Vector example Problem Solving

Example 1

The Resultant of two Forces in a plane is 400N at 120deg. One of the Force is 200N at 20deg
Determine the Missing Force.

400.00N 400.00N

120.0deg 120.0deg

20.0deg

200.00N

400.00N
400.00N
F 120.0deg
120deg
F 60deg

20.0deg 20deg
20deg

200.00N
200.00N

F^2 = 400^2 + 200^2 -2 (400)(200) Cos (80)

F^2 = 172216.3
F= 414.99N
400.00N
414.99N 400.00N
F Sin 80 Sin ϴ
80deg
ϴ Sin ϴ = 0.949236
ϴ= 71.7deg
200.00N
 Example 2

Determine the Resultant of the following Coplanar Sysytem of Forces

F1 = 116.00N 10deg
F2 = 173.50N 114deg
F3 = 280.00N 183deg
F4 = 253.60N 261deg

116Sin10
116.00N 116Sin10 = 20.14N 116.00N
10deg 116Cos10 = 114.24N 10deg

116Cos10
173.5Sin114
173.50N 173.50N

173.5Sin114 = 158.50N
114deg 173.5Cos114 = -70.57N
114deg

173.5Cos114
183deg 183deg

280Cos183

280.00N 280.00N
280Sin183
280Sin183 = -14.65N
30.00N 280Cos183 = -279.62N

261deg 261deg
253.6Cos261

253.6Sin261 = -250.48N
253.6Cos261 = -39.67N
253.60N
253.6Sin261

253.60N

Rx = 114.24-70.57-279.62-39.67 = -275.62N
Ry = 20.14 + 158.5-14.65-250.48 = -86.49N
 Rx

R Ry

Ry
tan𝛼 =
Rx
-86.49N
tan𝛼 = 0.3138
-275.62N

𝛼= 17.4deg

ϴ= 180+ 17.4 = 197.4deg

R= Sqrt[-86.49^2) + (-275.62^2)]

R= 288.87N

Rx = -275.62N ϴ
288.87Cosϴ = -275.62N
𝛼

Ry = 288.87N
-86.49N 288.87Sinϴ = -86.49N
Example 3

In the figure. The x,y,z edges of a rectangular parallelepiped are 4,3 and 2m respectively.
If the diagonal OP drawn from the origin represents a 50N force, determine the x,y and z components
of the force. Express the force as a vector in terms of the unit vectors i,j and k.

y j
P = 50.00N

i
P k
3m
0
2m x

4m
z

Solution:
Let ϴx The angle between the diagonal OP and x Axis
ϴy The angle between the diagonal OP and y Axis
ϴz The angle between the diagonal OP and z Axis

1. Calculate the Length OP

0P = Sqrt[ (x^2) + (y^2) + (z^2) ]= Sqrt[ (4^2) + (3^2) + (2^2) ]= 5.385m

4m
Cos ϴx = 0.742781
5.385m
3m
Cos ϴy = 0.557086
5.385m
2m
Cos ϴz = 0.371391
5.385m

2. Determine the components in each of the axes

Px = 50Cos ϴx = 37.14N

Py = 50Cos ϴy = 27.85N

Pz = 50Cos ϴz = 18.57N

The Vector P = 37.14i + 27.85j + 18.57k

z
Problem 4
Determine the x,y and z components of a 100N force from the origin through point (2-4,1)
Express the vector in terms of the unit vectors I,j,k .

y j
F = 100.00N
0 x
i
k
z -4m

1m
P
2m

Solution:
Let ϴx The angle between the diagonal OP and x Axis
ϴy The angle between the diagonal OP and y Axis
ϴz The angle between the diagonal OP and z Axis

1. Calculate the Length OP

0P = Sqrt[ (x^2) + (y^2) + (z^2) ]= Sqrt[ (2^2) + (-4^2) + (1^2) ]= 4.583m

2m
Cos ϴx = 0.436436
4.583m
-4m
Cos ϴy = -0.872872
4.583m
1m
Cos ϴz = 0.218218
4.583m

2. Determine the components in each of the axes

Px = 100Cos ϴx = 43.64N

Py = 100Cos ϴy = -87.29N

Pz = 100Cos ϴz = 21.82N

The Vector P = 43.64i + -87.29j + 21.82k

y
F = 100.00N
0 x

P
Problem 5

The Force vector F shown acts through on the origin. What is the magnitude of this force
and what angles does it make with the x,y, and z axes?
j
Fx = 2.63i
Fy = 4.28j
Fz = -5.92k i
k
F= 2.63i + 4.28-5.92k

Solution:
Let ϴx The angle between the diagonal OP and x Axis
ϴy The angle between the diagonal OP and y Axis
ϴz The angle between the diagonal OP and z Axis

1. Calculate the Length of F

F= Sqrt[ (2.63^2) + (4.28^2) + (-5.92^2) ]= 7.764m

2.63m
Cos ϴx = 0.338737 ϴx = 70.20deg
7.764m
4.28m
Cos ϴy = 0.551253 ϴy = 56.55deg
7.764m
-5.92m
Cos ϴz = -0.762481 ϴz = 139.68deg
7.764m

Example 6

Find the Dot Product of P and Q

j

Px = 4.83i Qx = -2.81i
Py = -2.33j Qy = -6.09j i
pz = 5.47k Qz = 1.12k k

P= 4.83i-2.33j + 5.47k N Q= -2.81i-6.09j + 1.12k m

P. Q = [(4.83)(-2.81) + (-2.33)(-6.09) + (5.47)(1.12)] = 6.74N.m