ENGINEERING MECHANICS

System of forces

When several forces of different magnitude and direction act

upon a body, they constitute a system of forces.

1. Collinear forces : line of action of all forces lie along a single

line

Eg : Forces on a rope in a tug of war.

2. Coplanar forces : all the forces in a system lie in a single
plane
3. Concurrent forces : line of action of all the forces in a
system pass through a single point.
4. Parallel forces : line of action of all the forces are parallel
to each other
• All the collinear forces are coplanar, but the reverse may or
may not be true

• All the collinear forces are concurrent, but the reverse may
or may not be true
5. Coplanar concurrent forces: line of action of all the forces lies
in a plane and pass through same point.
6. Coplanar non-concurrent forces: line of action of all the
forces lies in a plane, but does not pass through same
point.
7. Non-coplanar concurrent forces: line of action of all the
forces does not lies in a plane, but pass through same point.
8. Non-coplanar non-concurrent forces: line of action of all the
forces does not lies in a plane and does not pass through
same point.
1. lf the forces whose line of action are parallel to
each other and act in the same direction are
known as:

A. Like parallel forces

B. Unlike parallel forces
C. Coplanar collinear forces
D. Coplanar concurrent forces
2. The forces which meet at one point and have their
lines of action in different planes are called

A. coplanar non-concurrent forces

B. non-coplanar concurrent forces
C. non-coplanar non-current forces
D. intersecting forces
3. Forces are called coplanar when all of them
acting on body lie in

A. One point
B. One plane
C. Different planes
D. Perpendicular planes
4. Coplanar Concurrent forces are :

A. Which meet at one point and their lines of

actions lie in same plane
B. Which do not meet at one point and their lines
of actions lie in the same plane
C. Which meet at one point and lines of actions lie
in different planes
D. None of these
5. The forces on a rod that rest against a wall is
an example of which of the following types of
force system?

A. Coplanar concurrent forces

B. Coplanar parallel forces
C. Collinear forces
D. Coplanar non-concurrent forces