Engineering Mechanics –

Statics
MECH-101
Lecture 04
2D Force Systems
(T1 : 2/3)
(T2 : 2.3 – 2.4)

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 Sequence
• Rectangular components
• Conventions for describing vector components
• Determining components of a force

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 Rectangular Components
• Rectangle – the adjacent sides are perpendicular/ orthogonal to each other
• Rectangular/ Orthogonal reference system – the axes are at 90 degrees to
each other
• The most common 2D resolution of a force vector is into its rectangular
components

3
 Vector Components Conventions
• Vector Components

• Scalar Components

• Scalar components can be +ve or –ve, depending upon the quadrant the force vector
is lying in

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 Determining the Components of a Force
• Remember that
• Dimensions are not always given in horizontal and vertical directions
• Angles need not be measured counterclockwise from +ve x-axis
• Origin of the coordinates need not be on the line of action of the force
• Therefore, it is essential that we be able to determine the correct
components of a force no matter how the axes are oriented or how the
angles are measured

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Determining the Components of a Force

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 Determining the Components of a Force
• Rectangular components are convenient for finding the sum or resultant of
two forces which are concurrent

• means the algebraic sum of

the x scalar components

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 Example Problem 1
• If the resultant force acting on the bracket is to be
750 N directed along the positive x axis, determine
the magnitude of F and its direction θ

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 Example Problem 2
• If the magnitude of the resultant force acting on
the bracket is to be 450 N directed along the
positive u axis, determine the magnitude F1 and
its direction φ

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 Reading Assignment
• Understand and solve by hand sample problems 2/1, 2/2, 2/3 and 2/4 of
Textbook 1

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