Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Bayombong Campus

DEGREE PROGRAM BSCE COURSE NO. N145/N155/N165/N177

SPECIALIZATION CEM/SE/TE/WRE COURSE TITLE Statics of Rigid Bodies
YEAR LEVEL 2nd TIME FRAME 3 WK NO. 3-4 IM NO. 3

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

Basic Operations with Force Systems

II. LESSON TITLE

1. Forces
2. Moments
3. Couples

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

1. Forces
a. Principles
b. Co-Planar
c. Co-Spatial
2. Moments
a. Varignon’s Theorem
3. Couples

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. To study the effects of forces on particles and rigid bodies.

V. LESSON CONTENT

1. Forces
- Force is the term assigned to mechanical interaction between bodies. A force can affect both the
motion and the deformation of the body on which it acts. Forces may arise from direct contact
between bodies, or they may be applied at a distance (such as gravitational attraction). Contact
forces are distributed over a surface area of the body, whereas forces acting at a distance are
distributed over the volume of the body. Sometimes the area over which a contact force is applied
is so small that it may be approximated by a point, in which case the force is said to be
concentrated at the point of contact. The contact point is also called the point of application of the
force. The line of action of a concentrated force is the line that passes through the point of
application and is parallel to the force.

- Force is a fixed vector, because one of its characteristics (in addition to its magnitude and
direction) is its point of application. As proof, consider
the three identical bars on the figure beside; each
loaded with a force of magnitude “P”. The First bar (a)
is under tension, the second (b) under compression.
But on (c) where the forces are acting on point A,
produces no deformation. Note that the forces in all
three cases have the same line of action and the
same zero resultant; only the points of application
are different. Therefore, we conclude that the point of
application is a characteristic of a force, as far as
deformation is concerned.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021
- If the bar is rigid, however, there will be no observable differences in the behavior of the three
bars in the Figure. In other words, the external effects* of the three loadings are identical. It follows
that if we are interested only in the external effects, a force can be treated as a sliding vector. It
is also known as the “Principle of Transmissibility”.

Principle of Transmissibility – A force may be moved anywhere along its line of action without changing
its external effects on a rigid body.

- As further illustration of the principle, consider the rigid block

shown in the figure. The block is subjected to three forces, P,
Q, and R each with magnitude of 20 N. Only P and Q would
produce identical external effects because they have the
same line of action. Because S has a different line of action,
its external effect would be different.

Principles of Reduction of Concurrent Force Systems – A

method for replacing a system of concurrent force with a single equivalent force.

Consider the forces F1, F2, F3, . . . acting on the rigid body in (a) (for convenience, only three of the
forces are shown). All the forces are concurrent at point O. (Their lines of action intersect at O.) These
forces can be reduced to a single, equivalent force by the following two steps.

1. Move the forces along their lines of action to the point of concurrency O, as indicated in Figure (b).
According to the Principle of Trans., this operation does not change the external effects on the body.
Therefore, the force systems in Figure (a) and (b) are equivalent.

2. With the forces now at the common point O, compute their resultant R from the vector sum:

𝑹 = 𝜮𝑭 = 𝑭𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐 + 𝑭𝟑 … . 𝑭𝒏

When evaluating the equation, any of the graphical or analytical methods for vector addition discussed
in Chapter 1 may be used. If rectangular components are chosen, the equivalent scalar equations for
determining the resultant force R are:

𝑅𝑥 = 𝛴𝐹𝑥 𝑅𝑦 = 𝛴𝐹𝑦 𝑅𝑧 = 𝛴𝐹𝑧

Note that there are three scalar equations are required to determine the resultant force for a concurrent
system of forces, or that the force is in Spatial condition. But if the original forces lie in a common plane,
like xy-plane, the equation Rz yields no independent information and the following two equations are
necessary to determine the resultant force or the force is only Co-planar.

𝑅𝑥 = 𝛴𝐹𝑥 𝑅𝑦 = 𝛴𝐹𝑦

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021
Sample Problem 1:

Determine the resultant of the three concurrent forces shown in Figure.

Solution:

Because the three forces are concurrent at point A, they may be added
immediately to obtain the resultant force R.

𝑅𝑥 = 𝛴𝐹𝑥 , → +, 𝑅𝑥 = 30 − 5 = 25 𝑁
𝑅𝑦 = 𝛴𝐹𝑦 , ↑ + 𝑅𝑦 = 40 + 4.88 − 60 = −11.34 𝑁

The signs in these equations indicate that Rx acts to the right and Ry acts
downward. The resultant force R is shown in (c). Note that the magnitude
of the resultant is 27.5N and it acts though point A (the original point of
concurrency at the 24.4 angle shown.

𝑹𝟐 = 𝑅𝑥 2 + 𝑅𝑦 2 = 252 + (−11.34)2 = 27.5

The foregoing solution could also have been accomplished using vector notation. The forces would first
be written in vector form as follows,
F1 = 30i + 40j N
F2 = −5i + 8.66j N
F3 = −60j N

and the resultant force R would then be determined from the vector equation

R = 𝛴F = F1 + F2 + F3
R = (30i + 40j) + (−5i + 8.66j) + (−60j)
R = 25i − 11.34j N

Sample Problem 2

Three ropes are attached to the post at A in Figure (a). The

forces in the ropes are F1 = 260 lb, F2 = 75 lb, and F3 = 60
lb. Determine the magnitude of the force R that is equivalent
to the three forces shown.

