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Engineering Mechanics may be defined as the
science which considers the effect of forces on rigid
bodies.
Rigid Body – defined as a definite amount of matter
the parts of which are fixed in position relative to
each other.
Force – defined as that of which changes, or tends to
change the state motion of a body.
Force System – any arrangement where two or more
forces act on a body or on a group of related bodies.
Scalars – quantities which possess magnitude only
and can be added arithmetically.
Vectors – quantities which possess both magnitude
and direction and can be combined geometrically.
The parallelogram law states that the resultant of
two forces is the diagonal of the parallelogram
formed on the vectors of these forces.
Resultant – a single force or vector that is the
equivalent of a set of forces or vectors.
Graphical Method. Two vectors can be added to give
a resultant; this resultant in turn can be added to a
third vector, etc. until all the vectors have been
added together to give an overall resultant. These
vectors can be added in any order. This method is
sometimes called the head-to-tail method.
1. The parallelogram law: The resultant of two
forces is the diagonal of the parallelogram formed
on the vectors of these forces.
2. Two forces are in equilibrium only when equal in
magnitude, opposite in direction, and collinear in
action.
3. A set of forces in equilibrium may be added to any
system of forces without changing the effect of the
original system.
4. Action and reaction forces are equal but
oppositely directed.
If two forces are represented by their free vectors
placed tip to tail, their resultant vector is the third
side of the triangle, the direction of the resultant
being from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the
last vector.
v2 = vo2 + 2as
Convert: 60 miles per hour to feet per second
Analytical Method. The vectors can be resolved into
components that coincide with arbitrarily chosen
axes.
Rx = Σ Fx (x-comp. of the resultant)
Ry = Σ Fy (y-comp. of the resultant)
R= Rx2 + Ry2 (resultant)
tan θx = Ry/Rx (direction of the resultant
with respect to x-axis)
Note: In determining the signs, follow the quadrant
signs of Cartesian Coordinate System.
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Determine completely the resultant of the con- Compute the value of the resultant of the con-
current force system as shown. current forces shown.
Y Y
300 N 300 N
200 N 100 N
2
1
60° 30° X 60° X
400 N
45° 45° 30°

50 N 200 N 400 N
100 N

The resultant of the concurrent forces shown is The block is acted upon by its weight W = 200N, a
300N pointing up along the Y axis. Compute the horizontal force Q = 600N, and the pressure P
values of F and θ required to give this resultant. exerted by the inclined plane. The resultant R of
Y these forces is up and parallel to the incline thereby
F sliding the block up it. Determine P and R.
W = 200N

θ X
500 N Q = 600N
30°

P
240 N 30° 15°

Equality of Vectors. Two vectors A and B are said to

Vectors as Directed Line Segments. Any vector A
can be represented geometrically as a directed line
segment (an arrow) as shown. The magnitude of A is
denoted by A, and the direction of A is specified by
the sense of the arrow and the angle θ that it makes
with a fixed reference line.
A 2. If m is negative, mA is the vector of magnitude
Fixed reference line
θ
be equal, written as A = B, if (1) their magnitudes are
equal – that is A = B, and (2) they have the same
direction.
Scalar-Vector Multiplication. The multiplication of a
scalar m and a vector A, written as mA or as Am, is
defined as follows:
1. If m is positive, mA is the vector of magnitude mA
that has the same direction as A.
|m|A that is oppositely directed to A.
3. If m = 0, mA (called the null or zero vector) is a
vector of zero magnitude and arbitrary direction.

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Unit Vectors. A unit vector is a dimensionless vector The Parallelogram Law and the Triangle Law. The
with magnitude 1. Therefore, if λ represents a unit addition of two vectors A and B is defined to be the
λ | = 1) with the same direction as A, we can
vector (|λ vector C that is determined by the geometric
write A = Aλ λ. construction shown.
The Parallelogram Law and the Triangle Law. The B
addition of two vectors A and B is defined to be the Triangle Law
vector C that is determined by the geometric
construction shown. A
B where: A, B = components of C
Parallelogram Law C = resultant of A and B
A
where: A, B = components of C
C = resultant of A and B

Addition of three or more vectors. Letting E,F F, and

G represent any three vectors, we have the following
two important properties:
• Addition is commutative: E + F = F + E Rectangular Components. The rectangular
• Addition is associative: E + (F
F + G) = (E
E + F) + G coordinate system is the xyz reference frame. As
shown, the unit vectors that act in the positive x-, y-,
F and z-coordinate directions – called the base
vectors – are labelled i, j, and k, respectively.
E z

k
G
y
i O j

Vector addition using rectangular components. Equivalence Vectors. Equivalence implies

Assume that two vectors A and B are expressed in interchangeability; two vectors are considered to be
their rectangular forms as follows: A = Axi + Ayj and equivalent if they can be interchanged without
B = Bxi + Byj. Letting C be the sum of A and B, changing the outcome of the problem.

C = A + B = (Axi + Ayj) + (Bxi + Byj) Fixed vectors. Equivalent vectors have the same
magnitude, direction and point of application.
which, using the properties of vector addition, can
Sliding vectors. Equivalent vectors have the same
be written as
magnitude, direction and line of action.
C = Cxi + Cyj Free vectors. Equivalent vectors have the same
= (Axi + Bxi) + (A
( yj + Byj) magnitude and direction.
Principle of Transmissibility. This states that the
external effect of a force on a body is the same for
all points of application along its line of action.

