ENGG 409: ENGINEERNG MECHANICS

MODULE 2:
EQUIVALENT FORCES SYSTEMS
 Vector Operations
 Resultant
 Components
 Couples
 Force Derivatives

Prepared by:
Engr. Erin Jaycee D. Salazar, RChT

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EQUIVALENT FORCES SYSTEMS
Vector Operations
What are Vectors?
Vectors. These are quantities which have both magnitude and direction. These are
typically represented as arrows where the length represents the magnitude, and the arrowhead
indicates the direction.
In two-dimensional space is expressed as:

Where Ax and Ay are the components along the x and y-axis.

In two-dimensional space is expressed as:

Where Az is the component along the z-axis.

There are three types of vectors: Free, Sliding, and Fixed.
Free Vectors. These are vectors whose action is not confined to or associated with
a unique line in space.
Sliding Vector. These have unique lines of action in space but not a unique point
of application.
Fixed Vector. These are for vectors whose unique point of application is
specified.
VECTOR OPERATIONS. These are operations for the analysis of the components of bodies.
Vector Addition (Subtraction). The operations relative to vectors were significantly
simplified if the vectors are expressed in term s of their cartesian components, which were
previously mentioned. More example for the expression of such is as shown in the figure below:

A = Axi + Ayj + Azk and B = Bxi + By j + Bzk,

And for its resultant vector to be determined:
R = A + B = (Ax + Bx)i + (Ay + By)j + (Az + Bz)k
If you can still recall your Physics 1, this formula can be written to sum up the vectors and all
forces in the system in a manner as such:
FR = ΣF = ΣFxi + ΣFyj + ΣFzk

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Resultant and Components
In the discussion of Module 1, force systems were defined. In this discussion, we will be
analyzing and solving component forces and the resultants of different force systems.
Resultants. These are the single force that replaces the multiple forces acting upon a
body used to simply these forces, and the operation used to compute for this is via vector
addition.
Components. These are parts of a force in a specific direction which serves as modes to
analyze the effects of the forces along the axes or their line of action.
Example No. 1: Two forces act on the hook shown in figure. Specify the magnitude of
F2 and its coordinate direction angles so that the resultant force FR acts along the positive y axis
and has a magnitude of 800 N.

Solution:
To solve this problem, the resultant force FR and its two components, F1 and F2, will each be
expressed in Cartesian vector form. Then, as shown in the figure, it is necessary that FR = F1 +
F2.

Since FR has a magnitude of 800 N and acts in the +j direction,

To satisfy this equation the i, j, k components of FR must be equal to the corresponding i, j, k

components of (F1 + F2). Hence,

The magnitude of F2 is thus

F2 = √ (−212.1 N )2+ ( 650 N )2+ (150 N )2
= 700 N

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Use law of cosines to determine the angles:
−212.1 o
cos α 2= =108
700

650 o
cos β 2= =21.8
700

150 o
cos γ 2= =77.6
700

Example No. 2:
Resolve the force F1 and F2 into components acting along the u and v axes and determine
the magnitudes of the components. And magnitude of the resultant force F R = F1 + F2 and its
direction, measured clockwise from the positive u axis.

Force F1

F1 U 300
=
sin 40 sin 110

F 1U =205 N

F1v 300
=
sin 30 sin 110

F 1 v =160 N

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Force F2

F2 U 500
=
sin 45 sin 70

F 2U =376 N

F2v 500
=
sin 65 sin70

F 2 v =482 N

Resultant

FR = √ ( 300 N )2++ ( 500 )2+ 2 ( 300 )( 500 ) cos 95

= 605.1 N

605.1 500
=
sin 95 sin θ
o
θ=55.40
o o o
φ=55.40 +30 =85. 4

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Couples

Moment of a Force. Before further discussion of other components of Module 2, and other
topics under Statics, one should understand the definition and concept of moment of a force. The
moment of a force about a point or an axis is a measure of its tendency to cause rotation about
that point or axis. It is defined as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the
point or axis to the line of action of the force.

The moment of a Force F is given by

M O=F∗d
Where:
MO = Moment about point O (which of the moment center)
F = Applied Force
D = Perpendicular distance from point O to the line of action of the force.

Example No. 3. Assuming counterclockwise moments as positive, compute the moment of force
F = 200 kg and force P = 165 kg about points A, B, C, and D – wherein each cell measures 0.3
m2
A
F

P
D
B
FV FH 5
3
F

√ 13
3

P
PH
Pv 2
F = 200 kg ; P = 165 kg

F H =F ( 45 )=200 ( 45 )=160 kg
F V =F ( 35 )=200 ( 35 )=120 kg
P H =F
( ) 2
√ 13
=165
( ) 2
√ 13
=91.526 kg

P H =P
( √313 )=165( √313 )=137.288 kg

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Moment of force F about points A,B,C, and D:

M A =5 ( 0.3 ) F v =5 ( 0.3 )( 120 )

¿ 180 kg∗m

M B =−6 ( 0.3 ) F H =−6 ( 0.3 ) (160 )

¿−288 kg∗m

M C =−1 ( 0.3 ) FV =−1 ( 0.3 ) ( 120 )

¿−180 kg∗m

M D =5 ( 0.3 ) FV −( 0.3 ) F H
¿ 5 ( 0.3 ) (120)− ( 0.3 ) (160)
¿−108 kg∗m

Moment of force P about points A,B,C, and D:

