FORCES

MOMENTS
COUPLES

Tutorial Tasks Week 2

Tutorial Problems: Ch 3 and Ch 4

FORCES

Chapter Outline
Types of Forces
Analysis
A l i off Forces
F
2D Force Systems
3D Force Systems
Computational Mechanics

Types of Forces
Terminology:
Line of Action:
The straight line collinear with the force vector

Types
yp of Forces
System of Forces:
Coplanar or 2D line of action of
the forces lie in a plane

Concurrent

3D
Concurrent lines of action of
the forces intersect at a point
Parallel lines of action are
parallel
Parallel

Types
yp of Forces
External & Internal Forces:
External
E t
l force
f
given
i
object
bj t is
i subjected
bj t d to
t a
force exerted by a different object
Internal force one part of a given object is
subjected
j
to a force by
y another part
p
of the same
object
Requires clear definition of object in
consideration

Types
yp of Forces
Body & Surface Forces:
Body
B d F
Force force
f
acting
ti on th
the volume
l
off
an object
e.g. gravitational force on an object

Surface Force force acting on the

surface of an object
Can be exerted on an object by contact with
another object
Both body & contact forces can be
resulted from electromagnetic effects

Types
yp of Forces
Gravitational Forces:
The force exerted on an object by the earths
gravity
Gravitational force, or weight, of
an object can be represented by a vector

Types
yp of Forces
Gravitational Forces:
Magnitude of an objects weight is related to
its
ts mass
ass by:
by

|W| = mg
where g = 9
9.81
81 m/s2 in SI units

(acceleration due to gravity at sea level)

Types
yp of Forces
Gravitational forces & electromagnetic forces
act at a distance:

The objects they act on are not

necessarily in contact with the
objects
bj t exerting
ti
the
th forces
f

Types
yp of Forces
Contact Forces:
Forces that result from contacts between
objects
e.g. push on a wall exert a contact force
Surface of hand exerts a force F on surface of
wall
Wall exerts an equal & opposite force F on
your hand (Newtons 3rd Law)

Types
yp of Forces
Surfaces:
Consider 2 plane surfaces in contact:

Force exerted on the right surface by te

left surface F

Types
yp of Forces
Surfaces:
Force exerted on right surface by left surface F
Resolve F into:

Normal force N (normal to surface)

Friction force f (parallel to surface)

Smooth surfaces friction force assumed to be
negligible
Rough surfaces friction force cannot be
neglected

Types
yp of Forces
If the contacting surfaces are curved:

Normal force & friction force are

perpendicular & parallel to the plane tangent
to the surface at their point of contact

Types
yp of Forces
Ropes & Cables:
Contact force can be exerted on an object by
attaching a rope or cable to the object &
pulling on it

Types
yp of Forces
Ropes & Cables:
Cable exerts a force T on container
Magnitude of T tension in cable
Line
Li
off action
ti
off T collinear
lli
with
ith cable
bl
Cable exerts an equal & opposite force T
on crane

Types
yp of Forces
Assumption:
Cable is straight
Tension where cable is connected to
container
t i
= tension
t
i
near crane
Approximately true if weight of cable <<
tension force

Types
yp of Forces
Pulley wheel with grooved rim that can be
used to change the direction of a rope or
cable

Types
yp of Forces
Assumption:
Tension is the same on both sides of a
pulley
True when pulley can turn freely & the
rope or cable is either stationary or
turns at a constant rate

Types
yp of Forces
Springs:
To exert contact forces in mechanical devices
E.g. suspension of cars

MOMENT

MOMENT OF A FORCE
Objectives :
Students will be able to:
a) understand and define
moment and,
moment,
and
b) determine
d
i
moments
of a force in 2
2--D and
3-D cases
cases.

Moment of a
f
force

Q
QUIZ
1. What is the moment of the 10 N
force about point A (MA)?

F = 10 N

A) 10 Nm;
Nm; B) 30 Nm
Nm
C) 13 Nm;
Nm; D) (10/3) Nm
Nm
E) 7 N
Nm
m
m
2. Moment of force F about
point O is defined as

MO = ___________ .
A) r x F

B) F x r

C) r F

D) r * F

d=3m

APPLICATIONS
What is the net
effect
ff
off the
h two
f
forces
on th
the
wheel?
h l?

