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Components of A Force

The document discusses the components of a force in both 2D and 3D space. It provides formulas to calculate the x, y, and z components of a force (Fx, Fy, Fz) given the total force F and the direction angles or direction cosines. It also describes how to calculate the direction cosines or unit vector lambda that specifies the direction of the force based on either the direction angles or coordinates of two points along the line of action of the force. Finally, it expresses the vector representation of a force F as the sum of its components Fx, Fy, Fz along the x, y, z unit vectors respectively.

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Ariane Vicente
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109 views3 pages

Components of A Force

The document discusses the components of a force in both 2D and 3D space. It provides formulas to calculate the x, y, and z components of a force (Fx, Fy, Fz) given the total force F and the direction angles or direction cosines. It also describes how to calculate the direction cosines or unit vector lambda that specifies the direction of the force based on either the direction angles or coordinates of two points along the line of action of the force. Finally, it expresses the vector representation of a force F as the sum of its components Fx, Fy, Fz along the x, y, z unit vectors respectively.

Uploaded by

Ariane Vicente
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Components of a Force

Components of a Force in XY Plane


Fx=Fcosθx=FsinθyFx=Fcos⁡θx=Fsin⁡θy
Fy=Fsinθx=FcosθyFy=Fsin⁡θx=Fcos⁡θy
F=Fx2+Fy2−−−−−−−−√F=Fx2+Fy2
tanθx=FyFxtan⁡θx=FyFx

Given the slope of the line


of action of the force as v/h (see
figure to the right)

r=h2+v2−−−−−−√r=h2+v2
Fx=F(h/r)Fx=F(h/r)
Fy=F(v/r)Fy=F(v/r)

Components of a Force in 3D Space


Given the direction cosines of the force:
Fx=FcosθxFx=Fcos⁡θx
Fy=FcosθyFy=Fcos⁡θy
Fz=FcosθzFz=Fcos⁡θz

F=Fx2+Fy2+Fz2−−−−−−−−−−−−−√F=Fx2+Fy2+Fz2
cosθx=FxFcos⁡θx=FxF
cosθy=FyFcos⁡θy=FyF
cosθz=FzFcos⁡θz=FzF
Given the coordinates of any two points
along the line of action of the force (in
reference to the figure shown, one of the
points is the origin):
Let d = distance OB
d=x2+y2+z2−−−−−−−−−−√d=x2+y2+z2
Fx=F(x/d)Fx=F(x/d)
Fy=F(y/d)Fy=F(y/d)
Fz=F(z/d)Fz=F(z/d)

Vector Notation of a Force


(Rectangular Representation of a Force)

F=FλF=Fλ
Where λ is a unit vector. There are two cases in determining λ; by direction cosines and
by the coordinates of any two points on the line of action of the force.

Given the direction cosines:


λ=cosθxi+cosθyj+cosθzkλ=cos⁡θxi+cos⁡θyj+cos⁡θzk
Given any two points P1(x1, y1, z1) and P2(x2, y2, z2) on the line of action of the force:
λ=1d(dxi+dyj+dzk)λ=1d(dxi+dyj+dzk)
Where
i, j, and k are unit vectors in the direction of x, y and z respectively.
dx=x2−x1dx=x2−x1
dy=y2−y1dy=y2−y1
dz=z2−z1dz=z2−z1
d=dx2+dy2+dz2−−−−−−−−−−−−√d=dx2+dy2+dz2
cosθx=dx/dcos⁡θx=dx/d
cosθy=dy/dcos⁡θy=dy/d
cosθz=dz/dcos⁡θz=dz/d
Note:
cos2θx+cos2θy+cos2θz=1cos2⁡θx+cos2⁡θy+cos2⁡θz=1
(dx/d)2+(dy/d)2+(dz/d)2=1(dx/d)2+(dy/d)2+(dz/d)2=1
Also note the following:
Fx=cosθx=dx/dFx=cos⁡θx=dx/d
Fy=cosθy=dy/dFy=cos⁡θy=dy/d
Fz=cosθz=dz/dFz=cos⁡θz=dz/d
F=Fx2+Fy2+Fz2−−−−−−−−−−−−−√F=Fx2+Fy2+Fz2

Thus,
F=F(cosθxi+cosθyj+cosθzk)F=F(cos⁡θxi+cos⁡θyj+cos⁡θzk)
F=Fd(dxi+dyj+dzk)F=Fd(dxi+dyj+dzk)

In simplest term

F=Fxi+Fyj+FzkF=Fxi+Fyj+Fzk

The above rectangular representation of a force is applicable in both 2D and 3D forces.

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