Engineering

Mechanics:
STATICS

Anthony Bedford and

Wallace Fowler
SI Edition

Teaching Slides
Chapter 2: Vectors
Chapter Outline
 Scalars & Vectors
 Rules for Manipulating Vectors
 Components in 2 Dimensions
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of today’s session student’s should be
able to:
 Resolve/Express a Vector into components
using Cartesian coordinate system
 2.3 Components in 2 Dimensions
 Vectors are much easier to work with when
expressed in terms of mutually perpendicular
vector components:
 Consider vector U: (Fig a)
 Place a cartesian coordinate system so that the
vector U is parallel to the x-y plane (Fig b)
 Resolve U into vector components Ux & Uy that are
parallel to the x & y axes: (Fig b)
U = Ux + Uy
2.3 Components in 2 Dimensions
 Introduce a unit vector i defined to point in the
direction of the positive x axis & a unit vector j
defined to point in the direction of the positive y
axis: Fig c
U = Uxi + Uyj
where Ux & Uy are scalar components of U

 Magnitude
of U is given in terms of its
components by the Pythagorean theorem:

U  U 2x U 2y
 2.3 Components in 2 Dimensions
 Manipulating Vectors in Terms of
Components:
 Sum of 2 vectors U & V:
U + V = (Uxi + Uyj) + (Vxi + Vyj)
= (Ux + Vx)i + (Uy + Vy)j
 Graphically:
 2.3 Components in 2 Dimensions
 Position Vectors in Terms of Components:
 Consider point A with coordinates (xA, yA) &
point B with coordinates (xB, yB)
 Let rAB be the vector that specifies the position
of B relative to A:
rAB = (xB  xA)i + (yB  yA)j
 Example 2.3 Determining Components in
Terms of an Angle
Hydraulic cylinders are used to exert forces in many
mechanical devices. The force is exerted by the
pressurized liquid (hydraulic fluid) pushing against a
piston within the cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder AB
in Fig. 2.3 exerts 20,000-N force F on the bed of the
dump truck at B. Express F in terms of components
using the coordinate system shown.

Fig. 2.3
 Example 2.3 Determining Components in
Terms of an Angle
Strategy
When the direction of a vector is specified by an
angle, we can determine the values of the
components from the right triangle formed by the
vector & its components.
Solution
Draw the vector F & its components:

Fig. 2.3
Example 2.3 Determining Components in
Terms of an Angle
Solution
Magnitude of Fx:
Fx  F cos 30  20,000N cos 30  17,300 N

Fx points in the negative x direction:

Fx  17,300i  N 

Magnitude of Fy:

Fy  F sin 30  20,000N sin 30  10,000 N

 Example 2.3 Determining Components in
Terms of an Angle
Solution
Fy points in the positive y direction:
Fy  10,000j N 
The vector F, in terms of its components:

F = Fx + Fy = 17300i + 10000j (N)

The x component of F is 17,300 N

& the y component is 10,000 N.

Fig. 2.3
Example 2.3 Determining Components
in Terms of an Angle
Critical Thinking
 When you have determined the components of a
given vector, make sure they appear reasonable:
 In this example, the x component should be
negative & the y component positive
 Make sure that the components yields the correct
magnitude:
 F   17,300 N 2  10,000 N 2  20,000 N
Example 2.4 Determining Components
The cable from point A to point B exerts 800-N force
F on the top of the television transmission tower in
Fig. 2.4. Express F in terms of components using
the coordinate system shown.

Fig. 2.4
 Example 2.4 Determining Components
Strategy
 1st Method:
 Determine the angle  between F & the y axis
 Determine the components from the right
triangles formed by the vector F & its
components
 2nd Method:
 The right triangles formed by F & its components
are similar to triangle OAB
 Determine the components of F by using the
ratios of the sides of these similar triangles
 Example 2.4 Determining Components

Strategy
 3rd Method:
 Determine the components of the position vector
rAB from point A to point B
 Divide this vector by its magnitude, we obtain a
unit vector eAB with the same direction as F
 Obtain F in terms of its components by
expressing it as the product of its magnitude &
eAB
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Solution
 1st Method:
Consider the force F & its vector
components:

40
tan α   0.5
80
α  arctan 0.5  26.6
Example 2.4 Determining Components

Solution
1stMethod:
From the right triangles formed by F & its vector
components, the magnitude of Fx is:
Fx  F sin 26.6  800 N  sin 26.6  358 N
Magnitude of Fy is:
Fy  F cos 26.6  800 N  cos 26.6  716 N
 Example 2.4 Determining Components

Solution
1st Method:
Since Fx points in the positive x direction & Fy points
in the negative y direction:
F = 358i  716j (N)
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Solution
 2nd Method:
Length of cable AB:
80 m   40 m   89.4 m
2 2

Since triangle OAB is similar

to the triangle formed by F &
its vector components:
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Solution
 2nd Method:
Fx OB 40 m
 
F AB 89.4 m

Fx  
40 m 
F
 89.4 m 
 40 m 
 800 N   358 N
 89.4 m 
Example 2.4 Determining Components

Solution
2nd Method:
Also from similar triangles:
Fy OA 80 m
 
F AB 89.4 m
 80 m   80 m 
 Fy    F  800 N   716 N
 89.4 m   89.4 m 
Thus, we again obtain the result:
F = 358i  716j (N)
Example 2.4 Determining Components

Solution
 3rd Method:
Vector rAB:

rAB   xB  x A i   yB  y A j
 40  0i  0  80j
 40i  80 j (m)
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Solution
3rd Method:
Divide this vector by its
magnitude to obtain a unit
vector eAB that has the same
direction as the force F:
rAB 40i  80 j m 
e AB  
rAB 40 m 2   80 m 2
 0.447i  0.894 j
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Solution
3rd Method:
The force F is equal to the product
of its magnitude |F| & eAB:

F  F e AB
 800 N 0.447i  0.894 j
 358i  716 j  N 
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Critical Thinking
 To specify a vector, the magnitude & direction
must be prescribed:
 In this example, the |F| is given
 The 40-m & 80-m dimensions in Fig. 2.4
define the direction of the cable from A to B,
which also defines the direction of F
 1st Method:
 Knowing the 40-m & 80-m dimensions 
determine the angle  between the vertical &
line AB
 |F| &  was then used to calculate the
components of F
Example 2.4 Determining Components
Critical Thinking
 2nd Method:
 Take advantage of the similar triangles
 Knowing |F| & the 40-m & 80-m dimensions 
F components
 3rd Method:
 Knowing the 40-m & 80-m dimensions 
express position vector from A to B in terms of
its components
 Dividing that position vector by its magnitude
 unit vector with the same direction as F
 Multiply the unit vector by |F|  F components
Summary
 How to Resolve a Vector into components using
Cartesian coordinate system?