Chapter 2

Rectangular Components of a Force

The parts of a vector resolved into vertical and horizontal vector
are rectangular components. Rectangular components are perpendicular to
each other.

(i) Unit vectors

Two vectors of unit magnitude, directed respectively along the positive x

and y axes, will be introduced at this point. These vectors are called unit
vectors and are denoted by i and j, respectively. Recalling the definition of
the product of a scalar and a vector, we note that the rectangular components
and of a force F may be obtained by multiplying respectively the unit
vectors i and j by appropriate scalars. We write

(ii) Scalar components

In many problems it will be found desirable to resolve a force into two

components which are perpendicular to each other. In Fig. The force F
has been resolved into a component along the x axis and a component
along the y axis. The parallelogram drawn to obtain the two
components is rectangle, and and are called rectangular
components.

1
 2 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

(a) (b)
Why we are using the

 Reference axes

Or

 Rotated axes

The Reason is to find the lowest unknowns and for faster and easier solution
 ‫‪CHAP.2‬‬ ‫‪Rectangular Components of a Force‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

‫‪Signs and direction of‬‬

‫‪Sign of Sign of‬‬ ‫‪Direction of F with‬‬ ‫‪Diagram‬‬

‫‪respect to origin O‬‬
‫‪+‬‬ ‫‪+‬‬ ‫‪Up to Right‬‬

‫‪+‬‬ ‫‪−‬‬ ‫‪Down to Right‬‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫‪+‬‬ ‫‪Up to Left‬‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫‪−‬‬ ‫‪Down to left‬‬

‫‪Notes‬‬
‫‪ .1‬اذا كانت الزاوية في الربع االول تبقى كما هي‬
‫‪ .2‬اذا كانت الزاوية في الربع الثاني تكون الزاوية‬
‫𝜃 ‪𝜃 = 180𝑜 −‬‬

‫‪ .3‬اذا كانت الزاوية في الربع الثالث تكون الزاوية‬

‫𝜃 ‪𝜃 = 180𝑜 +‬‬

‫‪ .4‬اذا كانت الزاوية في الربع الرابع تكون الزاوية‬

‫𝜃 ‪𝜃 = 360𝑜 −‬‬

‫السبب هو ان الزوايا تقاس عكس عقرب الساعة ‪ ccω‬مع االتجاه‬

‫الموجب لمحور ‪X‬‬
 4 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Determining the components of a force

Note
Sin (pi-beta)=sin beta Because in 1st quarter sin positive
Cos (pi-beta)=-cos beta Because in 2nd quarter cos negative
For check
Take angle beta=30 degree
Sin (pi-30)=sin 150=sin 30=.5
Cos (pi-30)=-cos 150=-(0.866)=0.866
Or
Cos(pi-30)=sin 30=0.866
‫ دائما يجب ان نجد الزاوية المحصورة بين المحصلة واحدى مركباتها لكي نحلل عليها‬
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 5

Addition of forces by summing X and Y components

Two forces
 6 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Three forces
CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 7
8 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 9

Analysis forms
 10 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 1

A force of 800 N is exerted on a bolt A as shown in Fig. Determine the

horizontal and vertical components of the force.

Solution
= 180 − = 145

Check
⁄
=( + ) = √−655 + 459 = 800

459
= = (−7 007) = −35
−655
= 180 − 35 = 145
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 11

Example 2

Determine the magnitude and inclination for the components shown in Fig.

Solution

= 360 − 33 7 = 326 3
 12 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 3

The body on the inclined plane is subjected to the vertical and

horizontal forces as shown in the figure. Find the components of each
force along x-y axes oriented parallel and perpendicular to the incline.

Solution I

Draw the x and y components of the given forces and then isolate the
given figure as follows
‫‪CHAP.2‬‬ ‫‪Rectangular Components of a Force‬‬ ‫‪13‬‬

‫طريقة سريعة نقل المثلثات للقوى المائلة بدون ايجاد الزوايا‬

 14 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

For F = 400 lbs.,

= +
= −
4 3
= 400 ( ) − 400 ( ) = 320 − 240
5 5
=√ + = √320 + −240 = 400

−240
= = (−0 75) = 36
320
= 180 − 36 = 144

For P = 1200 lbs.,

= +
=− −
3 4
= 1200 ( ) − 1200 ( )
5 5
= −720 − 960
=√ + = √(−718) + (−960) = 1200

