Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Resultant of Coplanar Force Systems
Resultant Force – a single force obtained by combining a system

of forces on a rigid body. It has the same effect on the rigid body
as the original system of forces.
The equations involving the resultant of force system are the
following:
𝑹𝒙 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭𝒙𝟏 + 𝑭𝒙𝟐 + 𝑭𝒙𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑭𝒙𝒏
𝑹𝒚 = 𝜮𝑭𝒚 = 𝑭𝒚𝟏 + 𝑭𝒚𝟐 + 𝑭𝒚𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑭𝒚𝒏
𝑹𝒛 = 𝜮𝑭𝒛 = 𝑭𝒛𝟏 + 𝑭𝒛𝟐 + 𝑭𝒛𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝑭𝒛𝒏
Resultant of Coplanar Concurrent Force System
The line of action of each forces in coplanar concurrent force
system are on the same plane. All of the forces meet at a common
point, thus concurrent. In x-y plane, the resultant can be found by
the following formulas:
𝑹𝒙 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙
𝑹𝒚 = 𝜮𝑭𝒚
𝑹= 𝑹𝒙 𝟐 + 𝑹𝒚 𝟐
𝑹𝒚
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽𝒙 =
𝑹𝒙
Example 1: Three ropes are
tied to a small metal ring. At
the end of each rope three
students are pulling, each
trying to move the ring in
their direction. If we look
down from above, the forces
and directions they are
applying are shown in the
figure. Find the net force on
the ring due to the three
applied forces.
Example 2: Three vectors A, B and
C are shown in the figure. Find one
vector (magnitude and direction) that
will have the same effect as the three
vectors shown.
Example 3: From the figure shown,
P is directed at an angle 𝜶 from the
x-axis and the 200 N force is acting
at a slope of 5 vertical to 12
horizontal.
a. Find P and 𝛼 if the resultant is
500 N to the right along the x-
axis.
b. Find P and 𝛼 if the resultant is
500 N upward to the right with a
slope of 3 horizontal to 4 vertical.
c. Find P and 𝛼 if the resultant is
zero.
Example 4: Forces F, P and T are
concurrent and acting in the direction
as shown.
a. Find the value of F and 𝛼 if T =
450 N, P = 250 N, 𝛽 = 30°, and
the resultant is 300 N acting up
along the y-axis.
b. Find the value of F and 𝛼 if T =
450 N, P = 250 N, 𝛽 = 30°, and
the resultant is zero.
c. Find the value of 𝛼 and 𝛽 if T =
450 N, P = 250 N, F = 350 N, and
the resultant is zero.
Resultant of Coplanar Parallel Force System
Parallel forces can be in the
same or in opposite
directions. The sign of the
direction can be chosen
arbitrarily, meaning, taking
one direction as positive
makes the opposite direction
negative. The complete
definition of the resultant is
according to its magnitude,
direction, and the line of 𝑹 = 𝜮𝑭 = 𝑭𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐 + 𝑭𝟑 + ⋯ 𝑭𝒏
action. 𝑹𝒅 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭𝟏 𝒙𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐 𝒙𝟐 + 𝑭𝟑 𝒙𝟑 + ⋯ 𝑭𝒏 𝒙𝒏
Resultant of Distributed Loads
Rectangular Load
𝑹 = 𝒘𝒐 𝑳
Triangular Load
𝟏
𝑹 = 𝒘𝒐 𝑳
𝟐
Rectangular Load
𝟏
𝑹 = 𝒘𝒐𝟏 𝑳 + 𝒘𝒐𝟐 − 𝒘𝒐𝟏 𝑳
𝟐
Example 1: A parallel force system acts on the lever shown. Determine
the magnitude and position of the resultant.
Example 2: The beam AB in the figure supports a load which varies an
intensity of 220 N/m to 890 N/m. Calculate the magnitude and position
of the resultant load.
Example 3: Locate the amount and position of the resultant of the loads
acting on the Fink Truss.
Resultant of Coplanar Non-concurrent Force System
The resultant of non-concurrent force system is defined according to
magnitude, inclination, and position.
The magnitude of the resultant The position of the resultant
can be found as follows can be determined according to
the principle of moments.
𝑹𝒙 = 𝜮𝑭𝒙 𝑹𝒚 = 𝜮𝑭𝒚
𝑴𝑹 = 𝜮𝑴𝒐
𝟐 𝟐
𝒊𝒙 = x-intercept of
𝑹= 𝑹𝒙 + 𝑹𝒚 𝑹𝒅 = 𝑴𝑹 the resultant R
The inclination from the 𝑹𝒚 𝒊𝒙 = 𝑴𝑹 𝒊𝒚 = y-intercept of
horizontal is defined by 𝑹𝒙 𝒊𝒚 = 𝑴𝑹 the resultant R
𝑹𝒚
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽𝒙 =
𝑹𝒙
Example 1: Determine the resultant of the force systems shown and its
x and y intercepts.
Example 2: Completely determine the resultant with respect to point O
of the force system shown.

Chapter 2

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Chapter 2: Resultant of Coplanar Force Systems

Resultant Force – a single force obtained by combining a system

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