Department of CE, KITSW U18CE105 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

AY:2022-23
CDT10LECTURE SUMMARY

CDT10
Resultant of General cases of forces in a plane
Topics Covered

Motivation We will learn how to find the resultant and equilibrium of General cases of
(Why you forces in a plane. System of forces can be analysed even if they are not
(students) should concurrent or not parallel.
learn these topics?)

Lecture Learning Outcomes (LLOs): After completion of this lecture, you should be able to…
LLO1 On topic 1 Apply equilibrium equations to solve the problems
LLO2On topic 2 Determine the resultant of General cases of forces in a plane

CDT10 – Lecture Summary – Key Takeaways

Equilibrium Equations

Equilibrium is the status of the body when it is subjected to a system of forces. We know that
for a system of forces acting on a body the resultant can be determined. By Newton‟s 2nd
Law of Motion the body then should move in the direction of the resultant with some
acceleration.
If the resultant force is equal to zero it implies that the net effect of the system of forces is
zero this represents the state of equilibrium. For a system of coplanar concurrent forces for
the resultant to be zero hence
Equilibrant: Equilibrant is a single force which when added to a system of forces brings the
status of equilibrium.
Hence this force is of the same magnitude as the resultant but opposite in sense.
Using the relationships stated above, the equilibrium equation for the two-dimensional case
can be written in the scalar form:
∑Fx = 0
∑Fx = 0
∑MO = 0
Resultant of a general coplanar force system. The resultant R of a general
coplanar system of forces may be (1) a single force, (2) a couple in the plane of the
system or in a parallel plane, or (3) zero. The resultant R corresponds to the vector
sum of the forces of the system. Its x and y components are
 
1)        Rx = Σ Fx ,      Ry = Σ Fy

where Σ Fx and Σ Fy are the algebraic sums of the x and y components,

respectively, of the forces of the system.

The magnitude of R is given by

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 Department of CE, KITSW U18CE105 ENGINEERING MECHANICS
AY:2022-23
CDT10LECTURE SUMMARY

and the angle θ that it makes with the x axis is given by

General cases of forces acting in aplane

If several forces in a plane are such that they do not intersect in one point and not parallel
then, they represent a general a system of coplanar forces.

Consider a body acted by several coplanar forces F1, F2, F3,

Let us choose some convenient coordinate axes x- y,

Let Fx1, Fx2,Fx3,……represent the components of these
force along the X-axis and
Fy1, Fy2,Fy3,……represent the components of these
force along the Y-axis

Case (i) Let the system of forces reduce to a single

resultant force R whose components are Fx,,Fy
respectively.
The magnitude of resultant is R = √ (Fx)2 + (Fy)2 and its direction
 = tan-1(Fx/Fy)

CASE(iii) : The system is in equilibrium

Resultant force is zero

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 Department of CE, KITSW U18CE105 ENGINEERING MECHANICS
AY:2022-23
CDT10LECTURE SUMMARY

Resultant Couple is zero

Above three equations express the conditions for the equilibrium of a body when acted
upon a general system of force.

CDT10 - LECTURE LEVEL PRACTICE PROBLEMS (LLPs) to test the LLOs

To test whether you achieved the learning outcomes of this lecture, you should be able to
solve the following LLPs, in the class itself, after completion of the lecture. Minimum one
question/problem (LLP) is designed to test each expected LLO.
LLP1 (on LLO1):A vertical mast PQ of a crane is provided at P and is supported by guide
Q.Find the reaction at P and Q due to the loads acting as shown in fig.1

Fig.1

LLP2 (on LLO1):A man weighing 75N stands on the middle rung of a 25N ladder resisting
on a smooth floor and against a wall. The ladder is prevented from slipping by a string
OD.Find the tension in the string and reactions at A and B as shown in fig.2, Ans:
T=40.56N

Fig.2
Additional LLPs: Practice problems for homework
LLP1.1 (on LLO1):A man weighing stands on the middle of rung of a
ladder whose weight can neglected. The end A rests on the ground
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Department of CE, KITSW U18CE105 ENGINEERING MECHANICS
AY:2022-23
CDT10LECTURE SUMMARY

against a stop and the end B rests on the corner of wall as shown in fig.3 Find the reactions at A and
B neglect friction between ladder and the ground and, the ladder and the wall.

Fig 3

LLP1.2 (on LLO1): If the end B of the of the above question no LLP1.1 rest against a wall (instead of
the corner of a wall) find reaction at A and B

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