2D Resultant

Two cables are tied together at C and are loaded as

shown. Knowing that α=30o, determine the tension (a)
in cable AC, (b) in cable BC.

=30o
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

1) Draw the Free-body Diagram

Choose point C as the particle and draw the TAC
complete free-body diagram
35o C
6kN
TAC= Tension in cable AC 90o-α=60o
α
TBC= Tension in cable BC
TBC

2) Equilibrium Condition Free-Body Diagram

Because only three forces act on point C, draw

a force triangle to express that it is in 6kN
equilibrium.
35o 60o

TAC TBC
85o

Force Triangle
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

3) Using the law of sines

Law of sines:
AC BC

AC BC 60o 35o 85o

60o 35o 85o

4) Calculate TAC & TBC

(a) TAC o (sin60o) TAC

85

(a) TBC o (sin35o) TBC

85
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

Additional note: Law of Sines and Law of Cosine

3 items of the 6 geometric descriptors (three sides and three

angles) of a triangle are known
When we know: one side and Then, use one side (16.38) to find
opposite angle (Green-colored) A opposite angle (α) (Red-colored) A
α α
10cm 10cm
b b

45o 45o
B C B C
16.38cm 16.38 cm

=
α
2D Resultant
Knowing that α=20o, determine the tension (a) in
cable AC, (b) in rope BC.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

1) Draw the Free-body Diagram

TAC
Choose point C as the particle and draw
the complete free-body diagram 5o
α=20o
TAC= Tension in cable AC C
TBC
TBC= Tension in cable BC
1200 lb
2) Equilibrium Condition Free-Body Diagram

Because only three forces act on point C,

draw a force triangle to express that it is in TBC
equilibrium. 65o
110o

TAC

5o 1200lb

Force Triangle
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

3) Using the law of sines

TBC
Law of sines: 110o
65o

AC BC
110o 5o 65o TAC
1200lb

5o
4) Calculate TAC & TBC

(a) TAC (sin110 o) TAC

65o

(a) TBC (sin5 o) TBC

65o

+
2D Resultant
Two cables are tied together at C and are loaded
as shown. Knowing that P=300N, determine the
tension in cables AC and BC.

There are 4 forces. We should use the X, Y

components.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

1) Draw the Free-body Diagram y

TAC
TBC
Choose point C as the particle and draw 30o 30o
the complete free-body diagram
x
TAC= Tension in cable AC 200 N C 45o
TBC= Tension in cable BC
P

Free-Body Diagram
2) The components of the resultant are zero

+
For P=200N we have, (1)

+
(2)

Solving equations (1) and (2) simultaneously gives, TCA

TCB
2D Resultant
A sailor is being rescued using a boatswain’s chair that is suspended from a pully that can roll
freely on the support cable ACB and is pulled at a constant speed by cable CD. Knowing that
α=30o and β= 10o and that the combined weight of the boatswain’s chair and the sailor is 200
lb, determine the tension (a) in the support cable ACB, (b) in the traction cable CD.

There are 4 forces. We should use the X, Y

components.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

1) Draw the Free-body Diagram y

Choose point C as the particle and draw
TCD
the complete free-body diagram
TACB TACB
30o
TACB= Tension in support cable ACB x 10o

TCD= Tension in traction cable CD 200 lb

Free-Body Diagram
2) The components of the resultant are zero

+
(1)

+
(2)

Substitute (1) into (2):

TACB TCD
2D Resultant
It is known that the maximum allowable tension is
600 N in cable AC and 750 N in cable BC. Determine
(a) the maximum force P that can be applied at C, (b)
the corresponding value of α.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

1) Draw the Free-body Diagram

TAC =600N
Choose point C as the particle and draw
y TBC =600N
the complete free-body diagram
45o C 25o
x
TAC= Tension in cable AC α

TBC= Tension in cable BC

P

2) Equilibrium Condition Free-Body Diagram

Because only three forces act on point C,

draw a force triangle to express that it is in TAC=600 N
135o-αo
equilibrium. 45o
P
25o
αo-25o TBC=750 N
25o

Force Triangle
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

3) Using the law of Cosines

TAC=600 N
Law of Cosines:

P 70o

P=784.02N αo-25o TBC=750 N

4) Using the law of Sines

( o 70o

o o

( o o
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

Additional note: Law of Sines and Law of Cosine

3 items of the 6 geometric descriptors of

a triangle are known
When we know
1 angle and two-sides: Three-sides

6kN 6kN

35o ?
or ?o ?

? 5kN 4kN
5kN ? ?

𝟐 = 𝟐 + 𝟐 – 2·b·c·cosA
2D Resultant
A 600-lb crate is supported by several rope-and-pulley arrangements as shown.
Determine for each arrangement the tension in the rope (Hint: Then tension in the rope is
the same on each side of a simple pulley)
2D Resultant
A 600-lb crate is supported by several rope-and-pulley arrangements as shown.
Determine for each arrangement the tension in the rope (Hint: Then tension in the rope is
the same on each side of a simple pulley)
for a, c, and e
3D Equilibrium
A crate is supported by three cables as shown. Determine the weight W of the crate,
knowing that the tension in cable AD is 924 lb.

