Engineering Mechanics

(Q1.6)

A system of concurrent coplanar forces has four forces of which only three
are shown in figure. If the resultant is a force R = 100N acting as indicated,
obtain the unknown fourth force.

75N

25N

60°
70°

40° 45
°
50N

R=100N
 (Q1.6)

 Assume the fourth force (F4) in the first quadrant, at an angle α, as shown.
The 25 N force makes an angle of 30o w.r.t. horizontal
R is the resultant of Four forces including F4

75 sin70 F4 sin α
75N F4
25 sin30

25N 75 cos70 α
60°
25 cos30 F4 cos α
30° 70° α

40° 45°
R cos40 50 sin45
50N
R sin40 50 cos45
R=100N
 (Q1.6)

75 sin70 Force X-comp. Y-comp

25N 25 sin30 75
N F4 +F4 cosα +F4 sinα
75 cos70

25 cos30
60°
50 - 50 cos45 +50 sin45
70°
30
°40° 45 25 - 25 cos30 +25 sin30
R cos40 50 sin45
°
50 cos45 50N
75 +75 cos70 +75 sin70
R
R=100sin40 ------- --------------- ----------------
N R ΣFx = - R cos40 ΣFy = -R sin40
= -100 cos40N = - 100 sin40N
+ve Fx = -Rcos40

Fx = -Rcos40 = F4cosα + 75cos70 – 50cos45 – 25sin60

F4cosα = - 45.25N
(Q1.6)

+ve Fy = -Rsin40

Fy = -Rsin40 = F4sinα + 75sin70+25cos60+50sin45

 F4sinα = -182.61N ;

Answers:
F4cosα = 45.25N
tan  = (F4sin /F4cos)
α = 76.08º F4sinα =
& F4 =188.13N α= 76.08º
182.61N

F4=188.13N
 (Q1.7)

The resultant of a system of concurrent coplanar forces is a force

acting vertically upwards. Find the magnitude of the resultant, and
the force F4 acting as shown in figure.

10 kN
F4
70°
60°

45° 30°

5 kN

15 kN

Contd..
 (Q1.7)

Solution: R
F4
10 kN

70°
60°

45° 30°

5 kN

15 kN

∑Fx = 0
F4 sin70 – 10cos 60 – 15cos 45 – 5cos 30 = 0; or, F4sin70 = 19.94

F4 = 21.22kN
+ve Contd..
 (Q1.7)

10 kN R F4
Solution: 70°
60°

45° 30
°
5 kN

15 kN
∑Fy = +R +ve
Fig. 4
Answers:
F4cos70 + 10sin60 – 15sin45 + 5sin30 = +R
 +R - 0.342F4 = 0.554
F4 = 21.22 kN
Substituting for F4 , R= +7.81kN
R= +7.81kN
(Q1.8)

Obtain the magnitudes of the forces P and Q if the resultant of

the system shown in figure is zero .

100N
Q

40° 70°

60
45° °
50N

Contd..
 (Q1.8)

+ve 100N
Q
40°
70°

60°
45° 50N
P
For R to be = zero,
∑Fx = 0 and ∑ Fy = 0
∑Fx = 0 :
-Psin45 – Qcos40 + 100cos70 + 50cos60 = 0
0.707P + 0.766Q = 59.2 …. (a)

Contd..
 (Q1.8)

+ve ∑Fy = 0
-Pcos45 + Qsin40 + 100sin70 – 50sin60 = 0
or, -0.707P + 0.642Q = -50.67 ------(b)

Solving (a) & (b)

Answers:
P = 77.17 N & Q = 6.058N
 (Q1.9)

Forces of magnitude 50N and 100N are the oblique components of

a force F. Obtain the magnitude and direction of the force F.
Refer figure.

100N

50N
30°

Contd..
 (Q1.9)

100N Y-AXIS 100N

X - AXIS
50N
30° 30° 50N

Fig. 1.9
Rotating the axes to have X parallel to 50N,
∑Fx = +50 + 100cos30 = +136.6N

∑ Fy = +100sin30 = +50N
a

Contd..
 (Q1.9)

100N 100N
Y-AXIS

X - AXIS
50N
30° 30° 50N
Fig. 6
F = 145.46N
θ = 20.1º w r t X direction (50N force)
F= (∑Fx)2+(∑Fy)2

Y-AXIS

F
X - AXIS
θ
50N
 (Q1.10)

Resolve the 3kN force along the directions P and Q. Refer figure.

Q
3kN

45°
60°

30°
P

Contd..
 (Q1.10)

Q
3kN
P
45º

45º
Q
60°
45º 3kN
30° X – Axis
P
Move the force P parallel to itself to complete a triangle.
Using sine rule,
P/sin45 = Q/sin90 = 3/sin45
Answer :
P = 3kN, and Q = 4.243kN
 (Q1.11)

Resolve the 5kN force along the directions P and Q. Refer Fig.
1.11.

Q
5kN

45°
60°

20°
P

Fig. 1.10 Contd..

 (Q1.11)

Q
5kN
Q P
5kN 55°
45º
Q
60° 45º 5kN
20 X – Axis 60° 45º
P ° 60°
20° X – Axis
X–
P
55°
(Q1.11)

P
55°

Q 800 Using sine rule,

5N P/sin45 = Q/sin80 = 5/sin55
45º Answer :
60° P = 4.32 kN, and Q = 6.01 kN
X – Axis