revision

Equilibrium
Vectors & Combining Forces
Force resolution
Unknown force
Moment of a force

statics
Force is a vector having both magnitude and
direction as well as a point of application.
Free Body Diagrams
Vector Diagrams
20
Wind Fw = 20
kN

10
Scale 1 mm 1
kN
Weight Fsw = 10
kN

Force
From Newtons second law of motion
force mass acceleration
1 newton force to accelerate1 kg at 1 m/s 2

On earth the force exerted by a mass of 1 kg is:

force 1 g 9.81 N
N.B. On earth g varies a bit

N and kN
As a Newton is relatively small (the force

exerted on earth by a stationary apple) we

tend to use kilonewtons (1kN = 1000 N)

equilibrium of forces
Equal in magnitude
Opposite in direction
Co-linear
F1 = 10 kN
F 1= 10 kN

F2 = 10 kN
F2 = 10 kN

F1 = 10 kN
F2 = 10 kN

resultants of forces
Resultant and Equilibrant

F1 = 10 kN
F2= 10 kN

vector diagrams (all

forces kN)
15
45 kN

10 kN

10
kN

10 kN

1
0

10
kN

10
kN

1
0
1
0

15
45 kN

1
5

1
0

45
10
kN

1
0
1
0

5 kN

1
5

Scale 10 mm 1
kN

problems
x

15
kN

15
kN
20
kN

60
45

60

10
kN

15
kN

20
kN
15
kN

60

10
kN

45
30
kN

45

15
kN
x

20
kN

45
30
10
kN

20
kN
60

x
30

20
kN

triangle of forces
Three co-planar forces in equilibrium may be

represented by a triangle
Three non-parallel forces in equilibrium must
be concurrent
R1

4m

800
N

R2= ?
kN

800
N
2m

R2

R1 = ? kN
Scale 1 mm 10

non-concurrent forces
F
1

F2
F3
F
1

R1

F2
R

F3

R1

F3

components of forces
V = Fsin and H = Fcos
F = 20
kN
60

60

V = 17.3 kN

V = (20) sin 60 and H = (20) cos 60

V = 17.3 kN and H = 10 kN

H = 10
kN

tabular summation
The vertical component of the resultant = the

sum of vertical components.

The horizontal component of the resultant =

contd. in a spreadsheet
F2 = 15
kN
x

45
30
F1 = 10
kN

F3 = 20
kN
60

positive axes

30
F4 = 20
kN

Force

Value

Components
V (kN)

H (kN)

F1

10

30

5.00

8.66

F2

15

45

-10.61

10.61

F3

20

60

17.32

10.00

F4

20

30

10.00

-17.32

TOTALS

21.71

11.95

resultant

R = 24.78
kN

+ 21.71
kN
61.2

+ 11.95
kN
Feedback from past exam failures The hypotenuse must be bigger than the
other sides regardless of signs.

problem
Calculate the resultant magnitude and

direction
F2 = 20
kN
x

45
60

F1 = 10
kN

F3 = 15
60
kN
30 x
30
F4 = 25
kN

unknown force
equilibrium
Graphically (All forces in kN)
45
F1
=?
x

45

F2
=?
60

100 kN

51.8
x

10
0

73.2

60

Scale 1 mm 1
kN

problem
F3 = ?
x

F2 = 100 kN

30
60

F1 = 80 kN

analytically
Resolve into components and use

simultaneous equations ( see recommended

text)
Sine Rule (see tutorial spreadsheet)
Check last two examples analytically?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle

moments of forces
The moment of a force about any point is

equal to the value of the force multiplied by

the perpendicular distance between the point
and the line of action.

15
kN

contd.
10
kN

30

4m
4m
10
kN

60 60
O

20
kN
2m

4m
4m

resultant of parallel
forces
Magnitude, Direction and Point of application
Taking moments!!
A

F1
x1

x2

F2

F3

x3

Rx F1 x1 F2 x2 F3 x3

problem
Calculate the resultant of the system of forces

shown10
A

kN
3m

15
kN C
4m

12
kN
3m

a) by taking moments about A

b) by taking moments about C

problem
Calculate the magnitude and the line of action

of the resultant above the base of the wall.

100 kN
3m
50 kN
65 kN
3m

2m

Summary

(Static equilibrium for Plane

Structures)
For no movement in the Horizontal direction

H 0
For no movement in the Vertical direction

V 0
For no rotation in the plane

M 0

triangle of forces
Three co-planar forces in equilibrium may be

represented by a triangle
Three non-parallel forces in equilibrium must
be concurrent
R1

4m

800
N

R2= ?
kN

800
N
2m

R2

R1 = ? kN
Scale 1 mm 10

resultant of parallel
forces
Magnitude, Direction and Point of application
Taking moments!!
A

F1
x1

x2

F2

F3

x3

Rx F1 x1 F2 x2 F3 x3