Parallel system of forces. Moment of a Couple.

In order to introduce all topics mentioned above it is necessary to remind information about
parallel forces.

Forces which directions are parallel to each other are called as parallel forces. The resultant force of
parallel forces is a algebraic sum of these forces, and is placed in the same direction as origin forces.
How to find this resultant force.

1. Let’s assume that we have two parallel forces F1 and F2 and we know the distance between
these forces, which is equal d.

2. We already know that to any system of forces we can add or subtract a pair of forces, which
have the same value, direction but opposite sense. We call this pair a “zero pair of forces”.
Let’s add such a pair of forces at points A and B. We have two additional force S and S’.
Values and direction of these forces are the same but they have opposite senses.

3. Now based on previous information we can see that at point A and B we have convergent
systems of forces. So we can reduce each of these systems to one resultant force. In this way
we obtained two new forces W1 and W2.

4. Let’s draw the directions of each of these resultant forces.

5. We can clearly see that directions are crossing at introduced point C.
6. We know that we can move forces freely along their directions without changing the whole
system. In this case let’s move our resultant forces W1 and W2 from point A and B to point C.

7. Next, we know that any force might be decompose to its components. Let’s decompose our
resultant forces W1 and W2 to their origin components, it means S and F1 and S’ and F2
respectively. At this stage we will introduce to our system some characteristic points: A1, B1,
D, E and F.
8. Now we can say, that on the direction which is going through the points C and D the
resultant force of our F1 and F2 forces is placed. Value of this force will be equal to the
algebraic sum of these forces.
𝑊⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ = |𝐹1 | + |𝐹2 |
|𝑊|
Next step is to find where this force will be placed in the space. In order to do this we will use
points that we introduced earlier. We can see that based on these point we can build some
triangles. If we look closely it is clear that triangles DAC and EA1C, as well as DBC and FB1C are
similar to each other.
9. Let’s mark as an unknown distance x, distance between point A and D.

Now based on the previously found triangles we can write equations:

𝑥 𝐶𝐷 𝑑 − 𝑥 𝐶𝐷
= ; =
𝐴1 𝐸 |𝐹1 | 𝐵1 𝐹 |𝐹2 |
⃗⃗⃗′ |
𝐴1 𝐸 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵1 𝐹 = |𝑆| = |𝑆
|𝐹2 |𝑑
𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑥 =
|𝐹1 | + |𝐹2 |
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐹1 − 𝐹2
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑊
|𝐹2 |𝑑
𝑥=
|𝐹1 | − |𝐹2 |
Moment of a Couple
Now based on above information we can find situation, when there are two forces on the
same plane, which are lying on different parallel directions, but have same values and
opposite senses.

𝐹 = −𝐹 ′

Such a mutual position of forces we will call as Couple of forces.

The Couple of forces cannot be substituted by one force, but the Couple of forces cause
rotation of a body around axis perpendicular to the plane on which these forces are placed.
This rotation is called as moment of Couple.

If the Couple of forces causing rotation of the body anticlockwise then we are assuming that
obtained moment is positive M>0, and if these forces are causing rotation of the body
clockwise, then we are assuming that obtained moment is negative M<0.

The action of a Couple of forces on a body determines the product of the force and arm of
the Couple and the direction of rotation.

Let’s assume that we have Couple of forces, which we moved over their directions. Even
though there are moved, they are still causing moment, because they are one the same
plane, and their directions are parallel. The distance between directions is equal “d”.

Form the definition moment is a vector product of distance vector and force vector. In our
case the distance vector will be vector “r”, and as a force we take one of forces from the
Couple.
In this way we can find vector of the moment.

⃗⃗ (𝐹 , 𝐹 ′)| = |𝑟||𝐹 | sin( 𝑟, 𝐹 )

|𝑀
𝑑 = |𝑟| sin( 𝑟, 𝐹 )
⃗⃗
|𝑀(𝐹 , 𝐹 ′)| = |𝑑||𝐹 |

Theorem of Couple of force

 The action of a Couple of forces will not change if we move this Couple to any place
in its working plane.
 The action of a Couple of forces will not change if we exchange it for another Couple
of forces, so that the moment will not change.
 The action of a Couple of forces will not change if we move it to a plane parallel to its
plane of action.
Many Couples of forces might be reduced to one

|𝑀 ⃗⃗ 𝑖 | = |𝑃⃗𝑖 |𝑑𝑖 = |𝑃⃗𝑖 |𝑑

⃗⃗ 𝑖 = 𝑑𝑖 × 𝑃⃗𝑖 = 𝑑 × 𝑃⃗𝑖
𝑀
𝑛
⃗⃗ 𝑖 = 𝑑 × ∑ 𝑃⃗𝑖
𝑀
𝑖=1
𝑛
⃗⃗ = ∑ 𝑀
𝑀 ⃗⃗ 𝑖
𝑖=1

if
𝑛
⃗⃗ = ∑ 𝑀
𝑀 ⃗⃗ 𝑖 = 0
𝑖=1
then system of Couples of forces is in equilibrium