MODULE OF INSTRUCTION_________________________________NSCI-6100 Physics for Engineers 1

PARALLEL FORCES

Course Learning Outcome:

 Understand and define the Force Parallel

 Identify the Classification of Parallel Forces
 Solve the Force Parallel problem using the formula.

Parallel Force
These are forces that act in either the same direction of opposite direction. Their
resultant can be force by algebraically adding them or subtracting one from the other.
However, if a body is in equilibrium, the forces acting in one direction should be equal to
the forces acting in opposite direction i.e. the upward forces on the body must be equal
to the downward forces.

Classification of Parallel Forces

1. Like parallel forces
2. Unlike parallel forces

Like Parallel Forces

1. The forces, whose lines of action are parallel to each other and all of them act in
the same
2. Direction

3. It is defines the groupings of individuals into departments and departments into

organization.

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Unlike Parallel Forces

• The forces, whose lines of action are parallel to each other and all of them do not
act in the same direction.

Parallel Force System Example

Two children on a teeter-totter exert download forces that are parallel to one
another. At equilibrium, the sum of their combined weights must be opposed by the
upward force at the axis of the board.

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Force acting on a rigid body at a distance from a fixed point tends to rotate the body.
Moment arm (lever arm) = the distance form the point of application of force to the axis
of rotation.

FORCE COUPLE
A special type of parallel force system in which the forces are equal in magnitude
but opposite in direction in the same plane, but not on the same point.

Forces produce rotatory effect,

Example: when turning steering wheel with two hands.

Arm of a Couple
The perpendicular distance (a), between the lines of action of the two equal and
opposite parallel forces, is known as arm of the couple

Classification of Couples
1. Clockwise couple
2. Anticlockwise couple

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MODULE OF INSTRUCTION_________________________________NSCI-6100 Physics for Engineers 1

CHARACTERISTICS OF A COUPLE
A couple (whether clockwise or anticlockwise) has the following characteristics :
1. The algebraic sum of the forces, constituting the couple, is zero.

2. The algebraic sum of the moments of the forces, constituting the couple, about any
point is the same, and equal to the moment of the couple itself.

3. A couple cannot be balanced by a single force. But it can be balanced only by a couple
of opposite sense.
4. Any no. of coplanar couples can be reduced to a single couple, whose magnitude will
be equal to the algebraic sum of the moments of all the couples.

Sample Problems:
1.) Determine the resultant of the parallel force system acting on the bar AB shown in
the figure below.
R   y

R   20 l b  10 l b  30 l b  40 l b
R   40 l b
R  40 l b  , 4 . 7 f t from A
R  40 l b  , 3 . 25 f t from B
 L A  R .d
( 20 l b ) ( 09 )  10 l b ( 2 f t )  30 l b ( 5 f t )  ( 40 l b ) ( 8 f t )   ( 40 l b ) d
0  20 l bf t  150 l bf t  320 l bf t  40 l b .d
190 l b . f t 40 l b .d

40 l b 40 l b
4 . 74 f t  d
 L B  R .d
( 40 l b ) ( 0 )  30 l b ( 3 f t )  10 l b ( 6 f t )  ( 20 l b ) ( 8 f t )   ( 40 l b ) d
0  90 l b . f t  60 l b . f t  160 l b . f t   40 l b .d
130 l b . f t  40 l b .d

 40 l b  40 l b
3 . 25 f t  d

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MODULE OF INSTRUCTION_________________________________NSCI-6100 Physics for Engineers 1

2.)

 L B  R .d
( 40 l b ) ( 0 )  20 l b ( 4 f t )  60 l b ( 6 f t )  ( 30 l b ) ( 9 f t )   ( 110 lb ) d
0  80 l b . f t  360 l b . f t  270 l b . f t   110 l b . d
 550 l b . f t  110 l b . d

 110 l b  110 l b
5 f t  d from B
 L A  R .d
( 30 l b ) ( 2 f t )  60 l b ( 5 f t )  20 l b 9 ( 7 f t )  ( 40 l b ) ( 11 f t )   ( 110 lb ) d
60 l b . f t  300 l b . f t  140 l b . f t  440 l b . f t   110 l b . b
 600 l b . f t  110 l b . d

 110 l b  110 l b
6 ft  d from A

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References:

Book

A Committee on Physics (1962). College Physics. Published by Royal Publishing

House INC., Quezon City Philippines.

Weber et al. College Physics, Fifth Edition. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York
St. Louis San Francisco

Web

Calculus-Based Physics 1

https://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Schnick_CalculusBasedphysics.pdf

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