Rectangular Components of Force

Engr. Rauf Ahmad

Rectangular Components of a Force: Unit Vectors

• May resolve a force vector into perpendicular

components so that the resulting parallelogram is a
rectangle. Fx and Fy are referred to as rectangular
vector components and
  
F  Fx  Fy

 
• Define perpendicular unit vectors i and j which are
parallel to the x and y axes.

• Vector components may be expressed as products of

the unit vectors with the scalar magnitudes of the
vector components.
  
F  Fx i  F y j

Fx and Fy are referred to as the scalar components of F
EXAMPLE 1.
A force of 800 N is exerted on a bolt A as shown in
fig. . Determine the horizontal and vertical
components of the force.
EXAMPLE 2
A man pulls with a force of 300 N on a rope
attached to a building, as shown in Fig. . What are
the horizontal and vertical components of the force
exerted by the rope at point A ?
Example 3
A force F = (700 lb) i + (1500 lb) j is applied to a bolt
A. Determine the magnitude of the force and the
angle it forms with the horizontal.
Addition of Forces by Summing Components
• Wish to find the resultant of 3 or more
concurrent forces,
   
R  PQ S

• Resolve each force into rectangular components

       
R x i  R y j  Px i  Py j  Q x i  Q y j  S x i  S y j
  Px  Q x  S x  i   Py  Q y  S y  j
 

• The scalar components of the resultant are equal

to the sum of the corresponding scalar
components of the given forces.
R x  Px  Q x  S x R y  Py  Q y  S y
  Fx   Fy
• To find the resultant magnitude and direction,
2 2 1 R y
R  Rx  R y   tan
Rx
 Sample Problem 2.3
SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular
components.

• Determine the components of the

resultant by adding the corresponding
force components.
• Calculate the magnitude and direction
of the resultant.

Four forces act on bolt A as shown.

Determine the resultant of the force
on the bolt.
Sample Problem 2.3
SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular
components.
force mag x  comp y  comp

F1 150  129.9  75.0

F2 80  27.4  75.2

F3 110 0  110.0

F4 100  96.6  25.9
R x  199.1 R y  14.3

• Determine the components of the resultant by

adding the corresponding force components.
• Calculate the magnitude and direction.
R  199.12  14.32 R  199.6 N
14.3 N
tan     4.1
199.1 N
Equilibrium of a Particle
• When the resultant of all forces acting on a particle is zero, the particle is
in equilibrium.
• Newton’s First Law: If the resultant force on a particle is zero, the particle will
remain at rest or will continue at constant speed in a straight line.

• Particle acted upon by

• Particle acted upon by three or more forces:
two forces:
- equal magnitude - graphical solution yields a closed polygon
- same line of action - algebraic solution
 
- opposite sense R  F  0
 Fx  0  Fy  0
Free-Body Diagrams

Space Diagram: A sketch showing Free-Body Diagram: A sketch showing

the physical conditions of the only the forces on the selected particle.
problem.
Sample Problem 2.4
SOLUTION:
• Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at the junction of the rope and
cable.
• Apply the conditions for equilibrium by
creating a closed polygon from the
forces applied to the particle.
• Apply trigonometric relations to
determine the unknown force
In a ship-unloading operation, a magnitudes.
3500-lb automobile is supported by
a cable. A rope is tied to the cable
and pulled to center the automobile
over its intended position. What is
the tension in the rope?
Sample Problem 2.4

SOLUTION:
• Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at A.

• Apply the conditions for equilibrium.

• Solve for the unknown force magnitudes.

T AB T 3500 lb
 AC 
sin120 sin 2 sin 58
T AB  3570 lb
T AC  144 lb
 Sample Problem 2.6
SOLUTION:
• Choosing the hull as the free body,
draw a free-body diagram.
• Express the condition for equilibrium
for the hull by writing that the sum of
all forces must be zero.
It is desired to determine the drag force
• Resolve the vector equilibrium
at a given speed on a prototype sailboat
hull. A model is placed in a test equation into two component
channel and three cables are used to equations. Solve for the two unknown
align its bow on the channel centerline. cable tensions.
For a given speed, the tension is 40 lb
in cable AB and 60 lb in cable AE.
Determine the drag force exerted on
the hull and the tension in cable AC.
Sample Problem 2.6
SOLUTION:
• Choosing the hull as the free body, draw a
free-body diagram.
7 ft 1.5 ft
tan    1.75 tan    0.375
4 ft 4 ft
  60.25   20.56

• Express the condition for equilibrium

for the hull by writing that the sum of
all forces must be zero.
    
R  T AB  T AC  T AE  FD  0
Sample Problem 2.6

• Resolve the vector equilibrium equation into

two component equations. Solve for the two
unknown cable tensions.
  
T AB   40 lb sin 60.26 i   40 lb cos 60.26 j
 
  34.73 lb i  19.84 lb j
  
T AC  T AC sin 20.56 i  T AC cos 20.56 j
 
 0.3512T AC i  0.9363T AC j
 
T   60 lb i
 
FD  FD i


R0

   34.73  0.3512T AC  FD  i

 19.84  0.9363T AC  60 j
Sample Problem 2.6

R0

   34.73  0.3512T AC  FD  i

 19.84  0.9363T AC  60 j

This equation is satisfied only if each component

of the resultant is equal to zero
  Fx  0 0  34.73  0.3512TAC  FD
  Fy  0 0  19.84  0.9363TAC  60
T AC  42.9 lb
FD  19.66 lb