The forces are concurrent at point A and thus may be added

immediately. Because the forces do not lie in a coordinate
plane, it is convenient to use vector notation. One method for
expressing each of the forces in vector notation is to use the
form F = Fλ, where λ is the unit vector in the direction of the force F.

𝑨𝑩 −3 𝑖 − 12 𝑗 + 4𝑘
𝑭𝟏 = 260𝜆𝐴𝐵 = 260 = 𝟐𝟔𝟎 = −𝟔𝟎𝒊 − 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝒋 + 𝟖𝟎𝒌 𝑙𝑏
𝐴𝐵 13
𝑨𝑪 −3 𝑖 − 4 𝐾
𝑭𝟐 = 260𝜆𝐴𝐶 = 75 = 𝟕𝟓 = −𝟒𝟓 𝒊 + 𝟔𝟎𝒌 𝑙𝑏
𝐴𝐶 5

𝑭𝟑 = −60𝒋 𝑙𝑏

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021

The resultant force is given by:

R = 𝛴F = F1 + F2 + F3
= (−𝟔𝟎𝒊 − 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝒋 + 𝟖𝟎𝒌) + (−𝟒𝟓 𝒊 + 𝟔𝟎𝒌 ) + (−𝟔𝟎𝒋)
= -105i – 300j + 140k lb
The magnitude of R is
R2 = (−105)2 + (−300)2 + (140)2
R = 347.3 lb
Sample Problem 3:

The cable and boom shown in Fig. P-308 support a load of 600 lb. Determine the tensile force T in the
cable and the compressive for C in the boom.

2. Moment - is the measure of the capacity or ability of the force

to produce twisting or turning effect about an axis. This axis is
perpendicular to the plane containing the line of action of the force.
The magnitude of moment is equal to the product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the force. The
intersection of the plane and the axis is commonly called the moment
center, and the perpendicular distance from the moment center to the line
of action of the force is called moment arm.

For moments, counterclockwise directions are positive.

From the figure above, O is the moment center and d is the moment
arm. The moment M of force F about point O is equal to the product of F and d.
M=F*d

Also it is known as the Varignon’s Theorem.

Varignon’s Theorem – The moment of a force is equal to the sum of the moments of its components
about that point.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021
Sample Problem 1

In Fig. P-226 assuming counterclockwise moments as positive, compute the

moment of force F = 200 kg and force P = 165 kg about points A, B, C, and D.

Solution: (Fh = Fx; Fv = Fy)

Sample Problem 2

Two forces P and Q pass through a point A which is 4 m to the right of and 3 m above a moment center
O. Force P is 890 N directed up to the right at 30° with the horizontal and force Q is 445 N directed up to
the left at 60° with the horizontal. Determine the moment of the resultant of these two forces with respect
to O.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021

3. Couples - Couple is a system of forces whose magnitude of the resultant is zero and yet has
a moment sum. Geometrically, couple is composed of two equal forces that are parallel to each other
and acting in opposite direction. The magnitude of the couple is given by

C=F*d

Where F are the two forces and d is the moment arm, or the perpendicular distance between the forces.

Couple is independent of the moment center; thus, the effect is unchanged in the following conditions.

• The couple is rotated through any angle in its plane.

• The couple is shifted to any other position in its plane.
• The couple is shifted to a parallel plane.
In a case where a system is composed entirely of couples in the same plane or parallel planes, the resultant is
a couple whose magnitude is the algebraic sum of the original couples.

Sample Problem 1

Refer to Fig. 2-24a. A couple consists of two vertical forces of 60 lb each. One force acts up through A
and the other acts down through D. Transform the couple into an equivalent couple having horizontal forces
acting through E and F. Solution:

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021

Sample Problem 2

Determine the resultant moment about point A of the system of

forces shown in Fig. P-246. Each square is 1 ft on a side.

Solution:

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1.

VII. ASSIGNMENT

1. The magnitudes of the three forces applied to the eye bolt are shown in Figure P2.3. Replace these
forces with a single equivalent force R. Show the result on a sketch of the eye bolt.
2. Determine P and ϴ, so that the resultant is R = 85i + 20j kN. (Figure P2.4)
3. The force R is the resultant of the forces, acting on the plate. Find P1 and P2, if R = 40 kN and P3 =
20kN (Figure P2.10)
4. Determine the moments of Q about point O; and point C. The magnitude of Q is 20 lb. (Figure P2.39)
5. Express F1, F2, and F3, as Cartesian/Rectangular vectors. And Find its Resultant Vector. (Figure
P2.40)
6. Determine the x and y components of each force acting on the gusset plate of a bridge truss. Show
that the resultant force is zero. (Fig. 2.66)
7. Determine Fx, Fy and Fz. (Fig. 2.81)
8. Specify the magnitude and coordinate directions angles of α,β,γ of F1, so that the resultant of the
three forces acting on the bracket is R = -350k lb. Note that F3 lies in the x-y plane.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: MECH1A -1S-2020-2021

VIII. REFERENCES

1. Singer, Ferdinand L., Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics.

2. Beer, Ferdinand P. and Johnson, E. Russel Jr., Mechanics for Engineers.
3. Hibbeler R.C., Engineering Mechanics: Statics
4. Pytel, Andrew and Kiusalaas, Jaan, Understanding Engineering Mechanics: Statics.
5. Mathalino.com

Numbering the IM No.: IM-CCCCCC-1STSEM-2020-2021

Course Number
e.g.:
IM-COURSE NO-SEMESTER-SCHOOL YEAR
IM-MCB180-1STSEM-2020-2021

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