3ET005 Mechanical Technology

Forces and Vectors

Learning Outcomes

• To be able to define what forces and moments are.

• To be able to resolve simple force systems.

• To be able to calculate and resolve moments in a system to satisfy the

states of equilibrium.

• To be able to define equilibrium and the conditions that must be met.

What is a force?
• A force is an interaction, that if unopposed, will change the motion of
an object.
• In simple terms a force can be describe as either a push, pull, or twist.
• Force is a vector quantity and is therefore described by both a
magnitude and a direction.
• Force is typically measured with the SI unit Newtons (N) and has the
SI base units of 𝐾𝑔𝑚𝑠 −2 .
• Common symbol = F
• Equation – F=ma
Coordinate Systems
1D 2D 3D

𝑭 = 𝑭𝑿

𝑭𝑹 𝑭𝒀
𝑭𝒀
θ
𝑭𝒁 θ
𝑭 = 𝑭𝒀 𝑭𝑿 𝑭𝑿
Equilibrium
• Equilibrium is a state in which the forces on an object are balanced.
• This means that a body that is not in motion will remain at rest.
• It also applies to bodies moving with a constant velocity.

• Mathematically this is represented by;

• Σ𝐹𝑋 = 0
• Σ𝐹𝑌 = 0
• Σ𝑀 = 0
Force Systems and Vector Addition
• With force systems, they can be resolved by using simple vector addition if
they are along the same line of action.
• Example :
15N 9N

Answer : 24N
• Example :
21N 7N

Answer : -14N
Solving Basic Force Systems
20 N 5N 25 N 4N 3N
R = 25N R = 32N

14 N 8N 17 N 8N 5N
R = 22N R = 14N

35 N 16 N 31 N 7N 9N
R = 19N R = -33N

14 N 6N 6N 54 N 11 N
R = -20N R = 37N

41 N 12 N 8N 43 N 2N
R = -29N R = -37N

5N 27 N 5N 6N 37 N
R = -22N R = 36N
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Force

• A force can be split up into two

components; horizontal and
vertical.

• R represents the resultant force.

𝑭𝒀 • The length of the arrow denotes
the magnitude of the force.

• θ is the direction at which the

θ force acts, with respect to the
horizontal.

𝑭𝑿
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Force

• If you are given the magnitude

and direction of the resultant
force, the components of
𝑭𝒀 𝐹𝑋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑌 can be deduced using;

𝐹𝑋 = 𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ)
𝐹𝑌 = 𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ)
θ

𝑭𝑿
Horizontal and Vertical Components of Force

• If you are given the components

of 𝐹𝑋 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑌 , the magnitude and
direction of the resultant force
can be deduced using;
𝑭𝒀
𝑅= 𝐹𝑌2 + 𝐹𝑋2
𝐹𝑌
θ= tan−1
θ 𝐹𝑋

𝑭𝑿
Worked Example 1
Determine the resultant force of the two forces, 3N and 4N, that act perpendicular
to one another and find the direction at which it acts.

3N

𝟒𝑵
Solution 1
• The magnitude of the resultant force can be found using;

𝑅= 𝐹𝑌2 + 𝐹𝑋2
𝑅 = 32 + 42
𝑅 = 25
𝑅 = 5𝑁 3N
• The direction that the resultant force acts at is found using;
𝐹𝑌
θ = tan−1
𝐹𝑋 36.870°
3
θ = tan−1
4
θ = 36.870°
𝟒𝑵
Worked Example 2
Determine the horizontal and vertical components of the force if the resultant force
has a magnitude of 20N and acts at a direction of 60° from the horizontal.

𝑭𝒀

60°

𝑭𝑿
Solution 2

• The horizontal component of the resultant force can be

determined using;

𝐹𝑋 = 𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑠(θ)
𝐹𝑋 = 20𝑐𝑜𝑠(60)
𝐹𝑋 = 10N
17.312N

• The vertical component of the resultant force can be

determined using;
𝐹𝑌 = 𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛(θ)
60°
𝐹𝑌 = 20𝑠𝑖𝑛(60)
𝐹𝑌 = 17.321N 10N
Worked Example 3
Determine the resultant force, R, and the direction at which it acts,θ.

