ME 1204: Engineering Statics

Dr. Faraz Junejo

 Scalars
• A scalar quantity is a quantity that has
magnitude only and has no direction in space

Examples of Scalar Quantities:

 Length, i.e. 5m
 Area
 Volume
 Time
 Mass
 Speed
 Temperature
 Vectors
• A vector quantity is a quantity that has both
magnitude and a direction in space

Examples of Vector Quantities:

 Displacement
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 Force
 Moment
 Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense

Magnitude: The length of the line segment

Magnitude = 3

30°
+X
 Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Direction: The angle between a reference axis and the
arrow’s line of action
Direction = 30° counterclockwise from the
positive X axis

30°
+X
 Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Sense: Indicated by the direction of the tip of the
arrow
Sense = Upward and to the right

30°
+X
 Sense

+y (up) +y (up)

-x (left) +x (right)
(0,0)
-y (down) -y (down)

-x (left) +x (right)
 Summary: Vectors
• A vector is represented on paper by an
arrow
1. the length represents magnitude
2. the arrow faces the direction of motion
3. a vector can be “picked up” and moved on
the paper as long as the length and direction
its pointing does not change
 Position Vector
• If A is the point (a1,a2), as shown in figure
given below, then OA is called position
vector for (a1,a2), or for point A.
• The numbers (a1,a2) are called components of
vector.
y

A(a1,a2)
i tion
Pos tor Terminal Point
vec a
O
x
Initial Point
 Position Vector (contd.)
• The magnitude of the vector a (a1,a2) is 
actually the length of its position vector OA
is given by:
2 2
a  (a 1 , a 2  a 1  a 2

Exercise:

Sketch the position vectors for a=(-3,5), b=(0,-3) and

find magnitude of each vector.
 EQUAL VECTORS

Two vectors are equal if they are equal in

magnitude and act in the same direction.

p
P

Q
 EQUAL VECTORS (contd.)
• Forces equal in Magnitude can act in
opposite Directions

S
 Resultant of Two Vectors
 The resultant is the sum or the combined effect of
two vector quantities

Vectors in the same direction:

6N 4N = 10 N

6m
= 10 m
4m

Vectors in opposite directions:

6 m s-1 10 m s-1 = 4 m s-1

6N 10 N = 4N
 Algebraic Vector Addition
The sum of the two vectors, say a (a1,a2) and
b(b1,b2) is obtained by simply adding the
corresponding components, i.e.
a+b=[a1+b1, a2+b2];

Basic properties of Vector addition are:

1. a+b=b+a
2. (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
3. a+0=0+a=a
4. a + (-a)= 0, where –a represents a vector having the length and
direction opposite to that of a
 Exercise
If a(4,-6) and b=(-5,8), find the vectors
• 2a+3b
• a-b
• 2a-3b
 Exercise
1. Find The terminal point of the vector P1 P2  4i  8 j

If its initial point is (-3,10)

P1 P2  4i  8 j  ( x2  x1 , y2  y1 )  (4,8)
 x2  (3)  4  x2  1
& y2  10  8  y2  18
Hence, terminal point is (1,18)

2. Find The initial point of the vector P1 P2  5i  j

If its terminal point is (4,7)
Answer: (9, 8)
 Multiplication of a Vector
By a scalar
b= m a
b
Magnitude m a

a Direction along a
 We can increase or decrease the magnitude of a
vector by multiplying the vector by a scalar
 Scalar Multiplication

In the examples, vector B (2 units) is half the size of

vector A (which is 4 units) . We can write:
B = 0.5 A

This is an example of a scalar multiple. We have

multiplied the vector A by the scalar 0.5.
 Exercise
Given a = (15,-6,24) , b = (5,-2, 8) and c = (-15/2, 3, -12).
a. Show that a & b have the same direction.
b. Show that a & c have opposite direction

By inspecting a & b, it can be seen that:

a = 3b or b = 1/3 a
Since the scalar 3 or 1/3 is positive, this implies a & b have
the same direction.
Whereas, by inspecting a & c, it can be seen that:
a = -2c or c = -1/2 a
Since the scalar -2 or -1/2 is negative, this implies a & c have
opposite directions.
 FORCE ON A PARTICLE
• A Force is a Vector quantity and must
have Magnitude, Direction and Point of
action.
F


P
 Force on a Particle (Contd.)
 Note: Point P is the point of action of
force and  and are directions.
 To notify that F is a vector, it is printed in
bold as in the text book.
 Its magnitude is denoted as |F| or simply
F.
 Force on a Particle (Contd.)
 There can be many forces acting on a
particle.

