ENED 1120 ACTIVITY
MECHANICS 1: VECTORS, MOMENT AND RESULTANT FORCES
TASK 1 (OF 4)
OBJECTIVES: Practice finding the x and y components of a force.
TIMEKEEPER: This task should take approximately 15 minutes. The time estimate is only a
guideline (some teams may use less time, while others may use more).
The device is used for surgical replacement of the knee joint. If the force acting along the leg is
360 N, determine its components along the x and y axes. Include the Diagram, Theory,
Assumptions and Solution steps from the Problem Presentation Method as your work for this
problem. You can either use the PPM word template inside the General Course Information link
on the Community Page or a scanned in solution of your work done on Engineering Paper.
ENED 1120 – Mechanics 1 – updated February 18, 2021 – 1
ENED 1120 ACTIVITY
MECHANICS 1: VECTORS, MOMENT AND RESULTANT FORCES
TASK 2 (OF 4)
OBJECTIVES: The student will practice finding a unit vector and calculating resultant forces.
TIMEKEEPER: This task should take approximately 15 minutes. The time estimate is only a
guideline (some teams may use less time, while others may use more).
𝒓
If r is a vector for which the magnitude r0, its unit vector (magnitude =1) is given by: 𝒖 = |𝒓|
a- Check if the following unit vector, u, is a unit vector for F3
𝒓 3 4
𝒖 = |𝒓| = 5 𝒊 + 5 𝒋
b- Consider the figure below. Determine the magnitude and the direction of the resultant of
𝐹1 , 𝐹2 and 𝐹3 . Determine the corresponding unit vector. Include the Diagram, Theory,
Assumptions and Solution steps from the Problem Presentation Method as your work for
this problem. You can either use the PPM word template inside the General Course
Information link on the Community Page or a scanned in solution of your work done on
Engineering Paper.
ENED 1120 – Mechanics 1 – updated February 18, 2021 – 2
ENED 1120 ACTIVITY
MECHANICS 1: VECTORS, MOMENT AND RESULTANT FORCES
Task 3 (OF 4)
OBJECTIVES: The student will practice calculating moments based on a set of given forces.
TIMEKEEPER: This task should take approximately 20 minutes. The time estimate is only a
guideline (some teams may use less time, while others may use more).
There is a standard way to calculate moments using vector components. To calculate the moment
produced by force F about point O we need to:
Step 1. Find horizontal and vertical components Fx, Fy of the force.
Step 2. Sketch the coordinate system with
origin in point O. Find the coordinates (x,y) of
the point of application of the force (blue dot).
Step 3. Then the moment is given by
M = x·Fy - y·Fx (CCW).
Positive values of M mean that the turning
action is counter clockwise (CCW) whereas
negative values mean that the turning action is
clockwise (CW).
You can also compute the moment as M = -x·Fy + y·Fx
(CW). Here, positive values of M mean that the turning
action is clockwise (CW) whereas negative values mean that the turning action is counter
clockwise (CCW).
a- For each of the following cases, find the Moment (magnitude, sense and units) produced by the
force F about the pivot. In each case force F = 10 lb, distance from the pivot to the point of
application of the force is 2 ft.
b- Compute the angle, θ, required to make the moment about point A equal to 0.
ENED 1120 – Mechanics 1 – updated February 18, 2021 – 3
ENED 1120 ACTIVITY
MECHANICS 1: VECTORS, MOMENT AND RESULTANT FORCES
Task 4 (OF 4)
OBJECTIVES: The student will practice finding resultant forces.
TIMEKEEPER: This task should take approximately 20 minutes. The time estimate is only a
guideline (some teams may use less time, while others may use more).
Find the requested information for each problem. Use the Problem Presentation Method to setup
and solve this problem. You should pay particular attention to the Diagram, Theory,
Assumptions and Solution steps.
1- If 60 and F 450 N , determine the magnitude of the resultant force and its
direction, measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis.
2- Determine the magnitude and direction, θ, of FA so that the resultant force is directed along
the positive x axis and has a magnitude of 1250 N.
ENED 1120 – Mechanics 1 – updated February 18, 2021 – 4