25N

𝟒𝟓𝑵
Solution 3
• The magnitude of the resultant force can be found using;

𝑅= 𝐹𝑌2 + 𝐹𝑋2
𝑅 = 252 + 452
𝑅 = 2650
𝑅 = 51.478𝑁 25N
• The direction that the resultant force acts at is found using;
𝐹𝑌
θ = tan−1
𝐹𝑋 29.055°
25
θ = tan−1
45
θ = 29.055°
𝟒𝟓𝑵
Exercise 1
1. A force, F, of 35N acts at 37° to the horizontal. Find the horizontal and vertical components of
this force.
2. A force, F, acts at 75° to the horizontal. If the horizontal component of this force is 1.5kN,
determine the value of F.
3. A force, F, acts at 15° to the horizontal. If the vertical component of this force is 75N,
determine the value of F.
4. A horizontal force of 5N act perpendicularly to a 12N force. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant relative to the 5N force.
5. A force, F, of 230N acts at 67° to the horizontal. Find the horizontal component of this force.
6. A force, F, of 230N acts at 67° to the horizontal. Find the vertical component of this force.
7. A force, F, acts at 25° to the horizontal. If the vertical component of this force is 7kN,
determine the value of F
8. A force, F, acts at 42.5° to the horizontal. If the horizontal component of this force is 9kN,
determine the value of F
Worked Example 4
1. Find 𝐴𝑋 and 𝐴𝑌 if A is at 90 from the
horizontal.
2. Find 𝐵𝑋 and 𝐵𝑌 if B is at 60 from the
horizontal.
3. Find 𝐶𝑋 and 𝐶𝑌 if C is at 15 from the
horizontal. A - 150N
4. Find 𝐷𝑋 and 𝐷𝑌 if D is at 0 from the horizontal.
5. Find the total horizontal component of the
forces.
6. Find the total vertical component of the forces.
7. The total resultant force.
D - 150𝑵
8. Find the angle at which the resultant acts.
Solution 4
1) 𝐴𝑋 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ 𝐴𝑌 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 7)
𝐴𝑋 = 150𝑐𝑜𝑠 90 𝐴𝑌 = 150𝑠𝑖𝑛 90 𝑅= 𝑅𝑋2 + 𝑅𝑌2
𝐴𝑋 = 0 𝐴𝑌 = 150𝑁 𝑅 = 564.7782 + 444.1522
2) 𝐵𝑋 = 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ 𝐵𝑌 = 𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 𝑅 = 718.485𝑁
𝐵𝑋 = 250𝑐𝑜𝑠 60 𝐵𝑌 = 250𝑠𝑖𝑛 60 8) 𝑅𝑌
𝐵𝑋 = 125𝑁 𝐵𝑌 = 216.506𝑁 tan θ =
𝑅𝑋
3) 𝐶𝑋 = 𝐶𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ 𝐶𝑌 = 𝐶𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 444.152
𝐶𝑋 = 300𝑐𝑜𝑠 15 𝐶𝑌 = 300𝑠𝑖𝑛 15 tan θ =
564.778
𝐶𝑋 = 289.778𝑁 𝐶𝑌 = 77.646𝑁 444.152
4) 𝐷𝑋 = 𝐷𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ 𝐷𝑌 = 𝐷𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ θ = tan−1
564.778
𝐷𝑋 = 150𝑐𝑜𝑠 0 𝐷𝑌 = 150𝑠𝑖𝑛 0 θ = 38.182°
𝐷𝑋 = 150𝑁 𝐷𝑌 = 0
5) 𝑅𝑋 = 𝐴𝑋 + 𝐵𝑋 + 𝐶𝑋 + 𝐷𝑋 A - 150N
𝑅𝑋 = 0 + 125 + 289.778 + 150
𝑅𝑋 = 564.778𝑁
6) 𝑅𝑌 = 𝐴𝑌 + 𝐵𝑌 + 𝐶𝑌 + 𝐷𝑌
𝑅𝑌 = 150 + 216.506 + 77.646 + 0
𝑅𝑌 = 444.152𝑁
D - 150𝑵
Worked Example 5