 The resultant of a system of forces on a

particle is the single force which has the
same effect as the system of forces.

 The resultant of two forces can be found

using the parallelogram law or triangle law.
 Force on a Particle (Contd.)
 The sum of two or more vectors can be written as
another vector, which is called the resultant vector.
It is the result of adding vectors together.

 In mechanics, a single force acting on a particle or

body whose effect is equivalent to the combined
effects of two or more separate forces is known as
resultant force.
 Parallelogram Law
 This law states that two vectors V1 and V2, treated as free
vectors, (Fig. a), may be replaced by their equivalent vector
V, which is the diagonal of the parallelogram formed by V1
and V2 as its two sides, as shown in (Fig. b).
 Vector Addition
 Using the Parallelogram Law, Construct a

Parm. with two Forces as Parts. The

resultant of the forces is the diagonal.
P

Q
 Parallelogram Law
Properties of Parallelogram

A – sum of the three angles in a triangle is 180o

B – sum of the interior angles is 360o
C – opposite sides are equal


180 



 Triangle Law
 The two vectors V1 and V2, again treated as free vectors,
may also be added head-to-tail by the triangle law, as
shown in Fig. c, to obtain the identical vector sum V. We
see from the diagram that the order of addition of the
vectors does not affect their sum, so that V1 + V2 = V2 + V1
 Vector Addition (Contd.)

• Triangle Rule: Draw the first Vector. Join the

tail of the Second to the head of the First and
then join the tail of the third to the tail of the
first force to get the resultant force, R

R=Q+P
P
Q
 Vector Addition (Contd.)

• Also:

Q
P

R=P+Q

Q + P = P + Q. This is the commutative law of vector

addition
 Summary
 When two vectors are joined
tail to tail
 Complete the parallelogram
 The resultant is found by
drawing the diagonal

The Triangle Law

 When two vectors are joined
head to tail
 Draw the resultant vector by
completing the triangle
 Problem: Resultant of 2 Vectors
Two forces are applied to a body, as shown. What is the
magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the body?

Solution:
 Complete the parallelogram (rectangle)
 The diagonal of the parallelogram ac

represents the resultant force

 The magnitude of the resultant is found using

Pythagoras’ Theorem on the triangle abc a

12 N d
Magnitude  ac  12  52 2
θ 13

5N
N 5
ac  13 N
12 b c
Direction of ac : tan   12
5
12
   tan 1  67  Resultant displacement is 13 N 67º
5
with the 5 N force
 Problem: Resultant of 3 Vectors
Find the magnitude (correct to two decimal places) and direction of the
resultant of the three forces shown below.
Solution:
 Find the resultant of the two 5 N forces first (do right angles first)

ac  52  52  50  7.07 N
5 d 5 c
tan    1    45
5

N
Now find the resultant of the 10 N and

5N

07
 5

7.
7.07 N forces
 The 2 forces are in a straight line (45º + 90º
θ
45º

N
a
135º = 180º) and in opposite directions 5N
b

93
135º

2.
So, Resultant = 10 N – 7.07 N = 2.93 N

N


10
in the direction of the 10 N force
 Polygon Rule
• Can be used for the addition of more
than two vectors.
• Two vectors are actually summed and
added to the third.
 
 Polygon Rule (contd.)

S Q

R
(P + Q)
P

R=P+Q+S
 Polygon Rule (contd.)

• P + Q = (P + Q) ………. Triangle Rule

• i.e. P + Q + S = (P + Q) + S = R

• The method of drawing the vectors is

immaterial . The following method can be
used.
 Polygon Rule (contd.)

S Q

R (Q + S)

R=P+Q+S
 Polygon Rule (contd.)

• Q + S = (Q + S) ……. Triangle Rule

• P + Q + S = P + (Q + S) = R

• i.e. P + Q + S = (P + Q) + S = P + (Q + S)
• This is the associative Law of Vector Addition
 Vector Subtraction
 The difference V1 - V2 (i.e. V’) between the two
vectors is easily obtained by adding - V2 to V1 as
shown in Fig., where either the triangle or
parallelogram procedure may be used.
 Vector Subtraction: Example

• P - Q = P + (- Q) P

P -Q
P -Q
P

-Q P-Q

Parm. Rule
Triangle Rule
 Vector Components

• Any two or more vectors whose sum equals a certain

vector V are said to be the components of that vector.

