Forces & The Effects Pt II

Calculations of Vector, Turning, Balance, Pressure & Density

Calculating Vectors

Vectors are the direction that a force is applied in. Two vectors acting in the same direction can be added together to produce a sum or resultant vector which can be used to replace both vectors and produce the same effect.

The two forces, Fx and Fy are acting on an object. To calculate their sum, Fx is drawn in one direction. Fy is then drawn at right angles to the end of Fx. The length of the lines is representative of the force exerted. In this case Fx could equal 4N and Fy could equal 2N. Both sides are connected using a third line which represents the sum or resultant drawn from the start of Fx to the end of Fy. The scale drawing could then be used to calculate the length of the sum which would equal the force in N, or Pythagoras theorem (a + b = c) could be used to calculate the hypotenuse or F. However, this can only be used when the forces are acting at 90 to each other, which not always be the case.

Resultant Force = O

Two equal forces acting in the opposite direction will cancel each other out, by creating equilibrium. This means the object will remain stationary or, if it is already moving, will continue to do so in the same direction and at the same speed.

In the picture, the weightlifter has the force of gravity working to pull the weight down towards the Earth. He must therefore exert an upward contact force of equal size to keep the weight in the air.

Resultant Force > O

If the resultant force is > O, then the object is affected by the force. If the object was stationary, then it will begin to move in the direction of the force. If the object is already moving, it will accelerate or decelerate or change direction depending on the force. For a system in equilibrium the sum of the vertical components will be equal to the sum of the horizontal components. For an object affected by force the equation is F = mxa

In the example of the pool balls, the cue delivers a force to a stationary cue ball, which then travels in the direction of the force, until it hits another ball, which also exerts a force on the cue ball and causes it to decelerate. At the same time the force delivered by the cue ball will cause the other ball to move.

Tension

Tension is the result of two vectors working independently of each other. The two separate effects of a vector can be found by splitting the vector in two. This is called the resolution of a vector. If a telephone pole is being held in place by a cable, there is both a horizontal and vertical force being applied to the pole. Tension is being applied in both directions, there fore we have tension in the cable (T), tension in the vertical component (Tv) and tension in the horizontal component (Th). Therefore Th + Tv = T. But to find the magnitude, Th = Tsin and Tv = Tcos, where is the angle between the vector and the vertical component (the angle between the vector and the horizontal component will be 90- .

Example

A car is being towed with a rope inclined at 20 to the horizontal. The tension in the rope is 350N. Work out the horizontal and vertical components of the tension in the rope.

Moments

A turning force is known as a moment and has only two possible directions, clockwise and counterclockwise. The moment of a force is dependent on two things the size of the force and the perpendicular distance between the force line and the pivot (axis of rotation). Therefore the moment of a force = force x perpendicular distance. This is also called torque and is measured in Nm. Moments can also be balanced. The principle of mements states that for an object to be balanced the sum of the clockwise moments is equal to the sum of the anticlockwise moments.

If we imagine that the diagram represents a lever in a machine, the force will be exerted when the lever is turned in a clockwise direction around the pivot.

Example

A wrench is being used to tighten a bolt. Suppose a 10 N force was applied to the wrench handle 25 cm from the pivot point. Calculate the torque being applied by the wrench to the bolt.