1. Find 𝐸𝑋 and 𝐸𝑌 if E is at 0 from the horizontal.

2. Find 𝐹𝑋 and 𝐹𝑌 if F is at 40 from the horizontal.
3. Find 𝐺𝑋 and 𝐺𝑌 if G is at 20 from the
horizontal.
4. Find 𝐻𝑋 and 𝐻𝑌 if H is at 90 from the
horizontal.
5. Find the total horizontal component of the E - 35N
forces.
6. Find the total vertical component of the forces. H - 25𝑵
7. The total resultant force.
8. Find the angle at which the resultant acts.
Solution 5
1) E𝑋 = E𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ E𝑌 = E𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 7)
E𝑋 = −35𝑐𝑜𝑠 0 E𝑌 = −35𝑠𝑖𝑛 0 𝑅= 𝑅𝑋2 + 𝑅𝑌2
E𝑋 = −35N E𝑌 = 0𝑁 𝑅 = 73.7792 + 32.7912
2) F𝑋 = F𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ F𝑌 = F𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 𝑅 = 80.738𝑁
F𝑋 = 50𝑐𝑜𝑠 40 F𝑌 = 50𝑠𝑖𝑛 40 8) 𝑅𝑌
F𝑋 = 38.302𝑁 F𝑌 = 32.139𝑁 tan θ =
𝑅𝑋
3) G𝑋 = G𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ G𝑌 = G𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ 32.791
G𝑋 = 75𝑐𝑜𝑠 20 G𝑌 = 75𝑠𝑖𝑛 20 tan θ =
73.779
G𝑋 = 70.477𝑁 G𝑌 = 25.652𝑁 32.791
4) H𝑋 = H𝑐𝑜𝑠 θ H𝑌 = H𝑠𝑖𝑛 θ θ = tan−1
73.779
H𝑋 = −25𝑐𝑜𝑠 90 H𝑌 = −25𝑠𝑖𝑛 90 θ = 23.963°
H𝑋 = 0𝑁 H𝑌 = −25N
5) 𝑅𝑋 = E𝑋 + F𝑋 + G𝑋 + H𝑋 E - 35N
𝑅𝑋 = −35 + 38.302 + 70.477 + 0
𝑅𝑋 = 73.779𝑁
H - 25𝑵
6) 𝑅𝑌 = E𝑌 + F𝑌 + G𝑌 + H𝑌
𝑅𝑌 = 0 + 32.139 + 25.652 − 25
𝑅𝑌 = 32.791𝑁
Moments
• A moment is the tendency of a force on a body to produce a rotary motion about
a point.
• Equation – Moment = Force x Perpendicular Distance

Where; 𝑴 = 𝑭 × ⦜𝒅
• M = Moment, Nm
• F = Force, N
• ⦜d = Perpendicular Distance, m

• Equilibrium is achieved when the total clockwise (CW) moment is equal to the
total anticlockwise (ACW) moment.
Worked Example 6
If a mass of 30Kg pushes on the end of a lever which has a length of 150mm then
what is the resultant moment about the centre of the shaft?
Solution 6

𝑭 = 𝒎𝒂
𝑭 = 𝟑𝟎 × 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏
𝑭 = 𝟐𝟗𝟒. 𝟑𝑵

𝑴 = 𝑭 × ⦜𝒅
𝑴 = 𝟐𝟗𝟒. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟓𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑
𝑴 = 𝟒𝟒. 𝟏𝟒𝟓𝑵𝒎
Exercise 2
Using the following diagrams, calculate the moments generated from the forces
and state whether they are CW or ACW.
Exercise 3
If the moments generated in both the cases below equate to 12Nm, then
determine if the moment is CW or ACW and calculate the force exerted.