• Thus, the vectors V1 and V2 in Fig. a are the components

of V in the directions 1 and 2, respectively.
 Rectangular Components
• It is usually most convenient to deal with vector
components which are mutually perpendicular; these are
called rectangular components.

• The vectors Vx and Vy in Fig. b are the x- and y-

components, respectively, of V.
When expressed in
rectangular components, the
direction of the vector with
respect to, say, the x-axis is
vy
clearly specified by the   tan
1

vx
angle , where
 RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS OF FORCE
• In many problems, it is desirable to resolve force
F into two perpendicular components in the x
and y directions.
• Fx and Fy are called rectangular vector
components.
• In two-dimensions, the cartesian unit vectors i
and j are used to designate the directions of x
and y axes.
Fx = Fx i and Fy = Fy j
i.e. F = Fx i + Fy j
• Fx and Fy are scalar components of F
 Resolving a Vector Into Perpendicular
Components
• When resolving a vector into
components we are doing the opposite
to finding the resultant
• We usually resolve a vector into
components that are perpendicular to
each other

 Here a vector v is resolved into

an x component and a y

v
y
component
x
 Practical Applications
• Here we see a table being N
y=25 N 50
pulled by a force of 50 N at
30º
a 30º angle to the horizontal x=43.3 N
• When resolved we see that
this is the same as pulling
the table up with a force of
 We can see that it
would be more
25 N and pulling it
efficient to pull the
horizontally with a force of table with a
43.3 N horizontal force of
50 N
 Calculating the Magnitude of the
Perpendicular Components

• If a vector of magnitude v and makes an angle θ with the

horizontal then the magnitude of the components are:
• x = v Cos θ
v
• y = v Sin θ y=v Sin θ y
θ
x=v
x Cos θ
 Proof:
x y
Cos  Sin 
v v
x  vCos y  vSin
 Important
• You can add vectors in any order and yield the
same resultant.
 Trigonometry Review
Right Triangle
A triangle with a 90° angle
Sum of all interior angles = 180°
Pythagorean Theorem: A2 + B2 = C2

y p)
e (h Opposite Side
nu s
o te (opp)
H yp

 90°
Adjacent Side (adj)
 Trigonometry Review
Trigonometric Functions
sin θ° = opp / hyp
cos θ° = adj / hyp
tan θ° = opp / adj

y p)
e (h Opposite Side
nu s
p o te (opp)
Hy

 90°
Adjacent Side (adj)
 Trigonometry Application
The hypotenuse is the Force, F
The adjacent side is the x-component, Fx
The opposite side is the y-component, Fy

e
F Opposite Side
n u s
ote Fy
Hyp

 90°

Adjacent Side Fx
 Trigonometry Application
sin θ° = Fy / F Fy= F sin θ°

cos θ° = Fx / F Fx= F cos θ°

tan θ° = Fy / Fx
e
F Opposite Side
n u s
ote Fy
Hyp

 90°

Adjacent Side Fx
 Trigonometric Relations of a triangle
Pythagorean theorem is valid only for a right angled triangle. For any
triangle (not necessarily right angled)

A B C
   Sine Law
sin a sin b sin c

C 2  A2  B 2  2 AB cos  Cosine Law

A
 B

 
C
 Vector X and Y Components

Vector A
Magnitude = 75.0 lb
Direction = 35.0° from the horizontal
Sense = right, up
+Y


A  75.0 lb
opp = FAY
35.0°
-X +X
adj = FAX
-Y
 Vector X and Y Components
Solve for FAX
a dj F FAX
cos   cos   
AX
cos 35.0  
hyp A 75.0 lb

+Y FAX  75.0 lb cos 35.0 


A  75.0 lb FAX  61.4 lb
opp = FAY
35.0°
-X +X
adj = FAX
-Y
 Vector X and Y Components
Solve for FAY
opp F FAY
s in   s in   
AY
s in 35.0  
hyp A 75.0 lb

+Y FAY  75.0 lb s in 3 5.0 


A  75.0 lb
FAY  43.0 lb
opp = FAY
35.0°
-X +X
adj = FAX
-Y
 Vector X and Y Components - Your Turn