APPLICATIONS
What is the
effect of the
30 N force
o ce on
o
the lug
g nut?

MOMENT IN 2
2--D

The moment of a force about a point

provides a measure of the tendency
p
y for
rotation (sometimes called a torque).

MOMENT IN 2
2--D
In the 2
2--D case,
the magnitude of
the moment
is Mo = F d
As shown, d is the perpendicular distance from
point O to the line of action of the force.
In 2
2--D, the direction of MO is either clockwise or
counter--clockwise depending on the tendency for
counter
rotation.

b
O
d

For example, MO = F d and

the direction is countercounterclockwise.

Often it is easier to
determine MO by using the
components of F as shown.
shown

Fy

F
Fx

Using this approach,

approach MO = (FY a) (FX b).
b) Note the different signs
on the terms! The typical sign convention for a moment in 22-D is
that countercounter-clockwise is considered positive. We can determine
th direction
the
di
ti
off rotation
t ti
by
b imagining
i
i i
the
th body
b d pinned
i
d att O and
d
deciding which way the body would rotate because of the force.

EXAMPLE 1
Given:A 400 N force is
applied to the
frame and = 20
20.
Find: The moment of the
f
force
att A.
A

Plan::
Plan

1) Resolve the force along x and y axes.

2) Determine
D t
i
MA using
i
scalar
l analysis.
l i

EXAMPLE 1

Solution:

QUIZ
1. If a force of magnitude F can be applied in four different 22-D
configurations
fi
ti
(P,
(P Q,
Q R,
R & S)
S), select
l t the
th cases resulting
lti
in
i the
th
maximum and minimum torque values on the nut. (Max,
Min).
A) (Q, P)

B)) ((R,, S))

C) (P, R)

D) (Q, S)

2 If M = r F, then what will be the value of M r ?

2.
A) 0

B) 1

C) r 2 F

D) N
None off th
the above.
b

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: A 40 N force is applied
to the wrench.
wrench
Find: The moment of the
force at O.
Plan: 1) Resolve the force
along x and y axes.
2) Determine MO using
scalar analysis.
analysis
Solution: + Fy = - 40 cos 20
20 N
+ Fx = - 40 sin 20
20 N
+ MO = {{-(40 cos
cos 20
20)(200) + (40 sin 20
20)(30)}Nmm
= -7107 Nmm = - 7.11 Nm

10 N
3m

2m

5N

QUIZ

1. Using the CCW direction as positive, the net

moment of the two forces about point P is
A) 10 N m
B) 20 N m
C) - 20 N m
D) 40 N m
E) - 40 N m
2. If r = { 5 j } m and F = { 10 k } N, the moment

r x F equals { _______ } Nm.

Nm.
A) 50 i

B) 50 j

D) 50 j

E) 0

C) 50 i

MOMENT ABOUT AN AXIS

Objectives::
Objectives
Students will be able to
determine the moment of a
force about an axis using
a)scalar
a)sca
a)
sca
scalar
a analysis,
a a ys s, and
a d
b) vector analysis.

MOMENT OF A COUPLE
Objectives::
Objectives
Students will be able to:
a) define a couple, and,
b) determine the moment of
a couple.

QUIZ
1. In statics, a couple is defined as __________
separated by a perpendicular distance.
distance
A) two forces in the same direction.
B) ttwo forces
f
off equall magnitude.
it d
C) two forces of equal magnitude acting in the same
direction.
direction
D) two forces of equal magnitude acting in opposite
directions.

2. The moment of a couple is called a _________

vector.
A) free

B) spin

C) romantic

D) sliding

APPLICATIONS

A torque or moment of 12 N m is required to rotate

the wheel. Which one of the two grips of the wheel
above
b
will
ill require
i lless force
f
tto rotate
t t the
th wheel?
h l?

APPLICATIONS

The crossbar lug wrench is being used to loosen a lug

net. What is the effect of changing dimensions a, b, or c
on the
th force
f
that
th t mustt be
b applied?
li d?

