Chapter II The relations between these components and F

RESULTANTS OF FORCE SYSTEMS is determined by the basic definitions of sine and

cosine of the angle theta (𝜃𝑥 ) between F and
2.1 Introduction the X-axis, i.e.,
The effect of a system of forces on a 𝐹𝑥
cos 𝜃𝑥 =
body is usually expressed in terms of a resultant. 𝐹
The value of this resultant determines the motion 𝐹𝑦
sin 𝜃𝑥 =
of the body. 𝐹
If the resultant is zero, the body will be in
equilibrium and will not change its original state Which are usually rewritten in the following form:
of motion. 𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜽𝒙
If the resultant of a force is not zero, the 𝑭𝒚 = 𝑭 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜽𝒙
Equation (2-1)
body will have a varying state in motion, thereby
creating a problem in dynamics.
The components Fx and Fy are considered
positive if they act in the positive directions of
2.2 Forces and Components
the X and Y axes, and negative if direced in the
A resultant may be resolved into any pair
negative sense of the reference axes.
of components, but it is generally most
The choice of the X and Y axes is
convenient to use rectangular components.
arbitrary; they may be in any convenient
Components of a resultant are
position; the relations given above are
considered as the parts of the resultant.
independent of the orientation of the X axis.
In engineering, forces are not generaly
If desired, the angle between F and Y
at right angles. While the resultant of such forces
axis, designated as 𝜃𝑦 , may also be used;
may be found graphically, it is not always
whence the components are then given by
convenient to do so. It is frequently desirable to
resolve each force into a pair of right-angle 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 sin 𝜃𝑦
components for analytical calculation. 𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑦
These components usually called as x
It is obvious that the magnitude,
and y components or horizontal and vertical
inclination, and direction of a force can be
components.
Consider Fig. 2-2 in which force F acts derived when its rectangular components are
upon the given body. The effect of the force is known. For example, assuming values of Fx and
to move the body rightward and upward. Fy to be known, we obtain from Fig. 2-2 the
following equations:
Choosing these directions as the positive
directions of perpendicular X and Y reference
𝟐
axes, we project the force F upon them to 𝑭 = √(𝑭𝒙 )𝟐 + (𝑭𝒚 )
obtain the perpendicular components Fx and Fy. Equation (2-2)
𝑭𝒚
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝜽𝒙 =
𝑭𝒙

The directions of F is determined by the

signs of its components; this is clearly explained
in the table which follows.
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS applying the definitions of sine and cosine as
201. A force of 200 lb is directed as shown in follows:
Figure 2-3. Determine the X and Y components
3
of the force: 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑥 𝐹𝑥 = 300 ×
3.61
𝑭𝒙 = 𝟐𝟒𝟗 𝒍𝒃

2
𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 sin 𝜃𝑥 𝐹𝑦 = 300 ×
3.61
𝑭𝒚 = −𝟏𝟔𝟔 𝒍𝒃

An even better procedure is to note the

similarity between the slope triangle and the
force triangle in Fig. 2-4b whose corresponding
sides are proportional to each other. This gives
𝐹𝑦 𝐹𝑥 300
= =
2 3 3.61
Whence
Solution 𝑭𝒚 = −𝟏𝟔𝟔 𝒍𝒃 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟐𝟒𝟗 𝒍𝒃
By projecting the force upon the axesm
we discover that the sign of Fx is minus and of Fx
positive. Applying Equation (2-1), we obtain
𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 cos 𝜃𝑥 𝐹𝑥 = −200 cos 30° 203. The components of a certain force are
𝑭𝒙 = −𝟏𝟕𝟑. 𝟐𝟎 𝒍𝒃 defined by Fx = 300 lb and Fy = -200 lb. determine
the magnitude, inclination with the X axis, and
𝐹𝑦 = 𝐹 sin 𝜃𝑥 𝐹𝑦 = 200 sin 30° pointing of the force.
𝑭𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒍𝒃

202. Determine the components of the 300 lb

force directed down to the right at a slope of 2
to 3 as shown in Fig. 2-4:

Solution
The magnitude of the force is found by
applying the first Eq. (2-2).
2
𝐹 = √(𝐹𝑥 )2 + (𝐹𝑦 ) 𝐹 = √(300)2 + (200)2
𝑭 = 𝟑𝟔𝟏 𝒍𝒃
Solution
The major difference between this The inclination with the X axis is determined by
problem and the preceeding one is that the the second part of Eq. (2-2)
direction of the force is defined by its slope 𝐹𝑦 200
instead of its angle. We can compute 𝜃𝑥 from its tan 𝜃𝑥 = tan 𝜃𝑥 = = 0.667
𝐹𝑥 300
tangent and then substitue its sine and cosine 𝜽𝒙 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟕°
function into Eq. (2-1), but it is simpler and more
direct to compute the hypotenuse of the slope
triangle as √(2)2 + (3)2 = √13 = 3.61 and then