Republic of the Philippines
DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE UNIVERSITY
Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga
STATICS OF RIGID BODIES
A. Course Code / Title : Statics 213 / Statics of Rigid Bodies
B. Module Number : Module 3 - Resultant of Force Systems (Forces in Plane)
(Parallelogram and Component Method)
C. Time Frame : 2nd week ( 1.5 hours)
D. Description:
This module looks into the equivalent single force of two or more forces and its
direction.
E. Objectives:
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to :
1. Gain a better understanding of the meaning of equivalent single force.
2. Solve problems on resultant of force system using parallelogram method and polygon
method.
F. Contents:
Resultant of Two Forces (Parallelogram Method)
In solving for the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, the following formula can be
use:
a b c
sin law:
sin A sin B sin C
cos law: c 2 a 2 b2 2ab cosC
Problems:
1. Two forces P and Q act on a bolt as shown. Determine the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force.
Q = 60N
P = 40N
25˚
20˚
Required:
Magnitude (R) and direction (θ) of the resultant force.
Solution:
a. Draw lines parallel to the forces so as to form a parallelogram and draw a diagonal passing
from the point of origin.
B
40 kN
C
60 kN
60 kN R
A
25˚ 40 kN
20˚
O
b. Consider triangle AB:
A 180 20 45 155
B
Solve R by cos law:
R 60 kN
155˚ 45˚
θ A
α 40 kN
20˚
O
Direction: θ = α + 20
Solve α by sin law:
2. A disabled automobile is pulled by means of two ropes as shown. If the resultant of the two
forces on the rope is a 300 N force parallel to the axis of automobile, determine the tension in
each rope.
T1
20˚
automobile axis
30˚
T2
Required: Tension in each rope, T1 and T2
Solution:
Construct the parallelogram and draw its diagonal. The diagonal is equal to the resultant
of the two tensile forces (T1 & T2) and is equal to 300N.
T1 T2
20˚ R = 300 N
A C
30˚ 20˚
130˚ T1
T2
B
Consider triangle ABC:
Solve T1 and T2 using sin law:
R T T
1 2
sin130 sin 30 sin 20
R = 300 N
A C
30˚ 20˚ 300 T T
1 2
130˚
T1
sin130 sin 30 sin 20
T2
B
T2 133.94N
T1 195.81N
Resultant of Three or More Forces (Polygon Method)
a b c
sin law:
sin A sin B sin C
cos law: c 2 a 2 b2 2ab cosC
Problems:
1. Given: F1 = 20 N, due East
F2 = 30 N, 30˚ N of E
F3 = 40 N, 60˚ W of N
Required: Compute the resultant completely
Solution:
a. Construct the polygon by using the tip-to-tail method.
40 N
R 60˚
B
30N
θ
b. Divide the polygon into triangles. 30˚
O 20 N A
triangles COA and ABC or triangles COB and OAB
40 N
R 60˚
B
30N
θ 30˚
O 20 N A
c. Consider ΔABC (solve for AC) {or ΔOAB (solve for OB)}
40 N
60˚ ∠ B = 180 - 60 - 60 = 60°
60˚ B
α 30N
30˚
A
Solve for side AC using cos law: Solve for ∠ α by sin law:
d. To solve for R and θ, consider ΔCOA:
∠ A = 180 - 30 - 73.87
R 36.06 N ∠ A = 76.13°
θ 76.13˚
O 20 N A
Solve for direction θ by sin law:
Solve R by cos law:
2. For the system of forces shown, determine the resultant completely.
R = 36.80 N @ 72.05° N of E
300 N
30˚
60˚
4
3
400 N 200 N
Required: Magnitude (R) and Direction (θ) of the resultant
Solution:
Construct the polygon by tip-to-tail method.
A
60˚
4 5
400 N β
R
3
B
B 4
ϕ tan
200 N α 3
4 D
3 300 N
C
30˚ 53.13
Consider ΔBCD:
B
B
ϕ ∠ C = 180 - 30 - 53.13 = 96.87°
200 N α D
4
3 300 N
30˚
C
Solve BD by cos law: sin law:
2 2 2 BD 200 300
BD BC CD 2 BC CD cos C
sin C sin sin
2 379.94 200 300
BD 2002 3002 2(200)(300) cos 96.87
sin 96.87 sin sin
BD 379.94N 31.51
51.62
Consider ΔABD:
A
60˚ θ
A
400 N ∠ B = 60 + 53.13 - 51.62
R ∠ B = 61.51°
B
B
BD = 379.94N
By cos law:
2 2
R 2 AB AD 2 AB AD cos B
R2 4002 379.942 2(400)(379.94) cos 61.51
R 399.21N
By sin law:
R BD
sin B sin A
399.21 379.94
sin 61.51 sin A
A 56.77
180 60 56.77 63.23
R 399.21N @ 63.23 SofE
G. References:
1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, [Link],
Mazurek, D.F., Cornwell, P.J.2013
2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013
3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016
4. Engineering Mechanics Statics 3rd Edition, Pytel, A., Kiusalaas, J., 2010