If the moments generated in both the cases below equate to 6Nm, then determine
the perpendicular distance that the force is acting at from the pivot.
Worked Example 7
1. Find the magnitude and direction of 150N
450N
the resultant. 0.3m
2. Find the magnitude and direction of
0.1m
the equilibrant, if the equilibrant is
the vector that would exactly cancel
the resultant.
3. Calculate each individual moments.
4. Find the resulting moment.
5. Find the perpendicular distance of
300N
the resulting moment.
250N
Solution 7
1) 𝑅𝑋 = 450 − 300 = 150𝑁 3) 𝑀450 = 450 × 0.3 = 135𝑁𝑚
𝑅𝑌 = 250 − 150 = 100𝑁 𝑀150 = 150 × 0.3 = 45𝑁𝑚
150N
450N
𝑀300 = 300 × 0.3 = 90𝑁𝑚
𝑀250 = 250 × 0.3 = 75𝑁𝑚 0.3m
𝑅= 𝑅𝑋2 + 𝑅𝑌2

𝑅 = 1502 + 1002 0.1m

𝑅 = 180.278𝑁 4) 𝑀𝑇 = 135 + 45 + 90 + 75 = 345𝑁𝑚

𝑅𝑌
tan θ = 5) 𝑀 = 𝐹 × ⦜𝑑
𝑅𝑋
𝑀𝑇 = 𝑅 × ⦜𝑑
100
tan θ = 345 = 180.278 × ⦜𝑑
150 345
100 ⦜𝑑 =
θ = tan−1 180.278
150 ⦜𝑑 = 1.914𝑚
θ = 33.690
2) 𝐸=𝑅
300N
𝐸 = 180.278𝑁
250N
θ = 33.690 + 180
θ = 213.690°
Worked Example 8
30N
40N
1. Find the magnitude and direction of 0.3m
the resultant.
0.1m
2. Find the magnitude and direction of
the equilibrant, if the equilibrant is
the vector that would exactly cancel
the resultant.
3. Find the perpendicular distance.
between the resultant and the pivot.
20N ∠ 30°
50N ∠ 70°
 Solution 8
1) Split up forces into 𝑅𝑋 = 40 + 17.101 − 17.320 2) 𝐸=𝑅
horizontal and vertical 𝑅𝑋 = 39.781𝑁 𝐸 = 34.284𝑁
components;
𝑜𝑝𝑝
𝐹𝑌 = sin(70) = 𝑅𝑌 = 46.985 + 10 − 30 θ = 29.697 + 180
50
𝐹𝑌 = 50 sin 70 = 𝑜𝑝𝑝 𝑅𝑌 = 26.985𝑁 θ = 209.697°
𝐹𝑌 = 46.985𝑁
𝑎𝑑𝑗 3) 𝑀30 = 30 × 0.3 = 9𝑁𝑚
𝐹𝑋 = cos(70) =
50 𝑅= 𝑅𝑋2 + 𝑅𝑌2 𝑀40 = 40 × 0.3 = 12𝑁𝑚
𝐹𝑋 = 50cos(70) = 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝑀50𝑥 = −17.101 × 0.05 = −0.855𝑁𝑚
𝑅 = 39.7812 + 26.9852
𝐹𝑋 = 17.101𝑁 𝑀20𝑥 = 17.320 × 0.3 = 5.196𝑁𝑚
𝑅 = 34.284𝑁
𝑜𝑝𝑝 𝑀50𝑦 = 46.985 × 0.3 = 14.087𝑁𝑚
𝐹𝑌 = sin(30) = 𝑀20𝑦 = −10 × 0.05 = −0.5𝑁𝑚
20 𝑅𝑌
𝐹𝑌 = 20 sin 30 = 𝑜𝑝𝑝 tan θ =
𝑅𝑋
𝐹𝑌 = 10𝑁 𝑀𝑇 = 9 + 12 − 0.855 + 5.196 + 14.087 − 0.5
𝑎𝑑𝑗 26.985
𝐹𝑋 = cos(30) = tan θ = 𝑀𝑇 = 38.928𝑁𝑚
20 39.781
𝐹𝑋 = 20cos(30) = 𝑎𝑑𝑗 26.985 𝑀 = 𝐹 × ⦜𝑑 345
𝐹𝑋 = 17.320𝑁 θ = tan−1 ⦜𝑑 =
39.781 𝑀𝑇 = 𝑅 × ⦜𝑑 180.278
θ = 29.697° 345 = 180.278 × ⦜𝑑 ⦜𝑑 = 1.914𝑚
 Extension Task

Find the magnitude and direction

of the resultant force.

Find the perpendicular distance

between the resultant force and
the pivot.