ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Force

It is that agent which causes or tends to cause, changes or tends to change the
state of rest or of motion of a mass.

A force is fully defined only when the following four characteristics are known:
(i) Magnitude
(ii) Direction (e.g. inclination w.r.t x or y axis)
(iii) Point of application
(iv) Sense (towards a certain point)
Force:

characteristics of the force 100 kN are :

(i) Magnitude = 100 kN
(ii) Direction = at an inclination of 300 to the x-axis
(iii) Point of application = at point A as shown in fig.
(iv) Sense = towards point A

100 kN

A
300
Scalars and Vectors

A quantity is said to be a ‘scalar’ if it is completely defined by its magnitude alone.

Example : Length, Area, and Time.

A quantity is said to be a ‘vector’ if it is completely defined only when its magnitude

and direction are specified.
Example : Force, Velocity, and Acceleration.
 Classification of force system

Force system

Coplanar Forces Non-Coplanar Forces

Concurrent
Non-concurrent
Concurrent Non-concurrent

parallel General
parallel General

When two or more forces act on a body, they are called to form a system of forces.
 Classification of force system

Coplanar forces: The forces, whose lines of action lie on the same plane, are known as coplanar
forces.

Collinear forces: The forces, whose lines of action lie on the same line, are known as collinear
forces.
Concurrent forces: The forces, which meet at one point, are known as concurrent forces. The
concurrent forces may or may not be collinear.

Coplanar concurrent forces: The forces, which meet at one point and their line of action also
lay on the same plane, are known as coplanar concurrent forces.
 Classification of force system
Coplanar non-concurrent forces: The forces, which do not meet at one point, but their
lines of action lie on the same plane, are known as coplanar non-concurrent forces.

Non-Coplanar concurrent forces: The forces, which meet at one point, but their lines of
action do not lie on the same plane, are known as non-coplanar concurrent forces.

Non-Coplanar non-concurrent forces: The forces, which do not meet at one point and
their lines of action do not lie on the same plane, are called non-coplanar non-concurrent
forces.
Principle of Transmissibility : It is stated as follows : ‘The external effect
of a force on a rigid body is the same for all points of application along its line
of action’.

For example, consider the figure. The motion of the block will be the same if a force
of magnitude P is applied as a push at A or as a pull at B.

A B
P P P P
O

The same is true when the force is applied at a point O.

 1. RESULTANT OF COPLANAR FORCES

Resultant, R :

If number of Forces acting simultaneously on a particle, it is possible to find out a

single force which could replace them or produce the same effect as of all the given
forces is called resultant force.

R
F2
=
F
1

A A

F3
R  F1  F2  F3
external effect on particle, A is same
Resultant of two forces acting at a point

Parallelogram law of forces :

“Two force acting simultaneously on a body. If represented in magnitude and direction
by the two adjacent side of a parallelogram then the diagonal of the parallelogram,
from the point of intersection of above two forces, represents the resultant force in
magnitude and direction”
D C
As shown in fig P and Q are the forces acting Q R
on a body are taken as two adjacent sides of
a parallelogram ABCD 

A
So diagonal AC gives the resultant “R”. P B

The resultant can be determine by drawing the force with magnitude direction or
mathematically is given as following:

Contd..
Triangle law of forces

‘If two forces acting at a point can be represented both in magnitude and
direction, by the two sides of a triangle taken in tip to tail order, the third side of
the triangle represents both in magnitude and direction the resultant force F, the
sense of the same is defined by its tail at the tail of the first force and its tip at the
tip of the second force’.
 Triangle law of forces

Let F1 and F2 be the two forces acting at a point A and θ is the included
angle.

F1 F1
R θ
=
θ
A F2
F2

‘Arrange the two forces as two sides of a triangle taken in tip

to tail order, the third side of the triangle represents both in magnitude and
direction the resultant force R.

the sense of the resultant force is defined by its tail at the tail of the first force and
its tip at the tip of the second force’.
 Triangle law of forces

F1
F1
R θ
=
θ
A F2
F2

F1 F R
 2 
sin  sin  sin(180     )
R  F1


(180 -  - ) = θ
F2

where α and β are the angles made by the resultant force with the
force F1 and F2 respectively.
Resultant of two concurrent forces?
Resultant of two concurrent forces?

