1|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

MODULE 5 – RESULTANT OF CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN SPACE

Description:

This module looks into the equivalent single force of two or more forces and its direction in three-
dimension.

Objectives:

After completing the module, the students are expected to:

1. Establish a better understanding of the components of the force in three-dimension.

2. Solve problems on resultant of Concurrent Force Systems in three-dimension.

Contents:

I. Force defined by its magnitude and the angles it makes with the coordinate axes.
II. Force defined by its magnitude and two points on its line of action.
III. Resultant of Concurrent Forces in Space

Discussion:

I. Force defined by its magnitude and the angles it makes with the coordinate axes.

Fy

F
θy

θx Fx
θz
Fz

Relationship between F and its components FX, FY and FZ:

F2 = Fx2 + Fy2 + Fz2

Relationship between F and its components and the angles it makes with x, y, and z axes:

Fx = F cos θx

Fy = F cos θy

Fz = F cos θz

Relationship
STATICS between
OF RIGID the angles:
BODIES
Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
cos2 θx +ROWEL
1 = By:
Reviewed cos2 θyD.
+ WAJE
cos2 θz
2|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

⚫ Angles θx, θy and θz are measured from the positive x, y and z axes respectively.
⚫ All the angles are adjacent to its respective axis, thus, cos is being use.

Problems:

1. A force of 500N forms angles of 60˚, 45˚ and 120˚ respectively with X, Y, and Z axes. Determine the
components Fx, Fy and Fz.
Figure:

Y 500 N

45°

60°

120°
X
Z

Solution:

Fx = F cos x Fy = F cos y
Fx = 500 cos 60 Fy = 500 cos 45
Fx = 250 N Fy = 353.55 N
Fz = Fcozz
Fz = 500 cos120
Fz = −250 N

2. A force F has the components Fx = 20 N, Fy = - 30 N, and Fz = 60 N. Determine the magnitude

of this force and the angles it forms with the coordinates.

y
θy
Fx = 20N
Fz = 60N
x
θz θx
z
Fy = 30N

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
3|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

Solution:

a. Magnitude of the force, F:

F 2 = Fx 2 + Fy 2 + Fz 2
F 2 = 20 2 + 30 2 + 60 2
F = 70 N

b. Angle it makes with the coordinate axes:

Fx Fy Fz
cos x = cos y = cos z =
F F F
20 − 30 60
cos x = cos y = cos z =
70 70 70
x = 73.40 y = 115.38 z = 31

1 = cos 2 x + cos 2 y + cos 2 z

Checking: 1 = cos 2 73.40 + cos 2 115.38 + cos 2 31
1=1

II. Force defined by its magnitude and two points on its line of action.

Fy

Fx
dy d
dz
Fz dx

Let:

dx = distance between two points along x-axis

dy = distance between two points along y-axis

dz = distance between two points along z-axis

d = diagonal distance

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
4|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

dx = x2 - x1

dy = y2 - y1

dz = z2 - z1

d 2 = dx 2 + dy 2 + dz 2

Fx Fy Fz F
= = =
dx dy dz d

Problem:

1. A tower guy wire is anchored by means of a bolt A. The tension in the wire is 2500N. Determine the
components of this force exerted at the bolt A and the angles θx, θy and θz, defining the direction of
this force.

Y
B (0, 80, 0)

80 m A (30, 0, -
30 m
40)
40 m
X
O

a. Free body diagram at point A

y
Fy
Fx θy
F = 2500N

A
Fz x
θz
z θx

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
5|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

b. Solve for distances:

dx = 0 - 30 = -30m dy = 80 - 0 = 80m dz = 0 - (-40) = 40m

d2 = dx2 + dy2 + dz2

d2 = (-30)2 + (80)2 + (40)2

d = 94.34m

c. Solve for the force multiplier, Fm:

F
Fm =
d
2500
Fm =
94.34
Fm = 26.5 N / m

d. Solve for the components of the force:

F Fx Fy Fz
Fm = = = =
d dx dy dz
Fx Fy Fz
26.5 = = =
− 30 80 40
Fx = −795 N
Fy = 2120 N
Fz = 1060 N

F
F (N) dx (m) dy (m) dz (m) d (m) Fm = Fx (N) Fy (N) Fz (N)
d

2500N -30 80 40 94.34 26.5 -795 2120 1060

e. Angles
Fx Fy Fz
cos x = cos y = cos z =
F F F
− 795 2120 1060
cos x = cos y = cos z =
2500 2500 2500
x = 108.54 y = 32 
z = 64.91

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
6|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

III. Resultant of Concurrent Forces in Space

Rx = Fx
Ry = Fy
Rz = Fz
R 2 = Rx 2 + Ry 2 + Rz 2

Where: R = resultant of the force system

Rx = algebraic sum of all forces along x - axis

Ry = algebraic sum of all forces along y - axis

Rz = algebraic sum of all forces along z - axis

Problems:

1. Determine the magnitude of the resultant and the angles θx, θy and θz which defines the direction of
the resultant.
F1 = 20N (4, 5, -3)

F2 = 40N (-6, 4, -5)

F3 = 30N (4, -2, -3)

Solution:

a.

F
Force (N) dx dy dz d Fm = Fx Fy Fz
d

F1=20 4 5 -3 7.07 2.829N 11.316 14.145 -8.487

F2=40 -6 4 -5 8.77 4.561N -27.366 18.244 -22.805

F3=30 4 -2 -3 5.39 5.566N 22.264 -11.132 -16.698

Σ = 6.214 Σ = 21.257 Σ = - 47.99

Rx = 6.214N Ry = 21.257N Rz = - 47.99N

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
7|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

b. Solve for R:

R 2 = Rx 2 + Ry 2 + Rz 2
R 2 = 6.214 2 + 21.257 2 + (− 47.99 )
2

R = 52.854 N

c. Directions, θ:
6.214
cos x =
52.854
y
x = 83.248
R

θy
21.257
cos y =
θx 52.854
z y = 66.285
θz x

− 47.99
cos z =
52.854
z = 155.227 

2. Knowing that the tension in cable AB = 39 kN, determine the required values of the tension in cable
AC and AD so that the resultant of the three forces is vertical.

Y
A (0, 48, 0)

48 m

C (30, 0, -24)

24 m
30 m X
(-14, 0, 0) D 14 m O
12 m

B (30, 0, 12)
Z

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
8|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

FBD at A:

z x

FAC

FAD
R 39 kN

Given:

Resultant is vertical.

Required:

FAD and FAC

Solution:

a. Solve for d, F/d, Fx, Fy and Fz: (refer to the table below)

dx, dy, dz, F

Force, N d, m Fx Fy Fz
m m m d

39000 30 - 48 12 57.862 674.02 20220.6 -32352.96 8088.24

FAC
FAC 30 - 48 - 24 61.482 0.488FAC -0.78FAC -0.39FAC
61.482

FAD
FAD - 14 - 48 0 50 -0.28FAD -0.96FAD 0
50

b. Given that the resultant, R, is vertical:

R = Ry; Rx = 0; Rz = 0

c. Consider z - components: (Rz = 0)

Rz = ΣFz

Rz = 8088.24 - 0.39 FAC

0 = 8088.24 - 0.39 FAC

FAC = 20739.08N
STATICS OF RIGID BODIES
Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
9|RESULTANT OF C ONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEM IN S PACE

d. Consider x - components: (Rx = 0 and FAC = 20739.08N)

Rx = ΣFx

0 = 20220.6 + 0.488FAC - 0.28FAD

0 = 20220.6 + 0.488 (20739.08) - 0.28FAD

FAD = 108361.68N

References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr,
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

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE