COPLANAR FORCES (A/L Combined Mathematics)

(1).Let ABCD be a rhombus with sides of length 2l and BD= 2l. Diagonals of the rhombus meet at the point O.
Forces of magnitude 2p, 6p, 4p, 8p and 6p newtons act along AB, BC, DC, DA and BD respectively, in the directions
indicated by the order of letters. Resolve the system of forces in the directions of

OC

and

OD

, and show

that the line of action of the resultant is parallel to BC.

Also find the moment of the system about O.
If the line of action of the resultant meets AB produced at the point E, show that BE = 2l.
Now, additional forces of magnitudeP,P, p and P newtons are introduced to the system along EB, CE, CA and DC
respectively in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. If the whole system is in equilibrium, find the
values of , and .
(2013-Aug)
(2).The coordinates of the points A, B and c with respect to a rectangular Cartesian axes Ox and Oy are (

(0,-1) and

( 23 3 ,1)

respectively. Forces of magnitude 6P, 4P, 2P and2

,0),

P newtons act along OA, BC, CA

and BD respectively in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. Find the magnitude and the direction of
the resultant of these forces.
Find the point at which the line of action of the resultant cuts the y-axis.
Another force of magnitude 6

P newtons is introduced to the system along AB in the direction indicated by

the order of the letters. Show that the system is reduced to a couple of magnitude 10P newton metre.
(2012-Aug)
(3).The points A, B, C, D, E and f are the vertices of a regular hexagon of side 2a metres taken in the anti-clockwise
sense. Forces of magnitude P, 2P, 3P, 4P, 5P, L, M and N newtons act along AB, CA, FC, DF, ED, BC, FA and FE
respectively, in the sense indicated by the order of the letters.
If
the
system
is
in
equilibrium,
find
L,
M
and
N
in
terms
of
P.
(2011-Aug)
(4). Forces of magnitude 2P,P,2P,3P,2P and P newtons act along the sides AB, BC, CD, ED, EF and AF of a regular
hexagon ABCDEF of side 2a metres, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. Prove that the system is
equivalent to a resultant force of 2

P newtons acting along AC together with a couple of magnitude

Pa newton metres.
If the system is equivalent to a single resultant force, find the point of intersection of the line of action of this
resultant force and FA (produced if necessary).
Hence, find the magnitude and the direction of the single force that should be introduced to the system in order
to keep the system in equilibrium.
(2010-Aug)
(5). ABCDEF is a regular hexagon of which each side of length a metres. Forces P, 3P, 2P and 4P newtons act along
BA, EB, DE and AD respectively, in directions indicated by the order of the letters. Find the magnitude and the
direction of the resultant of the system.
By taking moments about one vertex of the hexagon, also find the line of action of the resultant. What couple in
the plane of the hexagon, added to the system would reduce the system to a single force along

FE

(2009-Aug)
(6). ABCDEF is a regular hexagon of centre O and length of a side a metres. Five forces P,2P,3P,4P and 5P newtons
act along the sides AB, BC, CD, DE, EF respectively in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. Three
new forces Q, R, S newtons acting along the sides AF, FO, OA respectively, of the triangle AFO are added to the
system. Find the values of Q, R, S in terms of P, in order that the combined system is
(i) in equilibrium,
(ii)
(2007-Aug)

equivalent

to

couple

of

moment

Pa

Nm,

in

the

sense

ABC.

(7). The forces aF ,bF aF,bF and cF act along the sides BA, BC, DC, DA and the diagonal BD of a rectangle ABCD, in
the directions indicated by the order of the letters where a=AB, b=BC and c=BD. Show that the system is
equivalent to a single resultant force and find its magnitude, direction and line of action.
If the force along DA is increased up to 2bF keeping the others unchanged, show that the new system is equivalent
to

single

force

aF

acting

along

CD.