MOMENT OF A COUPLE
A couple is defined as two
parallel forces with the
same magnitude but
opposite in direction
separated
p
by
ya
perpendicular distance d.

Th momentt off a couple

The
l iis defined
d fi d as
MO = F d (using a scalar analysis) or as

MO = r F (using a vector analysis).

Here r is any position vector from the line of action of
F to the line of action of F.

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING - SCALAR

Given:: Two couples act on the
Given
beam. The resultant
couple is zero.
Find:: The magnitudes of the
Find
forces P and F and the
distance d.
PLAN::
PLAN
1) Use definition of a couple to find P and F.
2) Resolve the 300 N force in x and y directions.
3)) Determine the net moment.
4) Equate the net moment to zero to find d.

Solution::
Solution

50 N

1m

QUIZ
2m

3
4

1. A couple is applied to the beam as shown. Its

moment equals _____ Nm.
Nm.
A) 50
B) 60
C) 80
D) 100

EQUIVALENT
FORCE--COUPLE
FORCE
SYSTEM

EQUIVALENT FORCEFORCECOUPLE SYSTEMS

Objectives:
Objectives
j
:
Students will be able to:
1)Determine
1)
Determine the effect of
g a force.
moving
2) Find an equivalent
force--couple system for
force
a system of forces and
couples.

QUIZ
1. A general system of forces and couple moments
acting on a rigid body can be reduced to a ___ .
A) single force.
B) single moment.
C) single force and two moments.
D) single force and a single moment.
2. The original force and couple system and an
equivalent force
force--couple system have the same
_____ effect on a body.
A)) internal

B)) external

C) internal and external

D) microscopic

APPLICATIONS

What is the resultant effect on the persons hand

when the force is applied in four different ways ?

APPLICATIONS
Several forces and a couple
moment are acting on this
vertical section of an II-beam.
beam

| | ??

Can you replace them with just

one force and one couple
moment at point O that will
have the same external effect?
If yes, how will you do that?

MOVING A FORCE ON ITS

LINE OF ACTION

Moving a force from A to O, when both points are on the vectors

line of action,
action does not change the external effect.
effect. Hence,
Hence a force
vector is called a sliding vector.
vector. (But the internal effect of the
force on the body does depend on where the force is applied).

MOVING A FORCE NOT ON

ITS LINE OF ACTION

Moving a force from point A to O (as shown above) requires

creating an additional couple moment.
Since this new couple moment is a free vector, it can be applied
at any point P on the body.

RESULTANT OF A FORCE AND

COUPLE SYSTEM

If the force system lies in the xx-y plane (the 2

2--D case),
hence the reduced equivalent system can be obtained using the
following three scalar equations.

M RA = M z + Fi d i

EXAMPLE 1
Given: A 2
2--D force and couple
system as shown.

4m
2m

3m

2m

Find: The equivalent resultant

force and couple moment
acting at A and then the
equivalent
q
single
g force
location along the beam AB.
Plan:
Plan:

1) Sum all the x and y components of the forces to find FRA.

2) Find and sum all the moments resulting from moving each
force to A.
3) Shift the FRA to a distance d such that d = MRA/FRy
R

EXAMPLE 1
4m
2m

FR

3m
3m

2m

EXAMPLE 2
o

Given: The building slab has four

columns. F1 and F2 = 0.
Find:

The equivalent resultant

force and couple moment
at the origin O. Also find
the location (x,y)
(x y) of the
single equivalent
resultant force.

Plan::
Plan
1) Find FRO = Fi = FRzo k
2) Find MRO = (ri Fi) = MRxO i + MRyO j
3) The location of the single equivalent resultant force is
given as x = -MRyO/FRzO and y = MRxO/FRzO

EXAMPLE 2
o

QUIZ
Q

1. The forces on the pole can be reduced

to a single
g force and a single
g moment
at point ____ .

A) P
B) Q

R
Q

C) R

D) S
E)) Any
y of these points.
p

2. Consider two couples acting on a body. The simplest possible

equivalent system at any arbitrary point on the body will have
A) one force and one couple moment.
B) one force.
C) one couple moment.
D) two couple moments.

