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The process of addition of forces is known as

composition of forces.
Forces being vectors, cannot be added by simple arithmetic
procedure. It requires geometrical addition since both magnitude and
direction are to be considered while adding forces. The given number of
forces are to be replaced by their resultant force ; which is defined below.

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Resultant Force ( R ) :‐ If number of forces P1, P2, P3 …….. etc are

acting simultaneously on a particle, it is possible to find out a single
force which could replace them i.e. which would produce the same
effect as produced by all the given forces. This single force is called
resultant force and the given forces P1, P2, P3, …. etc are called
component forces.
P3

P2 R P3
=
P2
O P1 O P1

Methods of composition : Following are the methods of composition of

forces and finding their resultant.

( A) Analytical method :

(a) Law of parallelogram of forces.

(b) Method of resolution.

(B) Graphical method :

(a) By drawing parallelogram of forces.
(b) By drawing triangle of forces.
(c) By drawing polygon of forces.

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The Triangle Law :‐ If two forces are represented in magnitude and

direction such that the second force is drawn from the end of the
first then, the line segment joining the beginning of the first to the
end of the second gives resultant in magnitude and direction.

C
Q

R Q

P A B
P

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Polygon Law of Forces :‐ If a number of forces acting at a point be

represented in magnitude and direction, by the sides of a polygon
taken in order, then the resultant of all these forces may be
represented, in magnitude and direction by the closing side of the
polygon taken in opposite order.
d
P3

P2 R

P1
a b

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Moment of Force :‐ It is the rotation effect produced by a force

about given point. The moment of a force about a point is the
product of the force and the perpendicular distance between the
given point and the line of action of the force. The moment of force
P about O is M0 = P x a
Unit of Moment :‐ The unit of
P
Moment is equal to the unit of force
in to unit of Length. If Unit of Force
is Newton & Unit of Length is meter
90
than the unit of moment will be
Newton‐meter.

BOA  CAM
Direction of Moment :‐ Consider the point about which the
moment are to be taken as hinge and find the direction in which
the body will move when the force is applied.
P P

O O

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Note :‐ If the point about which the moment is taken is on the line
of action of the force then the moment of the force about that
point is zero, as the perpendicular distance between the point and
the line of action of the force is zero.

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Couple :‐ In a particular case when the magnitudes of the two

unlike parallel forces, acting on the body, are equal, the magnitudes
of the resultant force is zero. These two unlike parallel, equal and
non‐collinear forces form a couple.

P
The perpendicular distance between the two
forces of a couple is called couple arm i.e (a)
a P and Q are two unlike, parallel, equal and
non‐collinear forces Hence R = P – Q = 0.
Moment of a couple is the product of one of
the force of the couple and the couple arm.

Q Moment of couple = P x a = Q x a
It is therefore constant about any point on
P = Q
their plane.

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Properties of couple :‐
1.) Two equal, unlike, parallel and non‐collinear forces
form a couple. The resultant of these forces is zero.
2.) The moment of couple is equal to one of the forces
multiplied by the arm of the couple.
couple
3.) The sum of the moment of forces forming a couple,
about point in their plane, is constant and is equal to
the moment of the couple. P
When P = Q, forces in Fig. form a couple.
Taking moment of each of the forces about O.
Taking moment of each of the forces about O. a
Mo = (P x OA) – (Q x OB) B O
= (P x OA) – (P x OB),   as P = Q A
= P (OA – OB)
= P x AB
= P x a, is the moment of the couple. Q

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Properties of couple :‐

4.) Any number of coplanar couples can be represented

by a single couple, the moment of which is equal to
the sum of the moments of all the couples.
5.) A couple can be balanced only by another of equal and
opposite moment.

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Properties of couple :‐
6.) Any single force can be replaced by an equal like
parallel force, through any other point and a couple.
P P P P

a a a
= =
A B A B A B
M = P x a
P
In Fig. force P acts at A. Through any other point B draw two equal
opposite and collinear forces P and P. P Total result remains the same even
after adding these two forces. A pair of forces, equal in magnitude,
opposite in direction, and collinear in action has no effect on the body if the
pair is added to or removed from the system. The force P at A and the
downward force P at B form couple of moment P x a. At B there remains a
single force acting upwards. Thus a single force P, at A has been replaced
by a single force P, through B and a couple P x AB, without changing the
original conditions in any way.

BOA  CAM
Varignon’s Theorem :‐

States that the algebraic sum of moments of all the forces

about any point in their plane is equal to the moment of their
resultant about the same point.

This theorem is used to find position (location) of

resultant of non‐concurrent system of forces.

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Method Of Resolution ‐
In this method all the forces are resolved along two axes
at 90° to each other. (x‐axis and y axis). All the components along
x‐axis are added algebraically and called ∑FX similarly all the y‐axis
components are added algebraically & called ∑FY . These two
forces are then added by vector addition,

R   FX 2   FY 2

And angle of ‘R’ with X – axis is

 FY
  = tan‐1
 FX

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Principle Of Resolution ‐
States that the algebraic sum of components of all the
forces along any axis is equal to the resolved part of their
resultant along that axis,

RX   FX  RY   FY
Where RX & RY are the components of ‘ R ’ along
X – axis & Y – axis respectively
F = Algebraic sum of all X ‐ component
X

 FY = Algebraic sum of all Y ‐ component

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