(2006-Apr)
(8). Forces of magnitude P,Q,R,P,2P and 3P newtons act along the sides AB, BC, CD, DE, EF and FA of a regular
hexagon ABCDEF of side 2a metres, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. If the system
(i) equivalent to a couple, find Q and R in terms of P and evaluate the couple.
(ii) equivalent to a single resultant force along AD, find Q and R in terms

of

P.

(2005-Apr)
(9). Forces of magnitude 5,6,1 and 2 newtons act along the sides AB, CB, CD and AD of a square ABCD of side 1m
in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. Find the magnitude, direction and the line of action of the

resultant force. Another force of magnitude 4

newtons is added to the system along BD from B to D. Show

that the system is reduced to a couple of magnitude 1Nm.

(2004-Apr)

(10). Forces of magnitude 4,3,2,5 and 6 newtons act along the sides AB, BC, CD, DE and EF of a regular hexagon
ABCDEF of side 2 metres, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. In addition a force of P newtons act
at F at an angle with FC on the Plane of the hexagon.
(i) if the system is reduced only to a couple, evaluate P and and find the couple.
(ii) if the force P is acting along AF and P=7, show that the system reduces to a single resultant force and
find
the

point

at

which

the

line

of

action

cuts

AB

(produced

if

necessary).

(2003- Apr)
(11). Forces of magnitude 4P,5P and 6P newtons act along the sides

AB

BC

and

CA

of a triangle

ABC of which A is a right angle and AB=4a metres and AC=3a metres. Find the magnitude and the direction of the
resultant and also find the point at which the Line of action of the resultant meets AB. Now a couple M is added on
the plane ABC such that the line of action of the new resultant is passing through the point A. Find M and its sense.
(2002-April)
(12). Forces of magnitude P,7P,8P,7P and 3P newtons act along the sides AB, CB, CD, ED and FE of a regular
hexagon ABCDEF of side a metres, in the directions indicated by the order of the letters. By taking i and j as the
unit vectors to the directions

AB

and

AE

respectively, express each force in terms of I,j and P.

Show that the given system is equivalent to the single resultant force R= 2P(I +

j).

W hat is the magnitude of R?

Further show that the line of action of the resultant is passing through the common point of DE and AF (both
produced.
.
(2001-Aug)
(13).A system of coplanar forces(measured in newtons) consists of three forces and they act at the relevant points
as follows.
Point
A
B
C

Position vector
2i + 5j
4j
-i + j

Force
P(i + 3j)
-P(2i + j)
P(I 2j)

Where, i and j are the unit vectors in the directions of OX and OY of the rectangular coordinate axes respectively.

Showing, the relevant coordinates of the points of action, mark these forces in a representative diagram in the
form of components.
Hence or otherwise, show that the system is equivalent to a couple of moment 10P Nm. Denote the sense of the
couple.
D is the point with position vector 2i. The given system can be brought to equilibrium, using three additional
forces which are acting along the respective sides of the triangle OAD and are proportional to the lengths of its
sides. Find these forces, in vector form.

(2000-Aug)
(14). A typical member of a system of n coplanar forces acts at the point

directions of the rectangular axes being

( X r ,Y r )

( xr , yr )

, its components in the

. If the system is equivalent to a single force, show that its

line of action is
n

x r Y r y

( ) ( )
r =1

Yr

x-

r =1

Xr

Xr

y=

r=1

The moment of a given system of forces about the points (2,0), (0,2) and (2,2) are 1, 5 7 units respectively.
Find the magnitude of the resultant force of the system and show that it acts in the line 4x 3y = 9.

(15). ABCD is a square of side 2m. Forces 3N, 2N, 4N, 8N, 5

BC

DC

DA

AC

, and

BD

N and 2

N act along the sides

BA

respectively.

i) For the system to be equilibrium find the magnitude, direction and line of action of the force that needs to
be applied.
ii) Find the force and its line of action needed to be applied to the system if the system is to be reduced to a
couple of moment 39Nm in the sense ABC.
iii) If the system reduces to a single force through B, find the couple and its sense that should be added to the
system.

W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip/M.Sc.)