M A =6 ( 0.3 ) PH −4 ( 0.3 ) PV
¿ 6 ( 0.3 ) (91.526)−4 ( 0.3 ) (137.288)
¿ 0 kg∗m
This means that point A is aon the line of action of force P

M B =( 0.3 ) PV = ( 0.3 ) (137.288)

¿ 41.186 kg∗m

M C =2 ( 0.3 ) PV +3 ( 0.3 ) P H
¿ 2 ( 0.3 ) (137.288)+3 ( 0.3 ) (91.526)
¿ 167.746 kg∗m

M D =−4 ( 0.3 ) PV =−4 (0.3)(137.288)

¿−164.746 kg∗m

Couples. A couple is a system of two equal and opposite forces that are separated by a distance
but do not share the same line of action. A couple creates pure rotation without translation. There
are different characteristics to determine that forces acting upon a body is a couple:

Equal Magnitude: The two forces have the same magnitude.

Opposite Direction: The forces act in opposite directions.

Parallel Lines of Action: The forces are parallel but separated by a perpendicular
distance.

No Resultant Force: The net force of a couple is always zero, meaning it does not
cause linear motion—only rotation.

Moment of a Couple: The effect of a couple is measured by its moment, which is

synonymous to the moment of a force, hence the importance of having prior knowledge
about moments. However, moment of a Couple has its own Vector Form using the cross
product given as:
M=r*F
Where r is the position vector between forces.

A couple also have different effects such as:

- It produces pure rotational motion without translation.
- They can be added algebraically to determine their net effect.
- The magnitude of a couple is independent of tire reference point as it remains
the same regardless of where it is computed

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Example No. 4. For the beam, reduce the system of forces shown to (a) an equivalent force-
couple
system at A, (b) an equivalent force couple system at B, and (c) a single force or resultant. Note:
Since the support reactions are not included, the given system will not maintain the beam in
equilibrium.

Solution:
a. Compute for the resultant force and the resultant couple at A.

F H =F ( 45 )=200 ( 45 )=160 kg
R=Σ F=150 j−600 j+100 j−250 j
R=−600 N j
R
M A =Σr∗F=1.6 i∗(−600 j ) +2.8 i∗( 100 j ) + 4.8 i∗(−250 j)
R
M A =−1800 n∗mk

Therefore,

b. Find an equivalent force-couple system at B based in the force-couple system at A.

Since, the force is unchanged by the movement of the force-couple system from A to B.
R=−600 N j

And as the couple at B is equal to the moment about B of the force-couple system found at A.
R R
M B =M A +r BA∗R
¿ 1800 k + (−4.8 i )∗(−600 j)

R
M B =1000 N∗mk

c. Determine the point of application for the resultant force such that its moment about A is
equal to the resultant couple at A.

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 Given that,
R=F 1 + F 2+ F 3 + F 4
R=150−600+100−250=−600 N

Rd=F1 d 1 + F2 d 2 + F3 d 3 + F 4 d 4
d=3.13

Example No. 5. Two couples act on the beam. If F = 125 lb , determine the resultant couple
moment. And determine the magnitude of F so that the resultant couple moment is 450 lb * ft
counterclockwise. Where on the beam does the resultant couple moment act?

Solution:

Assuming that the rotation is counter clockwise.

¿¿
¿ 435.32 lb∗ft

Assuming that the rotation is counter clockwise.

M R =ΣM

450=200 ( 1.5 ) + Fcos 30(1.25)

F=139 lb

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 Force Derivatives
Force derivatives describe how a force changes with respect to another variable, such as time,
position, velocity, or displacement. They help in analyzing how forces evolve in different
physical systems and are crucial in dynamics, mechanics, fluid mechanics, and material science.
The following are the different type of force derivatives.

Time Derivative of Force. Represents how forces over time. Commonly used in impulse-
momentum relations and Newton’s second law.

Whereas j is jerk or the rate of change of acceleration.

Example No. 6 A car of mass 1000 kg starts from rest and experienced a force increasing over
time as F = 50t N, where t is in seconds. Find the acceleration of the car at t = 4s, and; the rate of
acceleration.

Solution:
Newton’s Second Law states that
F = ma

Substituting F=50t:

Acceleration at t = 4s

Jerk calculation:
da d
j= = (0.05 t)
dt dt
m
j=0.05 3
s

Force with Respect to Displacement. This on the other hand represents how force
changes with respect to the position. These are usually under the discussion for elasticity and
potential energy. F=kx, where k is the spring constant.

Mathematical Form of Hooke’s Law:

where k is the stiffness of the material.

Example No. 7 A spring follows Hooke’s Law:

F=kx
Where k = 200 N/m
Find the force when the spring is stretched by 0.3 m, and the stiffness coefficient is:
dF
dx
Solution:
Using Hooke’s Law

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 F=kx =200 ( 0.3 )=60 N
Using the derivative of force with respect to displacement
dF N
=k=200
dx m

Force with respect to Velocity. These are usually are found in fluid resistance and
aerodynamics.

This can be mathematically expressed as the Drag Force:

Where C is drag coefficient.

Example No. 8 A car moving through air experiences a drag force modeled by:
F=0.5 v
Find the force when v = 20 m/s.

Solution:
Using the given equation:
2
F=0.5 ( 20 ) =0.5 ( 400 )=200 N

Derivative of force with respect to Velocity:

dF d
= ( 0.5 v )
2
dv dv
dF d
= ( 0.5(2 v ) )=v
dv dv
For v= 20 m/s
dF N
=20
dv m

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