−960
= = (1 337) = 53
−718
= 180 − 53 = 127

= +

= (320 − 720) + (−240 − 960) = −400 − 1200

=√ +

= √400 + 1200 = 1264

CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 15

−1200
= = 3 = 72
−400
Solution II SOLVING BY FINDING THE MAGNITUDE OF ANGLES
 16 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 4

Determine the vector components of the forces shown in [Link] x-y axes
which are parallel and perpendicular to the incline

Solution

Method I Reference axes "Horizontal and Vertical Axes"

Angles determine from the analysis of graph
Forces Incline
F 30
P 45
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 17

Q 40

= + =( + + ) +( + + )

=( − + 40 ) + (− − + 40 )
1 1
= (75 ( ) − 100 ( ) + 90 40 )
2 √2
√3 1
+ (−75 ( ) − 100 ( ) + 90 40 )
2 √2
= (37 5 − 70 7 + 69) + (−65 − 70 7 + 57 8)

= 35 8 − 77 9

Or using

=( − + 50 ) + (− − + 50 )

=√ + = √(35 8) + (−77 9) = 85 73

−77 9
= = = (−2 175) = −65
35 8

= 360 − 65 = 295
 18 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Method II
Angles determine from the analysis of graph Rotated axes
Forces Incline
F 30
P 75
Q 70
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 19

= +
=( + + )
+( + + )

= (75 30 − 100 75 + 90 70 )
+ (−75 30 − 100 75
+ 90 70 )

= (65 − 25 8 + 30 78)
+ (−37 5 − 96 6 + 84 57)

= 69 98 − 49 53

=√ + = √(69 69 98) + (−49 53) = 85 73

−49 53
= = = (−0 707) = −35
69 98

= 360 − 35 = 325
20 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 21

Example 5 Same as example 4 only the values of P, Q and F are different

Find the Resultant of the forces shown in Fig.

Solution

Method I Reference axes "Horizontal and Vertical Axes"

= +

=( + + ) +( + + )

= (−10 45 + 20 30 + 15 50 )
+ (−10 45 − 20 30 + 15 50 )

= (−7 07 + 10 + 11 5)
+ (−7 07 − 17 3 + 9 6)

= 14 43 − 14 77

=√ + = √(14 43) + (−14 77)

= 20 6
14 77
= = = 45 6
14 43

360 −45 6 = 314 4 = 315

 22 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Analyzing by transfer all the forces analysis to incline

 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 23

Method II Rotated axes

= +

=( + + ) +( + + )

= (−10 75 + 20 30 + 15 70 )
+ (−10 75 − 20 30 + 15 70 )

= (−2 6 + 17 3 + 5 2) + (−9 7 − 10 + 14)

= 19 9 − 5 7

=√ +

= √(19 9) + (−5 7) = 20 6
57
= = = 15 9
19 9

360 − 15 9 = 344 1

Analyzing by transfer all the

 24 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

forces analysis to incline

CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 25

Example 6
 26 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 7

Required

Components on the following

axes
1 2 3 4 𝒊 𝒋 𝒊 𝒋
1)
12 23 34 𝒊𝒋 𝒋𝒊 𝑰𝒋
2)
3) 13 34 𝒊𝒊 𝒋𝒋
4)
𝒊𝒋
5) 14
6)
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 27

Solution
(1)

= 30 − 30

Check
= √250 + (−433) = 500

(2)
28 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

= 500 =0

(3)

(4)

=0 = 500

(5)
CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 29

(6)
30 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 8
CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 31
32 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 33

Example 9
Four forces act on bolt A as shown. Determine the resultant of the
forces on the bolt.

The x and y components of each force are determined by

trigonometry as shown and are entered in the table below.
According to the convention, the scalar number representing a
force component is positive if the force component has the same
sense as the corresponding coordinate axis. Thus, x components
acting to the right and y components acting upward are represented
by positive numbers.
 34 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

With a calculator, the last computation may be facilitated if the

value of Ry is stored when originally entered; it may then be
recalled to be divided by sin α.
CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 35

Example 10
36 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 11
CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 37

= + =4 45 +4 45 +3 30 −3 30

4 3√2 4 3
=( + ) + ( − ) = 5 43 + 1 328
√2 2 √2 2

= √5 43 + 1 328 = 5 59

=
| |
 38 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2

Example 12

Graphical Solution - Paralleogram Law of Vectors

= =
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 39

Scale

Ib cm
600 3
800 4
R 2.625

3 = 600 2 625 = 525

3 =3 1 34 = 1 34
40 Rectangular Components of a Force CHAP.2
 CHAP.2 Rectangular Components of a Force 41

Example 13

Determine the magnitude , direction and line of action of the resultant of the
forces shown in Fig.