Write the x, y, z coordinates of

each point
A (0, -45, 0) in
B (28, 0, 0) in
C (0, 0, -24) in
D (-26, 0, 18)in
3D Equilibrium
A 12-lb circular plate of 7-in. radius is
supported as shown by three wires, each of
25-in. Determine the tension in each wire,
knowing that α=45o .

Writing the x, y, z coordinates of each point is not easy.

Thus, represent the magnitude of each length using 25-in
cosine or sine and use.

+
7-in
+
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

A A
Let be angle between and OB
z
0.28 25-in 24-in x
0.96 B O
7-in
cos
B y
25-in
+ x
O
24-in
cos cos + cos =0 C

=1.414 (1)
7-in
O
+
s + s =0
Substitute (1) into (2):

+ =14.65 (2) TAB=TAC TAD

3D Equilibrium
A container of weight W is suspended from
ring A. Cable BAC passes through the ring
and is attached to fixed supports at B and
C. Two forces P=Pi and Q=Qk are applied
to the ring to maintain the container in the
position shown. Knowing that Q=36 lb,
determine W and Q.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

B(-48,0,-16)

C(24,0,-13)

Free-Body Diagram
A(0,-72,0)
A
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

Treat ring A as a pulley

In Equilibrium

+ (1)

+ (2)

+ (3)

=102.6lb
Use Q=36 lb and
=24.0lb
=180.0lb
Scalar moments
A tailgate of a car is supported by the hydraulic lift BC. If the lift exerts a 125-lb force
directed along its centerline on the ball and socket at B, determine the moment of the
force about A.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

y 15.3 in
sin(α)
x A

12.0 in
L= 20.96
.
sin(α+θ)=
.
C α 2.33 in
α+θ= 43.1o θ
B

12.0 in
.
sin(θ)=
.

θ= 10.99o

α = 32.1o
sin(32.1o)=1392.26 lb·in
Scalar moments
A tailgate of a car is supported by the hydraulic lift BC. If the lift exerts a 125-lb force
directed along its centerline on the ball and socket at B, determine the moment of the
force about A.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering

y 20.5 in
A
sin(θ) sin(α+β) x 4.38 in
α
L= 20.96 β
B
. 7.62 in
sin(α)= β
. C
17.2 in
α= 12.06o
. .
sin(β)=
. . .

β = 23.89o

sin(35.95o)=1538.14 lb·in
Scalar moments
It is known that the connecting rod AB exerts on the
crank BC a 2.5-kN force directed down and to the left
along the centerline of AB. Determine the moment of the
force about C
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
A

y
144mm
sin(θ) x
B

θ= θ 56mm

C
42mm
tan( )=

16.256o

sin( )=

36.87o

θ
sin(53.126o)=140N·m
Vector moments
The 12-ft boom AB has a fixed end A. A steel cable is stretched from the free end B of the
boom to a point C located on the vertical wall. If the tension in the cable is 380 lb, determine
the moment about A of the force exerted by the cable at B.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Vector moments
A 200-N force is applied as shown to the bracket ABC.
Determine the moment of the force about A.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Vector moments
A farmer uses cables and winch pullers B and E to plumb one side of a small barn.
If it is known that the sum of the moments about the x axis of the forces exerted by
the cables on the barn at points A and D is equal to 4728 lb·ft, determine the
magnitude of TDE when TAB = 255 lb.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Vector moments
A force P of magnitude 520 lb acts on the frame shown at point E. Determine the moment of P
about a line joining points O and D.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Couples
Two 80-N forces are applied as shown to the corners B and D of a rectangular plate. (a)
Determine the moment of the couple formed by the two forces by resolving each force into
horizontal and vertical components and adding the moments of the two resulting couples. (b)
Use the result obtained to determine the perpendicular distance between lines BE and DF.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Couples
Two parallel 60-N forces are applied as shown to the corners A and C of a 200-mm square
plate. Determine the moment of the couple formed by the two forces (a) by multiplying
their magnitude by their perpendicular distance, (b) by resolving each force into horizontal
and vertical components and adding the moments of the two resulting couples.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Couples
A piece of plywood in which several holes are being drilled successively has been secured to a
workbench by means of two nails. Knowing that the drill exerts a 12-N·m couple on the piece
of ply-wood, determine the magnitude of the resulting forces applied to the nails if they are
located (a) at A and B, (b) at B and C, (c) at A and C.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Couples
A crane column supports a 16-kip load as shown. Replace the load with an equivalent system
consisting of an axial force along AB and a couple.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering
Couples
A rectangular plate is acted upon by the force and couple shown. This system is to be replaced
with a single equivalent force. (a) For α = 40°, specify the magnitude and line of action of the
equivalent force. (b) Specify the value of α if the line of action of the equivalent force is to
intersect line CD 300 mm to the right of D.
University of Windsor – Faculty of Engineering