Forces (2)

Forces in equilibrium
1) Magnitude of resultant
y
2) Angle of resultant to x-axis

3) Magnitude and direction of F

5.8N
3N

x
31 o
O
5.8N 5N 1) The magnitude of the resultant
F
= (52 + 32) = 34 = 5.8 N

2) 3)
tan  = opp/adj by ‘equilibrium’ :
tan  = 3/5 F has magnitude 5.8N
 = tan-1 (0.6) =31.0o at 31.0o to negative x-axis
 Resolving Forces (1)
All forces can be split into 2 perpendicular forces

F2
F

F1
 Resolving Forces (2)
All forces can be split into 2 perpendicular forces
b

F2
F


a
F1
‘a’ direction ‘b’ direction
cos  = adj/hyp = F1 / F sin  = opp/hyp = F2 / F
F1 = F cos  F2 = F sin 

This process is known as “Resolving Forces”

 Resolving Forces (3)
Resolving can be done in any 2 perpendicular directions
Pg.57 q
N Components:
20
l direction
8N o
l cos 18 = F / 20
l
18
Fl = 20 cos 18 = 19N
50 o

Perpendicular to l
Components: p F = 20 sin 18 = 6.2N
p direction
cos 50 = adj/hyp = Fp / 8
R = (92 + 42)
FP = 8 cos 50 = 5.1N
= 97 = 9.8 N
q direction R
4N
sin 50 = opp/hyp = Fq / 8 
Fq = 8 sin 50 = 6.1N tan  = 4/9
9N  =24o
 Resolving Forces (5)
y
Pg.58
B4 10N

‘x’ direction
“10N force”
30o Fx = 10 cos 30
x =8.7N
20o
“5N force”
5N
Fx = 5 cos 20
=4.7N

Total component in ‘x’ direction = 8.7 + 4.7 = 13.4N

( the ‘x’ component of the resultant force )

 Resolving Forces (6)
y
Pg.58
B4 10N

‘y’ direction
“10N force”
30o Fy = 10 sin 30
x =5N
20o
“5N force”
5N
Fy = 5 sin 20
=1.7N
Forces are in opposite directions
Total component in ‘y’ direction = 5 - 1.7 = 3.3N

( the ‘y’ component of the resultant force )

 Resolving Forces (7)
y
Pg.58
B4 10N

13.8 N
3.3N
30o 
20o 13.4N x
5N
Total component in ‘x’ direction = 8.7 + 4.7 = 13.4N
Total component in ‘y’ direction = 5 - 1.7 = 3.3N
The magnitude of the resultant
= (13.42 + 3.32) = 190.5 = 13.8 N

tan  = opp/adj tan  = 3.3/13.4  = tan-1 (0.246) =13.8o

 Resolving Forces (8)
y
Pg.58
5N “Find the resultant”
Example 1
‘x’ direction
Fx = 5 cos 20 - 3
3N 20o
x
= 1.7N

‘y’ direction
Fy = 5 sin 20 - 2
2N
= -0.3N
The magnitude of the resultant
= (1.72 + (-0.3)2) = 2.98 = 1.7 N

tan  = opp/adj tan  = 0.3/1.7  = tan-1 (0.176) =10.0o

 Activity

• Page 59 of your Mechanics 1

book and try …
• Exercise B