Rectangular components-(5)

Equations used for rectangular components

The rectangular components of the force F are to be found using the
figure 1 given below.
Consider the triangle abc in which  is given.
𝐹𝑦
Sin  = ;
𝐹
Fy = F Sin ……………………………….(1)
𝐹𝑥
Cos  = ;
𝐹
Fx = F Cos ………………………………(2)
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑦
tan  = = ; -------(3)
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑥

Alternately if Fx and Fy are known then we can find F and  using the following
two equations:
𝐹𝑦
F = √(𝐹𝑥2 + 𝐹𝑦2 ) ;--------(4) ; tan  = ; -----------(5)
𝐹𝑥

In fig.1 the angle  is given between x axis and the resultant. On the other
hand, in the fig. 2 below, the angle  is given between
the resultant and y axis.
The equations (1), (2) and (4) has to be changed
as explained below.
Consider the triangle acd in which  is given.
𝐹𝑥
Sin  = ; Fx = F Sin ………..(6)
𝐹
𝐹𝑦
Cos  = ; Fy = F Cos ……… (7)
𝐹
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑥
tan  = = … .(8)
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑦
 The X & Y axes are usually chosen
horizontal and vertical respectively. But they may
be chosen in any two perpendicular directions as
shown in fig 3.

SIGN CONVENTION

Fig.4 shows the sign convention.

All the forces acting towards + x direction are +ve.
All the forces acting towards ― x direction are ― ve.
All the forces acting towards + y direction are +ve.
All the forces acting towards ― y direction are ― ve.

To write the equation for a component of a force, follow the three steps: 1)
Depending on the direction, mark ―ve or +ve sign. 2) Write F, the force to be
resolved. 3) If the component to be determined is adjacent to the given angle,
write cos , if opposite to the angle, write sin .
Example 1. A force of 500N is acting as shown in the fig. 5 (a). Determine
horizontal & vertical components of the force.

Fx = F sin  = 500 sin 35° = 286.8 N

Fy = F cos  = 500 cos 35° = 409.6 N
Example 2. Determine the rectangular components of the 30 N force shown in
fig. 6 (a).

Fx = ― F Sin  = ― 30 sin 50° = ― 22.98 N

Fy = F Cos  = 30 cos 50° = 19.28 N
Example 3. The rectangular components of a force are given in fig. 7 (a).
Determine the force.

F = √(𝐹𝑥2 + 𝐹𝑦2 ) =√(502 + 702 ) = 86.02 N

𝐹𝑦 70
tan  = = = 1.4 ;  = tan-1 (1.4) = 54.46° ;
𝐹𝑥 50

ANS: F = 86.02 N,  = 54.46°

Example 4. Determine the rectangular components of the 100 N force given in

fig. 8 (a).
To find the angle 

tan  = 5/7; therefore  = 35.53°

Fx = ― F Cos 35.53° = ― 100 Cos 35.53° = ― 81.38N
Fy = ― F Sin 35.53° = ― 100 Sin 35.53° = ― 58.11 N

Example 5. Determine the rectangular components of the 50 N force shown in

fig. 9 (a).

Fx = ― F sin 35° = ― 28.68N

Fy = ― F cos 35° = ― 40.96N

Example 6. Determine the rectangular components of the forces shown in

figures 10 (a) and 11(a), along the inclined x and y axes.
Hint: In both the cases, move the line ab and the force so that point S
coincides with point O (fig. 10 (b) and 11(b)). Now determine the angle between
the force and the axes (fig. 10 (c) and 11(c)) and then resolve.
Example 7. The rectangular components of a force are given in fig. 12 (a).
Determine the force.

F = √(𝐹𝑥2 + 𝐹𝑦2 ) =√(−50)2 + (−70)2 = 86.02 N

𝐹𝑥 50
tan  = = = 0.7143;  = tan-1 (0.7143) = 35.54°;
𝐹𝑦 70

ANS: F = 86.02 N,  = 54.46°

AN IMPORTANT NOTE:
(1) In the fig 12(a), since the sketch shows the directions of the forces (70 N and
50 N), though they are acting towards ― x and ― y axes, the magnitudes of
the forces are not written with ― ve signs.

But while writing the equations they must be written with proper sign, since
the equations do not indicate their directions.
Refer example 5 and 7. Please note that the equations are written with ― ve
signs.

(2) While calculating the angle using tan , remove the negative signs.

Follow this procedure for all the problems.

(3) In the case of 3D problems, there are separate rules.

Cartesian vector notation for a force:

We introduce two vectors of magnitude 1, directed respectively along the

positive x and y axes as shown in fig. 12 (a). These vectors are called unit
vectors and are denoted by i and j respectively. We know that the product of a
scalar and a vector is a vector. So the vector components Fx and Fy can be
obtained by multiplying the unit vectors by appropriate scalars Fx and Fy.
So we can write Fx = Fxi and Fy = Fyj as shown in fig. 12 (b).
Therefore the resultant F = Fxi + Fyj.