Hibbeler Statics 14E P2.2 — Solving for an Unknown Force Given the Magnitude and Direction of a Resultant and Another Force

If the magnitude of the resultant force is to be 500 N, directed along the positive y-axis, determine the magnitude of force F and its direction θ \theta .

Engineering Mechanics: Statics 14th Edition by RC Hibbeler, Problem 2-2

Solution:

The parallelogram law and the triangulation rule are shown in the figures below.

Engineering Mechanics by RC Hibbeler Problem 2.2 Parallelogram Law
Parallelogram Law
Engineering Mechanics by RC Hibbeler Problem 2.2 Triangulation Rule
Triangulation Rule

Considering the figure of the triangulation rule, we can solve for the magnitude of F \textbf{F} using the cosine law.

F=7002+5002−2(700)(500)cos⁡105∘=959.78 N=960 N\begin{align*} \textbf{F} & = \sqrt{700^2+500^2-2\left( 700 \right)\left( 500 \right)\cos105^{\circ}}\\ & = 959.78 \ \text{N}\\ & = 960 \ \text{N}\\ \end{align*}

Then we use the sine law to solve for the angle θ\theta.

sin⁡(90∘−θ)700=sin⁡105∘959.78sin⁡(90∘−θ)=700sin⁡105∘959.7890∘−θ=sin⁡−1(700sin⁡105∘959.78)θ=90∘−sin⁡−1(700sin⁡105∘959.78)θ=90∘−44.79∘θ=45.2∘\begin{align*} \frac{\sin \left(90^{\circ}-\theta \right)}{700} & = \frac{\sin 105^{\circ}}{959.78}\\ \sin \left(90^{\circ}-\theta \right) & =\frac{700 \sin 105^{\circ }}{959.78}\\ 90^{\circ}-\theta & = \sin^{-1} \left( \frac{700 \sin 105^{\circ }}{959.78} \right)\\ \theta & = 90^\circ-\sin^{-1} \left( \frac{700 \sin 105^{\circ }}{959.78} \right) \\ \theta & = 90^\circ-44.79^\circ\\ \theta & = 45.2^\circ\\ \end{align*}
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