Q
Parallelogram Law

Triangle Method (tip-to-tail)

R=?


P
 Parallelogram Law

Q
R

 Law of cosines:

P
Triangle Method

R Q

 

P
 Analyzing a Force Triangle

R 
A
 Law of sines

B
Triangle - Law of Cosines

a 

 b

c

c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos()
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos()
a2 = c2 + b2 – 2cb cos()
Example
 Example

 Find Resultant (magnitude and direction)

y
30 N
50 N

45° 30°
x
 Component of a force :

Component of a force, in simple terms, is the effect of a force in a certain

direction. A force can be split into infinite number of components along infinite
directions.

Usually, a force is split into two mutually perpendicular components, one along
the x-direction and the other along y-direction (generally horizontal and
vertical, respectively).

Such components that are mutually perpendicular are called ‘Rectangular

Components’.

The process of obtaining the components of a force is called ‘Resolution of a

force’.
 Resolution of A Force

o “Resolution” of a force is breaking up a force into

components.

o It is kind of like using the parallelogram law in

reverse.
 Oblique component of a force

Let F1 and F2 be the oblique components of a force F. The components F1

and F2 can be found using the ‘triangle law of forces’.

F2 M
F
F  F
2
F1
 
 F1

O
The resolved part of the force F along OM and ON can obtained by using
the equation of a triangle.

F1 / Sin  = F2 / Sin  = F / Sin(180 -  - )

Example
 Cartesian Force Notation

Fy F

Fx x

We ‘resolve’ forces into components using the Cartesian

coordinate (x and y axes) system
 Right Triangle Trigonometry

Hypotenuse

C
A


B
 Cartesian Force Notation

Fy F

Fx x
 Sign Convention for force components:

y
y
x
+ve

x
+ve

The adjacent diagram gives the sign convention for force components,
i.e., force components that are directed along positive x-direction are taken
+ve for summation along the x-direction.

Also force components that are directed along +ve y-direction are taken +ve for
summation along the y-direction.
Example

Determine the
magnitude and
direction of the
resultant force.
 (Q1.1) Numerical Problems & Solutions

Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

20 kN

250

35 kN

2 60 kN
3
 (Q1.1) Numerical Problems & Solutions

solution:

20 kN
20 cos θx
= 20 cos65
250 20 sin θx = 20 sin65

35 kN

2
60 sin θx = 60 sin33.7
3

60 cos θx 60 kN

= 60 cos33.7
 (Q1.1)

solution:
20 kN
20 cos
=θ20
x
cos65 250 20 sin = 20
θx sin65
35 kN

2
60 sin = 60 sin33.7
3 θx Answer:
60 cos 60 kN
θ
=x 60 Force X-comp Y-comp
cos33.7

35kN - 35 0
20kN - 20 cos 65 -20 sin 65
60kN - 60 cos 33.7 + 60 sin 33.7
(Q1.2) Numerical Problems & Solutions

Resolve the forces shown in figure along x and y directions.

105 kN

15 kN

150

75 kN 400

350
60 kN
45 kN
 (Q1.2)

solution:

105 kN
15 sin150

15 kN
15
150 cos150
75 kN 550 400
0
35 60
45 cos400
60 kN
cos550
45 kN
60 sin400
45 sin550
 (Q1.2)

105 kN
15
sin150
15 kN 15
150 cos150
75 kN 55 400
0
350 60 cos400
45 cos550 60 kN
45 kN
60
45 sin400
sin550 Force X-comp. Y-comp
105 0 +105
75 -75 0
15 + 15 cos15 + 15 sin15
45 - 45 cos55 - 45 sin55
60 + 60 cos40 - 60 sin40
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting

as shown in figure

105 kN
15 kN

150
75 kN 400
350
45 kN 60 kN
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

solution:

105 kN
15 sin150

15 kN
15
150 cos150
75 kN 550 400
0
35 60
45 cos400
60 kN
cos550
45 kN
60 sin400
45 sin550
 (Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

105 kN
15
sin150
Force X-comp. Y-comp
15 kN 15 105 0 +105
150 cos150
75 kN 55
0
400 75 -75 0
350 60 cos400
45 cos550
45 kN
60 kN 15 + 15 cos15 + 15 sin15
60
45 sin400 45 - 45 cos55 - 45 sin55
sin550
60 + 60 cos40 - 60 sin40
------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
- 40.359 + 33.453
(Q1.3) Numerical Problems & Solutions

