Force Vectors

Vectors
Vector Quantities
Have both a magnitude and direction
Examples: Position, force, moment

Vector Notation
Vectors are given a variable, such as A or B
Handwritten notation usually includes an
r ur
arrow, such as u

A or B

Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Magnitude: The length of the line segment
Magnitude = 3

30

+X

Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Direction: The angle between a reference axis and
the arrows line of action
Direction = 30 counterclockwise from the
positive x-axis

30

+x

Illustrating Vectors
Vectors are represented by arrows
Include magnitude, direction, and sense
Sense: Indicated by the direction of the tip of
the arrow
Sense = Upward and to the right

30

+x

Sense

+y (up)

+y (up)

-x (left)

+x (right)
(0,0)

-y (down)

-x (left)

-y (down)

+x (right)

Trigonometry Review
Right Triangle
A triangle with a 90 angle
Sum of all interior angles = 180
Pythagorean Theorem: c2 = a2 + b2

te
o
p
Hy

s
nu

p)
y
h
e(

Opposite Side
(opp)
90

Adjacent Side (adj)

Trigonometry Review
Trigonometric Functions soh cah toa
sin = opp / hyp
cos = adj / hyp
tan = opp / adj

te
o
p
Hy

s
nu

p)
y
h
e(

Opposite Side
(opp)
90

Adjacent Side (adj)

Trigonometry Application
The hypotenuse is the Magnitude of the
Force, F
In the figure here,
The adjacent side is the x-component, Fx
The opposite side is the y-component, Fy
ten
o
p
Hy

use

Opposite Side

Fy
90

Adjacent Side Fx

Trigonometry Application
sin = Fy / F

Fy= F sin

cos = Fx / F

Fx= F cos

tan = Fy / Fx
se
u
ten
o
p
Hy

Opposite Side

Fy
90

Adjacent Side Fx

Fx and Fy are negative if left or down, respectively.

VectorurX and Y Components

Vector A

Magnitude = 75.0 lb
Direction = 35.0CCW from positive x-axis
+y

Sense = right, up
ur
A 75.0 lb
opp = FAy
35.0

-x
-y

adj = FAx

+x

Vector X and Y Components

Solve for FAx
FAx
cos35.0
75.0 lb

adj
cos
hyp

FAx 75.0 lb cos 35.0 up

+y

ur
A 75.0 lb

FAx 61.4 lb
opp = FAy

35.0

-x

adj = FAx

-y

+x

Vector X and Y Components

Solve for FAy
FAy

opp
sin
hyp

F
sin ur
A

+y

FAY 75.0 lb sin 35.0 up

Ay

sin 35.0

FAy 43.0 lb

ur
A 75.0 lb
opp = FAy
35.0

-x

adj = FAx

-y

75.0 lb

+x

Vector X and Y Components Your Turn

ur
Vector B
Magnitude =
Direction =
+y

Sense =
adj = FBx

-x

75.0 lb
35.0CW from positive x-axis

right, down
+x

35.0
opp = FBy

-y

ur
B 75.0 lb

Vector X and Y Components Your Turn

Solve for FBx
adj
cos
hyp

FBx
cos35.0
75.0 lb

+y

FBx 75.0 lb cos 35.0 right

adj = FBx

-x

+x

35.0
opp = FBy

-y

ur
B 75.0 lb

FBx 61.4 lb

Vector X and Y Components Your Turn

Solve for FBY
opp
sin
hyp

sin 35.0

adj = FBx

+x

35.0
opp = FBy

-y

75.0 lb

FBy 75.0 lb sin 35.0 down

+y

-x

FBy

ur
B 75.0 lb

FBy 43.0 lb

Resultant Force
Two people are pulling a boat to shore.
They are pulling with the same magnitude.
ur
A 75.0 lb

35.0
35.0

ur
B 75.0 lb

Resultant Force
ur
A 75 lb

FAy = 43.0 lb

35

FAx = 61.4 lb

35

FBx = 61.4 lb

List the forces according to

sense.
Label right and up forces
as positive, and label left
and down forces as
negative.
Fx
FAx = +61.4 lb
FBx = +61.4 lb
Fy

FBy= -43.0 lb

ur
B 75 lb

FAy = +43.0 lb
FBy = -43.0 lb

Resultant Force
Sum () the forces

Fx
FAx = +61.4 lb

Fx = FAx + FBx

FBx = +61.4 lb

Fx = 61.436 lb + 61.436 lb
Fx = 122.9 lb (right)

Fy
FAy = +43.0 lb
FBy = -43.0 lb

Fy = FAy + FBy

Fy = 43.018 lb + (-43.018 lb) = 0

Magnitude is 122.9 lb
Direction is 0 from the positive x-axis
Sense is right

Resultant Force
Draw the resultant force (FR)
Magnitude is 123 lb
Direction is 0 from the positive x-axis
FAy = 43.0 lb

Sense is right

FAx = 61.4 lb
FBx = 61.4 lb

FBy= -43.0 lb

FR = 122.9 lb

Resultant Force
ur
C 300. lb

60.

Determine the sense,

magnitude, and
direction for the
resultant force.

30.

ur
D 400. lb

Resultant Force
Find the x and y components of vector C.
FCx = 300. lb cos60. right

ur
C 300. lb

FCx = 150 lb
FCy

60.

FCy = 300. lb sin60. up

FCx

FCy = 260 lb

Resultant Force
Find the x and y components of vector D.
FDx = 400 lb cos30. right

FDx
30.

FDy

ur
D 400. lb

FDx = 350 lb
FDy = 400 lb sin30. down
FDy = -200 lb

Resultant Force
FCy = 259.8 lb

ur
C 300 lb

60
30
FDy= -200.0 lb

List the forces according to

sense.
Label right and up forces
as positive, and label left
and down forces as
negative.
Fx

FCx = 150.0 lb

FCx = +150.0 lb

FDx = 346.4 lb

FDx = +346.4 lb

ur
D 400 lb

Fy
FCy = +259.8 lb
FDy = -200.0 lb

Resultant Force
Sum () the forces
Fx
FCx = +150.0 lb

Fx = FCx + FDx

FDx = +346.4 lb

Fx = 150.0 lb + 346.4 lb = 496.4 lb (right)

FY
FCy = +259.8 lb

Fy = FCy + FDy

FDy = -200.0 lb

Fy = 259.8 lb + (-200.0 lb) = 59.8 lb (up)

Sense is right and up.

Resultant Force
Draw the x and y components of the resultant
force.
Fx = 496.4 lb (right)

Fy = 59.8 (up)

Two equivalent ways to draw the X and Y components

496.4 lb

FR
59.8 lb
496.4 lb

59.8 lb

FR

Resultant Force
Solve for magnitude.
a2 + b2 = c2

FR
59.8 lb
496.4 lb

(59.8 lb)2 +(496.4 lb)2 =FR2

(59.8 lb 2 ) (496.4 lb 2 ) FR

FR = 500. lb

Magnitude is 500. lb

Resultant Force
Solve for direction.
opp
tan
adj
500. lb

496.4 lb

59.8 lb

59.8 lb
tan
496.4 lb
1

59.8
tan

496.4

Direction is 7 counterclockwise from the positive x-axis.

Resultant Force
Draw the resultant force (FR)
Magnitude = 500. lb
Direction = 7 CCW from positive x-axis
Sense = right and up
500. lb
7