MODULE II
COPLANAR CONCURRENT AND NON CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM
1. Four co-planar forces forces acting at a point are shown in fig Q3(a) . One of the forces
is unknown and its magnitude is shown by ‘P’ . The resultant has a magnitude of 500N
and is acting along the x-axis . Determine the unknown force ‘P’ and its inclination
with x-axis. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
= 21.29
P= 849.87KN
2. State and prove Varignon’s theorem of moments. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
If a number of coplanar forces are acting simultaneously on a particle, the algebraic sum of
the moments of all the forces about any point is equal to the moment of their resultant force
about the same point.
PROOF:
For example, consider only two forces F1 and F2 represented in magnitude and direction by AB
and AC as shown in figure below.
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Let O be the point, about which the moments are taken. Construct the parallelogram ABCD
and complete the construction as shown in fig.
By the parallelogram law of forces, the diagonal AD represents, in magnitude
and Direction, the resultant of two forces F1 and F2, let R be the resultant force.
By geometrical representation of moments the moment of force about O=2 Area
of triangle AOB the moment of force about O=2 Area of triangle AOC the
moment of force about O=2 Area of triangle AOD
But,
Area of triangle AOD=Area of triangle AOC + Area of triangle ACD Also,
Area of triangle ACD=Area of triangle ADB=Area of triangle AOB Area of
triangle AOD=Area of triangle AOC + Area of triangle AOB
Multiplying throughout by 2, we obtain
2 Area of triangle AOD =2 Area of triangle AOC+2 Area of triangle AOB
i.e., Moment of force R about O=Moment of force F1 about O + Moment of force F2 about
O
Similarly, this principle can be extended for any number of forces.
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3. State and prove parallelogram law of forces. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
Parallelogram law of forces: This law is applicable to determine the resultant of two coplanar
concurrent forces only. This law states “If two forces acting at a point are represented both in
magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then the resultant of the
two forces is represented both in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram
passing through the same point.”
B C
R
F2 F2sin
F2
D
O F1 A F2cos
Let F1 and F2 be two forces acting at a point O and be the angle between them. Let OA and OB
represent forces F1 and F 2 respectively both in magnitude and direction. The resultant R of F1
and F2 can be obtained by completing a parallelogram with OA and OB as the adjacent sides of
the parallelogram. The diagonal OC of the parallelogram represents the resultant R both
magnitude and direction.
2 2
From the figure OC = OD + CD
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2 2
= (OA + AD) + CD
2 2
= ( F1 + F2 cos ) + (F 2 sin )
2 2
i.e R = F1 + F2 + 2. F1 . F2 .cos --------- 1
Let be the inclination of the resultant with the direction of the F1, then
-l
= tan F2 sin ------- 2
F1 + F2.cos
Equation 1 gives the magnitude of the resultant and Equation 2 gives the direction of the resultant.
4. Determine the magnitude, direction of the resultant force for the force system as shown in
fig. Locate the resultant force with respect to point D. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
R = 8.24 KN
Take a moment about D
MD= -8+4*1.2 -6*1 – 5 sin 26.56*2
MD= -13.67 KN-m
D= 1.65m
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5. 26KN force is the resultant of the forces, one of which is as shown in fig.Determine the
other force. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
R= 26KN
Rx=
26 cos 67.38 = 10 cos 36.86 +F cos
F cos = 2KN
Ry =
26 sin 67.38 =10 sin 36.86+ F sin
F sin = 18 KN
Dividing the equation
6. Explain the principle of resolved parts. (Dec2014 /Jan 2015)
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7. A truck is to be pulled along a straight road as shown in fig. (Jul/Aug 2013)
0
(i) If the force applied along rope A is 5kN inclined at 30 , what should be the force in
0
the rope B, which is inclined at 20 , so that vehicle moves along the road?
(ii) If force of 4kN is applied in rope B at what angle rope B should be inclined so that
the vehicle is pulled along the road?
If the vehicle is pulled along the road, the resultant force acting on it will be along the
road. Taking x-axis along the road,
∑Fy = 0
(i) 5sin 30 – FB sin20 =
0 FB = 7.31
(ii) Let α be the angle made by rope B with X-axis
∑Fy = 0
5sin 30 – 4 sin α = 0 α
o
= 36.68
8. Determine the magnitude, direction of the resultant force for the force system shown in fig.
Determine the X intercepts of the resultant force with respect to the point O. (Dec13)
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∑FX = 4-5cos26.56 = -0.472kN
∑FY = -6-5sin26.56 = -8.236kN
R = 8.248 kN α = tan-1
o
(8.236/0.472) = 86.71 ∑Mo = 4x1.2
– 6x1 -8 - 5sin26.56 x 2
= -13.67kN m d
= 1.659m X intercept
= 1.659m
Y intercept = 28.96m
9. State and prove varignon’s theorem (Jan2013, June 2014)
Varignon’s principle of moments:
If a number of coplanar forces are acting simultaneously on a particle, the algebraic sum of the
moments of all the forces about any point is equal to the moment of their resultant force about the
same point.
PROOF:
For example, consider only two forces F1 and F2 represented in magnitude and direction by AB and
AC as shown in figure below.
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Let O be the point, about which the moments are taken. Construct the parallelogram ABCD
and complete the construction as shown in fig.
By the parallelogram law of forces, the diagonal AD represents, in magnitude
and Direction, the resultant of two forces F1 and F2, let R be the resultant force.
By geometrical representation of moments the moment of force about O=2
Area of triangle AOB the moment of force about O=2 Area of triangle AOC
the moment of force about O=2 Area of triangle AOD But,
Area of triangle AOD=Area of triangle AOC + Area of triangle ACD
Also, Area of triangle ACD=Area of triangle ADB=Area of triangle
AOB Area of triangle AOD=Area of triangle AOC + Area of triangle
AOB Multiplying throughout by 2, we obtain
2 Area of triangle AOD =2 Area of triangle AOC+2 Area of triangle AOB
i.e., Moment of force R about O=Moment of force F1 about O + Moment of force F2 about
Similarly, this principle can be extended for any number of forces.
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10. The 26kN force is the resultant of two forces, one of which is shown in fig. Determine the
other force. (June
2012)
∑FX = R cosα
Fcos θ +10cos36.86 = 26 cos 67.38
Fcos θ = 2 (1)
∑FY = R sinα
Fsinθ +10sin36.86 = 26sin67.38
Fsin θ = 18 (2)
(1)/(2) tan θ
=9θ=
83.65 F =
18.11kN
11. Determine the resultant force acting on the structure at point O both in magnitude and
direction for the system of forces shown in fig. (Jan 2013)
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0
θ = 46.07
∑FX = 600-400sin46.07 = 322.49
∑FY = -400sin46.07 = -288.07
0
R = 432.42N; α = 41.77
12. Two forces F1 and F2 act upon a body. If the magnitude of their resultant is equal to that of
F1 and direction perpendicular to F1, then find the magnitude and direction of
force F2. Take F1 =20N (June
2014)
Sol: 20 – F2CosѲ = 0
o
Ѳ = 45
F2 = 28.28 N
13. Determine the forces P, F and T required to keep the frame in equilibrium
(June 2014)
Sol: ∑ MB = 0
-(100*2) + (150*3) + (T*2) = 0
T=125N
∑ Fx = 0
o o
PCos 60 + FCos 20 – 125 + 100 = 0
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∑Fy = 0
o o
PSin 60 – Fsin 20 – 50 + 150 = 0
P = 104.162 N
F=-28.81N
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