Vector B
Magnitude = 75.0 lb
Direction = 35.0° from the horizontal
+Y
Sense = right, down
adj = FBX
-X +X
35.0°

opp = FBY


-Y
B  75.0 lb
 Vector X and Y Components – Your Turn
Solve for FBX
a dj FBX FBX
cos   cos    cos 35.0  
hyp 75.0 lb
B
+Y
FBX  75.0 lb cos 35.0 

adj = FBX
-X +X FBX  61.4 lb
35.0°

opp = FBY


-Y
B  75.0 lb
 Vector X and Y Components – Your Turn
Solve for FBY
opp FBY FBY
s in   s in    s in 35.0  
hyp B 75.0 lb

+Y FBY  75.0 lb s in 3 5.0 

adj = FBX FBY  43.0 lb

-X +X
35.0°

opp = FBY


-Y
B  75.0 lb
Resultant Force: Example 1
Two people are pulling a boat to shore. They
are pulling with the same magnitude.

A  75.0 lb

  35.0 
  35.0 


B  75.0 lb
 Resultant Force
List the forces according to
sense.
FAY = 43.0 lb 
A  75 lb Label right and up forces as
positive, and label left and
down forces as negative.

FX
  35  FAX = 61.4 lb
FAX = +61.4 lb
  35  FBX = 61.4 lb
FBX = +61.4 lb
FY

 FAY = +43.0 lb
B  75 lb
FBY= 43.0 lb FBY = -43.0 lb
 Resultant Force
Sum (S) the forces
FX
FAX = +61.4 lb SFX = FAX + FBX

FBX = +61.4 lb SFX = 61.436 lb + 61.436 lb

FY SFX = 122.9 lb (right)

FAY = +43.0 lb
FBY = -43.0 lb SFY = FAY + FBY
SFY = 43.018 lb + (-43.018 lb) = 0
Magnitude is 122.9 lb
Direction is 0° from the x axis
Sense is right
 Resultant Force
Draw the resultant force (FR)
Magnitude is 123 lb
Direction is 0° from the x axis
FAY = 43.0 lb Sense is right

FAX = 61.4 lb
FR = 122.9 lb
FBX = 61.4 lb

FBY= 43.0 lb
Resultant Force: Example 2

C  300. lb

Determine the sense,

magnitude, and
  60. direction for the

  30. 
resultant force.

D  400. lb
 Resultant Force
Find the X and Y components of vector C.

FCX = 300. lb cos60.°


C  300. lb FCX = 150 lb
FCY

60. FCY = 300. lb sin60.°

FCX FCY = 260 lb
 Resultant Force
Find the X and Y components of vector D.

FDX FDX = 400. lb cos30.°

30.  FDX = 350 lb
FDY

D  400. lb
FDY = 400. lb sin30.°
FDY = 2.0x102 lb
 Resultant Force
List the forces according to
sense.
 Label right and up forces as
FCY = 259.8 lb C  300 lb positive, and label left and
down forces as negative.

FX
  60 
FCX = 150.0 lb FCX = +150.0 lb
  30 FDX = 346.4 lb FDX = +346.4 lb

D  400 lb FY
FDY= 200.0 lb
FCY = +259.8 lb
FDY = -200.0 lb
 Resultant Force
Sum (S) the forces
FX
FCX = +150.0 lb SFX = FCX + FDX
FDX = +346.4 lb SFX = 150.0 lb + 346.4 lb = 496.4 lb (right)
FY
FCY = +259.8 lb SFY = FCY + FDY
FDY = -200.0 lb SFY = 259.8 lb + (-200.0 lb) = 59.8 lb (up)

Sense is right and up.

 Resultant Force
Draw the X and Y components of the resultant force.

SFX = 496.4 lb (right) SFY = 59.8 (up)

Two ways to draw the X and Y components

FR 496.4 lb
59.8 lb 59.8 lb
FR
496.4 lb
 Resultant Force
Solve for magnitude.

FR a2 + b 2 = c 2
59.8 lb
(59.8 lb)2 +(496.4 lb)2 =FR2
496.4 lb
( 59.8 lb 2 ) ( 496.4 lb 2 )  FR

FR = 500 lb or 5.0x102 lb
Magnitude is 5.0x102 lb
 Resultant Force
Solve for direction.
opp
ta n  
a dj

59.8 lb
500 lb ta n  
59.8 lb 496.4 lb
 1  59.8 
  ta n  
496.4 lb  496.4 

  7

Direction is 7° counterclockwise from the positive X axis.