QUIZ
1. For this force system, the equivalent
system at P is ___________ .
A) FRP = 40 N (along
( l
+x
+x+ -dir.)
di ) and
d MRP = +60 N.m
N
B) FRP = 0 N and MRP = +30 N.m
C) FRP = 30 N (along +y+y-dir.) and MRP = -30 N.m
D) FRP = 40 N (along +x+x-dir.) and MRP = +30 N.m

1m

1m

30 N

30 N
40 N

QUIZ
2. Consider three couples acting on a body.
Equivalent systems will be _______ at different
points on the body.
A)) different when located
B) the same even when located
C) zero when
h
llocated
t d
D) None of the above.

REDUCTION
OF
DISTRIBUTED
LOADING

REDUCTION OF DISTRIBUTED
LOADING
Objectives::
Objectives
You
ou will be
able to
determine an
equivalent
force for a
distributed
load.

Distributed load curve

QUIZ

1.
1 The resultant force (FR) due to a
distributed load is equivalent to the
x ________ under the distributed
loading c
curve,
e w = w(x).
( )

FR

A) centroid

B) arc length

C) area

D) volume

2. The line of action of the distributed loads equivalent force

passes through the ___________ of the distributed load.
A) centroid
id
B) midmid-point
C) left edge
D) right edge

APPLICATIONS
A distributed load on
the beam exists due
to the weight
g of the
lumber.
Is it possible to
reduce this force
system
y
to a single
g
force that will have
the same external
effect?

If yes
yes, how?

APPLICATIONS

The sandbags on the beam create a distributed load.

How can we determine a single equivalent resultant
force and its location?

DISTRIBUTED LOADING
In many situations a surface area
of a body is subjected to a
distributed load.
Such forces are caused by
y winds,,
fluids, or the weight of items on
the bodys surface.
We will analyse the most common
case of a distributed pressure
loading.
loading
This is a uniform load along one
axis of a flat rectangular body.
In such cases, w is a function of
x and has units of force per
length.

MAGNITUDE OF RESULTANT
FORCE

Consider an element of
length dx.
The force magnitude
g
dF
acting on it is given as
dF = w(x) dx

The net force on the beam

is given by
+ FR = L dF = L w(x) dx = A

Here A is the area under

the loading curve w(x).

LOCATION OF THE RESULTANT

FORCE
The force dF will produce a
moment
o
o
of ((x)(dF)
)(d ) about
ou po
point O
O.
The total moment about point O is
given as
+ MRO = L x dF = L x w(x)
( ) dx
Assuming that FR acts at x , it will
produce the moment about point O
as
+ MRO = ( x) (FR) = Lx w(x) dx

LOCATION OF THE RESULTANT

FORCE
+ FR = L dF = L w(x) dx
+ MRO = ( x ) (FR) = Lx w(x) dx
Comparing the above two
equations,
i
we get

You will learn later that FR acts

through a point C, which is
called the geometric center or
centroid of the area under the
loading curve w(x).

QUIZ
FR
A
3m

3m

B A

1.
1 What is the location of FR,
i.e., the distance d?
A) 2 m;
m B) 3 m;
m C) 4 m;
m D) 5 m;
m
E) 6 m

2. If F1 = 1 N, x1 = 1 m,

x2 F1
x1

F2

FR

F2 = 2 N and x2 = 2 m,
what is the location of FR,
i.e., the distance x.
A)) 1 m; B)) 1.33 m; C)) 1.5 m;
D) 1.67 m; E) 2 m

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given::
Given
Th lloading
The
di
on th
the beam
b
as
shown.

Find::
Find
The equivalent force and its
location from point A.
A

Plan::
Plan
1) Consider the trapezoidal loading as two separate loads
(one rectangular and one triangular).
2) Find FR and

x for each of these two distributed loads.

3) Determine the overall FR and

x for the three point loadings.

QUIZ
Q
FR

100 N/m
/

12 m

1. FR = ________

2. x = _______.

A) 12 N

A) 3 m

B) 100 N

B) 4 m

C) 600 N

C) 6 m

D) 1200 N

D) 8 m