RESULTANT OF

FORCE SYSTEM
LESSON 2
The effect of a system of forces on a body is usually expressed in terms of resultant. The
value of this resultant determines the motion of the body. If the resultant is zero the boy
will be in equilibrium and will not change its original state of motion. If the resultant of a
force system is not zero, the body will have a varying state of motion, thereby creating a
problem in dynamics.
Forces and Components
In engineering, forces are generally at right angles. While the resultant of such forces may
be found graphically, it is not always convenient to do so. It is frequently desirable to
resolve each force into a pair of right angle components for analytical calculation.
Consider force F acts upon a given body. The effect of the force is to move the body rightward
and upward. Choosing these directions as the positive directions of perpendicular X and Y
reference axes, we project the force F upon them to obtain the perpendicular components of
Fx (Fh) and Fy (Fv). The relations between these components and F is determined by the basic
definitions of sine and cosine of the angle Ɵ; sin Ɵ = Fy/F and cos Ɵ = Fx/F or

Fx = F cos Ɵ
Fy = F sin Ɵ.
The components Fx and Fy are considered positive if they set in the positive directions of the X
and Y axes and negative if directed in the negative sense of reference axes. The choice of X
and Y is arbitrary, they may be in any convenient position, and relations given above are
independent of the orientation of the X axis. It is obvious that the magnitude, inclination and
direction of the force can be derived when its rectangular components are known.
F=

tan Ɵx =
 Sample Problem
1. Determine the X and Y components of each of the forces shown.
Given: F1 = 64N @ 53o
F2 – 50 N @ 39.6o
F3 = 8.47 kg downward

Solution

F1x = - 64 cos 53o = - 38.52 N

F1t = + 64 sin 53o = + 51.11 N
F2x = + 50 cos 39.6o = + 38.52 N
F2y = + 50 sin 39.6o = + 31.87 N
F3x = 0
F2y = - 8.47 kg
Resultant of Three or More Concurrent Forces
The determination of the resultant of three or more concurrent forces that are nor collinear
requires determining the sum of three or more vectors. Three are two ways of
accomplishing the addition of three or more vectors: graphically and analytically.
Graphical Method
Sample problem
Find the resultant of the forces graphically
Solution

Connect the force with its exact length tip to toe and resultant can be found by connecting the toe of
the first force to the tip of the last force here toe of force F to tip of force Q where the toe of R is
connected to toe of F and tip of R to tip of Q.
Analytical Method

Sample Problem
Determine the resultant of the concurrent forces shown
Solution

Fx = 300 cos 45o – 200 cos 30o – 400 cos 60o = - 161.3

Fy = 300 sin 45o + 400 sin 60o – 200 sin 30o = 458.4

R = = = 486.kN

tan Ɵ = = = 70.6o
Moment of Force
The moment of force about an axis or line is the measure of its ability to produce turning or
twisting about the axis. The magnitude of the moment of force about an axis which is
perpendicular to a plane containing the line of action of the force is defined as the product of
force and the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force.
M = Fd

where: M – moment of force

F – force
d – moment arm of the force
The axis of moment which is perpendicular to the plane of the force appears at a commonly
called the center of moment. The moment arm of the force becomes the perpendicular
distance from the moment center to the line action of the force. It should always be
remembered that the center of moments is really the intersection of the axis of moments with
the plane of the force.
Another method of defining the moment of force is that the moment is equal to twice the
area of the triangle formed by joining the center of moments with the ends of the force.

M = Area of triangle x 2 = ½ Fd (2) = Fd

Varignon’s Theorem states that the moment of a force is equivalent to the sum of the
moments of its components.

Application

Mo = Fd
Mo = FxY + FyX
Fd = FxY + FyX

where Fx - horizontal component of the force F

Fy – vertical component of the force F
Two force acting at A and B. It is required to determine the location of the resultant from point O.

∑Fx = 20 + 30 = 50 kN
∑Fy = 10 – 4 = 6 kN
R = = = 50.36 kN

Mo = Rd = 50.36d
Mo = 20(6) + 30(2) + 10(4) - 4(8) = 188 kN - m
therefore Mo = 50.36d
188 = 50.36d
d = 3.72 m
Sample Problem
In the figure shown, assuming clockwise moments as positive, compute the moment of force F =
450 kN and of force P = 361 kN about points A, B, C and D.
Solution

For F
MD = 450 cos Ɵ (3) – 450 sin Ɵ (1)

MA = - 450()(3) - 450()(1) = - 1350 kN-m

MB = 450()(3) - 450()(4) = 2160 kN-m

MC = 450()(5) = 1350 kN-m

For P

MA = 361()(2) - 361()(3) = 0

MB = 361() - 361() = - 300 kN-m

MC = - 361()(4) = - 1200 kN-m

MD = 361()(2) + 361()(3) = 1200 kN-m

Resultant of Parallel Forces

A parallel force system is one in which the action lines of all forces are parallel. The resultant
of such system is determined when it is known in magnitude, direction and position. One of
the outstanding differences between a concurrent and parallel force system is that in the
former the position of the resultant is known by inspection while the latter it is not.
Sample Problem

From the given sets of parallel forces shown. Determine

1. the resultant force
2. location of the resultant force from the left support
3. reaction of the left support
Solution

1. Resultant force

∑Fy = 40 + 100 + 60 - 60 -50 = 90 kN

2. Location of resultant force

∑MA = 0
90d = 40(1.5) + 100(6) +60(10.5) – 50(12) – 60(4)
d = 5 m from left support

3. Reaction of left support

∑Mright = 0
12Rr = 90(7)
Rr = 52.5 kN
Couples

When the resultant has zero magnitude but does have a moment is a couple. It can also be
defined as two equal’ parallel oppositely directed forces. The perpendicular distance
between the action lines of the forces is called the moment arm of a couple.

C = Fd
Since the only effect of couple is to produce a moment that is independent of the moment
center, the effect of a couple is unchanged if
1. the couple is rotated through any angle in the plane
2. the couple is shifted to any other position in its plane
3. the couple is shifted to a parallel plane
∑F = 20 + 30 – 10 – 40 = 0

∑MC = -10 x 3 – 30 x 1 + 40 x 3 = + 60 ft-lb

∑MD = -10 x 4 + 30 x 1 + 40 x 2 = + 60 ft-lb

∑MB = - 10 x 6 + 20 x 3 + 30 x 2 = + 60 ft-lb

∑MA = + 10 x 2 – 20 x 5 – 30 x 6 + 40 x 8 = + 60 ft-lb
Sample Problem

The three step pulley shown in the figure is subjected to the given couples. Compute the
value of the resultant couple. Also determine the forces acting at the rim of the middle
pulley that are required to balance the given system.
Solution

Mo = -60(8) + 30(12) – 40(16) = -760 kN-m (counter clockwise)

760 = F(12)

F = 63.3 kN
Resultant of Non-Concurrent Forces

The effect of non-concurrent force system on a body is to give the body a motion consisting
of a combined translation and rotation. The translational effect is determined by the
magnitude of the resultant R whose components are ∑X and ∑Y. The rotational effect is
determined by the moment of the resultant which may be expressed in terms of the applied
forces by R.d = ∑M.
Sample Problem

Determine the resultant of the three forces acting on the dam shown. And locate its
intersection with the base AB for good design, this intersection should occur within the
middle third of the base.
Solution

∑Fy = 0
24000 + 6000 cos 60o = R
R = 27000 kN

MB = Rx
27000x = 24000(11) + 5000(4) – 10000(6)
x = 8.3m within the middle third