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Using rectangular components, find the resultant R If R is the resultant of the forces P and Q, find P and
of the vectors P and Q shown. Q.
Y Y
P = 120 ft
P

30° X O 25° X
70° O 50°
5
12
R = 260 lb
Q

Q = 100 ft

Determine the resultant of the three concurrent

forces as shown.
Y
F1 = 50 N
F2 = 10 N

4
3
60° X
O

F3 = 60 N

The moment of a force about an axis or line is the The moment is equal to twice the area of the triangle
measure of its ability to produce turning or twisting formed by joining the center of moments with the
about the axis. ends of the force.
The magnitude of the moment of a force about an F
axis which is perpendicular to a plane containing the
line of action of the force is defined as the product
of the force and the perpendicular distance from the
axis to the line of action of the force. d
That is: Mo = F x d Mo = F x d
where: F = force
d = perpendicular distance or the
moment arm

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The effect of an external force on a rigid body

remains unchanged if that force is moved along its
line of action. The moment of a force is equivalent to the sum of
moments of its components.
F2 = F d
b
F P R f
d
F1 = F c g
a F
O e Rxd=ΣFxd

Assuming clockwise moments as positive, compute In the figure below, a force F passing through C
the moment of force F = 450 N and a force P = 361 N causes a clockwise moment of 120 N-m about A and
about points A, B, and C. a clockwise moment of 70 N-m about B. Determine
the force and its x-intercept ix.
A
A
F 2m
Fx C Action Line of F
C
3m Fy
P Fx D B
1m O ix
Fy
1m B 5m

A force P passing through points A and B has a The moment of a certain force F is 180 N-m
clockwise moment of 300 N-m about O. Compute the clockwise about O and 90 N-m counter-clockwise
value of P. about B. If its moment about A is zero, determine the
force.
Y Y

A A

3m 3m
B B
X X
O 6m O 6m

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PARALLEL FORCES – one in which the action lines Determine the resultant of the parallel forces system
of all the forces are parallel. acting on the bar AB shown below.

Rx = Σ Fx
20 N 10 N 40 N
Ry = Σ Fy
R= Rx2 + Ry2
2m 3m 3m
tan θx = Ry/Rx
A B

10 N

A parallel force system acts on the lever shown A beam of length L supports a load which varies
below. Determine the magnitude and position of the from w N/m at the right end to zero at the left end.
resultant. Determine the magnitude and position of the
resultant load.
30 N 60 N 20 N 40 N w N/m

2m 3m 2m 4m
A
O

The beam AB supports a load which varies from an
intensity of 50 N/m to 200 N/m. Calculate the
magnitude and position of the resultant load.
200 N/m
50 N/m
COUPLE – two parallel, non-collinear forces that are
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. It is a
special case in which the resultant has zero
magnitude but does have a moment. This moment
sum is constant and independent of the moment
center.
F

A B d
A
12m a
B
F

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Determine the resultant of the parallel forces shown Determine the resultant moment about point A of the
below. Determine also the moments at points A, B, C, system of forces shown below. Each square is 1m on
D and E. a side.
80 N 80 N
100 N
10 N 40 N
100 N
100 N

2m 3m C D 2m

A B E
1m

20 N 30 N
A 200 N

The cantilever truss shown carries a vertical load of

2400 N. The truss is supported by bearings at A and It is sometimes becomes necessary to replace a
B which exert the forces Av, Ah and Bh. The four force acting at a given point by an equal force acting
constitute two couples which must have opposite through some other point. This introduces a couple.
moment effects to prevent movement of the truss.
Determine the magnitude of the supporting forces. F”
B B h A d d

4m B B
F
F
Ah
6m A F’
(a) (b)
2400 N Av

A short compression member carries eccentric load Replace the system of forces acting on the frame by
P = 200 N situated 0.2m from the axis of the member. a resultant R at A and a couple acting horizontally
Determine the equivalent axial load and a couple through B and C.
that is applied at the axis of the member.
20N
P = 200N
1m
A
B
3m
2m

C
4m
30N 60N

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The rectangular framework shown in the next slide is

subjected to the indicated non-concurrent system of
forces. Determine the magnitude and direction of
Rx = Σ Fx the resultant, also its moment arm relative to the
Ry = Σ Fy origin O.
R= Rx2 + Ry2
tan θx = Ry/Rx

Rxd=ΣM

Y In a certain non-concurrent force system, it is found

100N
that Σ Fx = -80 N, Σ Fy = +160 N and Σ Mo = 480 N-m in
20N a counter-clockwise sense. Determine the point that
45° which the resultant intersects at X-axis.
60N
30°
3m
4m
O X
60°

30N
100N

Compute the resultant of the three forces shown Determine the resultant of the three forces acting on
below. Locate its intersection with the X and Y-axes. the dam and locate its intersection with the base AB.
Each square is 1m on a side. For good design, this intersection should occur
within the middle third of the base. Does it?
Y
390 N

5 7m
12
F = 6,000 N
300 N P = 10,000 N W = 24,000 N
4m
O X
6m 60°
722 N
A 18m B