2.5:
Vector Addition of Forces
Vector addition of two or more force vectors can be done using the parallelogram law to obtain the resultant force.
Consider a ship being pulled by two small tugboats. The two forces, F1 and F2, act on the ship concurrently.
To find the net force using the parallelogram law, draw parallel lines to both the force vectors such that a parallelogram is formed.
Now, the diagonal of the parallelogram represents the net force FN on the ship due to the two tugboats. It is expressed as the vector sum of forces F1 and F2 .
Suppose now a third force from another tugboat acts on the ship.
Another parallelogram is formed, using FN and the third force F3. The diagonal of this new parallelogram gives the resultant force on the ship due to all three tugboats.
Here the resultant force on the ship is expressed as the vector sum of all three forces.
2.5:
Vector Addition of Forces
When understanding the effects of multiple forces acting on an object, vector addition is a crucial concept to grasp. This mathematical concept can be used to calculate the net force acting on an object when two or more forces are involved.
To understand the concept of vector addition, consider the scenario of a ship being pulled by two small tugboats. The two forces, F1 and F2, act concurrently on the ship in different directions. The parallelogram law can be used to calculate the net force acting on the ship.
The parallelogram law is helpful in vector addition because it provides a geometric method for adding two vectors together. It states that when the adjacent sides of a parallelogram represent two vectors, the diagonal passing through their intersection represents the vector sum of the two vectors. To apply this law in the context of the ship being pulled by two tugboats, parallel lines to both force vectors are drawn to form a parallelogram. Then, a diagonal line through the intersection of the two vectors is drawn. This diagonal represents the resultant or net force acting on the ship due to the two tugboats. This net force is expressed as the vector sum of the two forces.
However, if a third force F3 is introduced, another parallelogram is drawn. This time, the previous resultant force F1 + F2 is used as one side of the new parallelogram, with the third force F3 as the other side. Once again, the diagonal of this parallelogram represents the resultant or net force acting on the ship due to all three tugboats. This net force on the ship is expressed as the vector sum of all three forces, namely F1 + F2 + F3.
Vector addition is a powerful tool for understanding the effects of multiple forces acting on an object. It is crucial for various fields, including physics, engineering, and mathematics. By understanding the parallelogram law and the concept of vector addition, accurate calculation and prediction of the net force acting on an object can be made.
Leitura Sugerida
- Hibbeler, R.C. (2016). Engineering Mechanics ‒ Statics and Dynamics. Hoboken, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp 18-22
- Beer, F.P.; Johnston, E.R.; Mazurek, D.F; Cromwell, P.J. and Self, B.P. (2019). Vector Mechanics for Engineers ‒ Statics and Dynamics. New York: McGraw-Hill. pp 29