∑ Fx = – 75 + 15 cos 15 – 45 cos 55 + 60 Cos 40

= - 40.359 kN = 40.359 kN

∑ Fy = + 105 + 15 Sin 15 – 45 sin 55 – 60 Sin 40

= + 33.453 kN

Answer:
R
R  Fx  Fy  52.42kN
ΣFy = 33.453 kN Fy  Fx 
θx tan  x  ;  x  tan 
-1

Fx  F 
 y 
ΣFx = 40.359kN   39.69 0
(Q1.4)

Obtain the resultant of the concurrent coplanar forces acting as shown

in figure.

50kN 100kN
º
120
2
3
1 30º
2
75kN
25kN
(Q1.4)

Solution:

100 cos θx
50 sin θx = 50 sin = 100 cos
26.3 100kN
33.7
50kN

º 100 sin θx
50 cos θx 120 = 100 sin
2 33.7
= 50 cos
26.3 3 º
30
25 cos θx 1
= 25 cos 75 cos θx
2 = 75 cos
63.43
30
25kN 25 sin θx 75kN
= 25 sin 75 sin θx
63.43 = 75 sin 30
 (Q1.4)

50 sin 100 cos 33.7

Solution: 50kN 26.3
100k
N
Force X-comp. Y-comp º
120 100 sin
50 cos 26.3 2
3 33.7
100 -100 cos33.7 -100 sin33.7 3
25 cos 1 75 cos 30
2 0
50 -50 cos26.3 +50 sin26.3 63.43
25kN 75kN
25 -25cos 63.43 -25 sin63.43 25 sin 63.43 75 sin 30

75 +75 cos30 -75 sin30

------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
- 74.26 kN -93.17 kN
 (Q1.4)

∑Fx = -50 Cos 26.31- 100 Cos33.69 – 25 Cos 63.43 + 75 Cos 30

= -74.26kN = 74.26kN

∑FY = 50sin26.31- 100sin 33.69 – 75sin30 – 25sin63.43

= -93.17kN = 93.17kN

Contd..
(Q1.4)

Answers:
∑Fx


∑Fy
R

R = (∑Fx) 2 + (∑Fy) 2 = 119.14 kN

Θ = tan-1(∑Fy / ∑Fx ) = 51.44o
 (Q1.5)

A system of concurrent coplanar forces has five forces of

which only four are shown in figure. If the resultant is a
force of magnitude R = 250 N acting rightwards along the
horizontal, find the unknown fifth force.

150N
200N
110
º 50°

45º

50N
120N
 (Q1.5)

Solution:
- Assume the fifth force F5 in the first quadrant, at an angle α,
as shown.
The 150 N force makes an angle of 20o w.r.t. horizontal
R is the resultant of Five forces including F5

150N 200N
F5
110 º
50°
20º α
45° R =250 N

50N
120N
 (Q1.5)

Solution:
- Resolve the forces along X & Y axis

150N 200N

F5y=F5 sin α
F5

110 º
50° F5x=F5 cos α
20º α

45° R =250 N

120N 50N
 (Q1.5)Solution:

150 200N
N F5y=F5 sin
α F5

50° F5x=F5 cos

20º α α Force X-comp. Y-comp
45° R =250 N
F5 +F5 cosα +F5 sinα
120 50N
N 50 -50 cos45 +50 sin45
200 +200cos 50 +200 sin 50
120 0 -120
150 -150 cos20 +150 sin20
------- --------------- ----------------
R ΣFx = ΣFy =
+250 kN 0
 (Q1.5)

∑FX = R = + 250 & ΣFy = 0

because the resultant is acting along x-direction
ΣFx = + 250 = 200 cos 50 – 150 cos 20 – 50 cos 45 + F5 cos α
 F5 cos α = +297.75 N

∑FY = 0 = F5 sin α + 200sin 50 + 150 sin 20 – 120 + 50 sin

45
F5 sin α= -119.87 N tan α = F5sin α /F5cos α
=0.402
Answers α = 21.90º
F5= 320.97N
F5cosα = 297.75
α = 21.90º N

F5 = 320.97N
F5sinα = 119.87N