantity since it has a
specified magnitude, direction, and sense
and it adds according to the parallelogram
law.
• Two common problems in statics involve
either finding the resultant force or knowing
its components, and resolving a known
force into two components.
• The parallelogram law must be used to
determine the resultant of the two forces
acting on the hook.
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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Finding a Resultant Force

• To get the resultant of the two forces F1 and

F2 acting on the pin, can be added together
to form the resultant for F.
• To use the parallelogram law in finding the
resultant, just follow the head-to-tail rule on
vector construction, forming a
parallelogram or in more shorter way, a
triangle.

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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Finding the Components of a Force

• Sometimes it is necessary to resolve a force

into two components in order to study its
pulling or pushing effect in two specific
directions.
• To use the parallelogram law in finding the
component, just start from the tip of the
force F, one line parallel to u and one
parallel to v axis that will soon form a
parallelogram or can be reduced into a
triangle.
• From this, law of sines and cosines can be
applied to get the unknowns.
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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Procedure for Analysis

• Two ‘component’ forces F1 and F2 can be add according to

parallelogram law, yielding resultant force Fr that forms a diagonal of a
parallelogram.
• If a force F is to be resolved into components along a u and v axes, then
start at the head or tail of the force vector F then construct parallel lines
to both axes to form the sides of a parallelogram.
• Label all known and unknown force magnitudes and angles
• Redraw a half portion of a parallelogram to illustrate the head to tail
addition.
• Apply Law of Sines and Cosines to solve the unknown values.

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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Example 1

The screw eye is subjected to two forces ,

F1 and F2. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force.

Answers:
𝐅𝐫 = 213 N
𝝋 = 54.8⁰ from + x-axis

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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Example 2

Resolve the horizontal 600-lb force into

components acting along the u and v axes
and determine the magnitudes of these
components.

Answers:
𝐅𝐮 = 1039 lbs
𝐅𝒗 = 600 lbs

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 VECTOR ADDITION OF FORCES
Example 3

Determine the magnitude of the

component force F and the magnitude of
the resultant force Fr if Fr is directed
along the positive y axis.

Answers:
𝐅 = 245 lb
𝐅𝒓 = 273 lb

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 ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF COPLANAR FORCES

• Rectangular Components.
𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃 ; 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 sin 𝜃
𝑎 𝑏
𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 ; 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹
𝑐 𝑐

• Component Form
F = < 𝐹𝑥 , 𝐹𝑦 > units
• Cartesian Vector Notation
F = ( 𝐹𝑥 𝐢 + 𝐹𝑦 𝐣 ) units
• Finding the Force Resultant
• Just add the components of each vector then get the magnitude.
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 ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF COPLANAR FORCES
Example 4

Determine the x and y components of F1

and F2 acting on the boom. Express each
force as a cartesian vector

Answers:
𝐅𝟏 = { -100i + 173j} N
𝐅𝟐 = { 240i - 100j} N

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 ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF COPLANAR FORCES
Example 5

The link is subjected to two forces F1 and

F2. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force.

Answers:
𝐹𝑟 = 629 N
𝜽 = 67.9⁰

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 ADDITION OF A SYSTEM OF COPLANAR FORCES
Example 6

The end of the boom O is subjected to

three concurrent and coplanar forces.
Determine the magnitude and direction of
the resultant force.

Answers:
𝐹𝑟 = 485 N
𝜽 = 37.8⁰

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 CARTESIAN VECTOR
Example 7

Express the force F as a Cartesian Vector

Answers:
𝐅 = { 100i + 100j + 141.4k} N

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 CARTESIAN VECTOR
Example 8

Determine the magnitude and the

coordinate direction angles of the
resultant force acting on the ring.

Answers:
𝐹𝑟 = 191 lbs
𝛼⁰= 74.8 ⁰
𝛽 = 102 ⁰
𝛾 = 19.6

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 CARTESIAN VECTOR
Example 9

Express the force F as a Cartesian Vector

and find its direction cosines.

Answers:
𝐅 = { 35.4i – 35.4j + 86.6k} N
𝛼 = 69.3⁰
𝛽 = 111⁰
𝛾 = 30⁰

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 CARTESIAN VECTOR
Example 10

Two forces act on the hook shown.

Specify the magnitude of F2 and its
coordinate direction angles that the
resultant force Fr acts along the positive
y axis and has a magnitude of 800 N

Answers:
𝐹2 = 700 N
𝛼 = 108 ⁰
𝛽 = 21.8 ⁰
𝛾 = 77.6

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 POSITION VECTOR

• A position vector, r is defined as a fixed vector

which locates a point in space relative to
another point.
• Head minus Tail
• If the position vector is extending from the
origin to a point P (x , y , z), then the position
vector would just be:
• r = { (x-0)i + (y-0)j + (z-0)k } units
• Starting from the origin, travel x along the +i
direction, the y in the +j direction, and finally z
in the +z direction to arrive at point P (x , y , z)
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 POSITION VECTOR

• In the more general case, the position

vector may be directed from point A to
point B. It can be denoted as 𝐫𝐀𝐁 or 𝐫 to
designate as the position vector from A to
B
• Head minus Tail
• If the position vector is extending from
point A(𝑥𝐴 , 𝑦𝐴 , 𝑧𝐴 ) to point B (𝑥𝐵 ,
𝑦𝐵 , 𝑧𝐵 ), then the position vector would
just be:
r = (𝑥𝐵 − 𝑥𝐴 )i + (𝑦𝐵 − 𝑦𝐴 )j + (𝑧𝐵 − 𝑧𝐴 )k

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 POSITION VECTOR
Example 11

An elastic rubber band is attached to points A

and B as shown. Determine its length and its
direction measured from A toward B.

Answers:
𝑟 =7m
𝛼 = 115 ⁰
𝛽 = 73.4 ⁰
𝛾 = 31⁰

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 FORCE DIRECTED ALONG A LINE

• Quite often in three-dimensional statics

problems, the direction of a force is specified
by two points through which its line of action
passes.
• Given the magnitude of the force and the
points where the line of action passes, the
cartesian vector of the force directed along
the given line is:
𝐅 = 𝐹𝐮𝐫
• Where:
𝐅= cartesian vector
𝐹= magnitude of the force
𝐮𝐫 = unit vector of the position vector = r / r
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 FORCE DIRECTED ALONG A LINE
Example 12

The man pulls on the cord with a force of 70

lb. Represent this force acting on the support
A as a Cartesian vector and determine its
direction.

Answers:
𝐅 = { 30i - 20j - 60k} lb
𝛼 = 64.6 ⁰
𝛽 = 107 ⁰
𝛾 = 149⁰

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 FORCE DIRECTED ALONG A LINE
Example 13

Express the force acting on the hook as a

cartesian vector.

Answers:
𝐅𝑩 = { -557i + 482j + 139k} N

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 FORCE DIRECTED ALONG A LINE
Example 14
The roof is supported by
cables as shown in the
photo. If the cables exert
forces 𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 100 N and
𝐹𝐴𝐶 = 120 N on the wall
hook at A as shown,
determine the resultant
force acting at A. Express
the result as a cartesian
vector

Answers:
𝐅𝑩 = { 151i + 40j - 151k} N

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 Prepare
for a
short quiz
next
meeting
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