 Resultant Force
Draw the resultant force (FR)
Magnitude is 5.0x102 lb
Direction is 7° counterclockwise from
the positive x axis
Sense is right and up

5.0x102 lb

7°
 Exercise: 1
• Determine the resultant of the three
forces below.

y
600 N
800 N

350 N

45o
60o 25o
x
 Exercise: 1 (contd.)
 F x = 350 cos 25o + 800 cos 70o - 600 cos 60o

= 317.2 + 273.6 - 300 = 290.8 N

 F y = 350 sin 25o + 800 sin 70o + 600 sin 60o

= 147.9 + 751 + 519.6 = 1419.3 N

i.e. F = 290.8 N i + 1419.3 N j

y 800 N
Resultant, F 600 N

350 N
F  290.82  1419.32  1449 N
45o
1 1419.3
  tan  78.4 0 60 o
25o
290.8
x
F = 1449 N 78.4 o
 Exercise : 2
• A hoist trolley is subjected to the three forces
shown. Knowing that  = 40o , determine:
(a) the magnitude of force, P for which the
resultant of the three forces is vertical
(b) the corresponding magnitude of the
resultant.


P


2000 N 1000 N
 Exercise: 2 (contd.)
(a) The resultant being vertical means that the
horizontal component is zero.
 F x = 1000 sin 40o + P - 2000 cos 40o = 0
P = 2000 cos 40o - 1000 sin 40o =
1532.1 - 642.8 = 889.3 = 889 kN

(b)  Fy = - 2000 sin 40o - 1000 cos 40o =

- 1285.6 - 766 = - 2052 N = 2052 N

40o P
40o

2000 N 1000 N
 Exercise: 3
• Determine graphically, the magnitude and
direction of the resultant of the two forces
using (a) Parallelogram law and (b) the
triangle rule.

600 N
900 N

45o
30o
 Exercise: 3 (contd.)
Solution: A parm. with sides equal to 900 N and 600 N is drawn to scale as shown.
The magnitude and direction of the resultant can be found by drawing to scale.

600N 900N
600 N R
45o
30o
15o 900 N
45o 30o

The triangle rule may also be used. Join the forces in a tip to tail fashion and
measure the magnitude and direction of the resultant.

600 N
R 45o
135o C
900 N
B 30o
 Exercise: 3 (Trigonometric Solution)
Using the cosine law:

R2 = 9002 + 6002 - 2 x 900 x 600 cos 1350

R 600N
R = 1390.6 = 1391 N 135o

Using the sine law: 30o 900 N

B

R 600 600 sin 135
 i. e. B  sin 1
sin 135 sin B 1391
 17.8
The angle of the resul tan t  30  17.8  47.8

ie. R = 139N

47.8o
 Exercise: 4
• Two structural members B and C are bolted to
bracket A. Knowing that both members are in
tension and that P = 30 N and Q = 20 N, determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force
exerted on the bracket.

25o

50o

Q
 Exercise: 4 (contd.)
Solution: Using Triangle rule:

75o 30 kN
20 kN 105o
 25o
Q
R

R2 = 302 + 202 - 2 x 30 x 20 cos 105 0 - cosine law

R = 40.13 N
Using sine rule:
4013
. N 20 1 20 sin 105o
 and Sin   28.8 o
Sin 105o Sin  4013
.
Angle R  28.8 o  25o  38
. o
i. e R  401
. N, . o
38
 Example:1
The screw eye is subjected to two forces, F1
and F2. Determine the magnitude and direction
of the resultant force.
 Example:1 (contd.)
Parallelogram Law
Unknown: magnitude of FR and angle θ
 Example:1 (contd.)
Trigonometry
Law of Cosines
FR  100 N  2  150 N  2  2100 N 150 N  cos115 
 10000  22500  30000  0.4226  212.6 N  213N

Law of Sines
150 N 212.6 N

sin  sin 115 
150 N
sin    0.9063
212.6 N
  39.8
 Example:1 (contd.)
Trigonometry
Direction Φ of FR measured from the
horizontal
  39.8  15
 54.8 
 Example:2
Given
Resultant R  1kN ,  30 

To find:
F1 and F2
 Example:2 (contd.)
1. Draw the vector diagram
 Example:2 (contd.)
2. Use the sine law to find F1 and F2

F1 1000
  F1  653 N
Sin30 
Sin130 

F2 1000
  F2  446 N
Sin 20 
Sin130 