REPRESENTATION OF VECTORS USING RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS

The scalar components of A are

Ax = A cosθx Ay = A cos θy Az = A cos θz
A = Axî + Ayĵ + Azƙ

A = Az2 + Ay2 + Az2

 = 1 (a unit vector, along vector A)

 = xî + yĵ + zƙ  = x2 + y2 + z2

cos θx = x cos θy = y cos θz = z

cosθx2 + cos θy2 + cos θz2 = 1

Position Vector (d) – A position vector d is defined as a fixed vector which locates a point in space
relative to another point. For example, if d is from the origin of ordinates, A, to point B, then d
can be expressed in Cartesian vector form as
d = dxi + dyj + dzk
dx = xB - xA dy = yB - yA dz = zB - zA

ǀABǀ = d = dx2 + dy2 + dz2 = (xB – xA)2 + (yB – yA)2 + (zB – zA)2

AB (xB – xA)i + (yB – yA)j + (zB – zA)k

 = ----- = -----------------------------------------
ǀABǀ d

The components of  are

xB - xA yB – yA zB - zA
x = --------- y = --------- z = ---------
d d d

Vector in Rectangular Form

(dxi + dyj + dzk)
F = F = F(xi + yj + zk) = F --------------------
d
dx Fx dy Fy dz Fz
cos θx = x = ---- = ----- cos θy = y = ----- = ---- cos θz = z = ----- = ------
d F d F d F

Examples:

Obtain the rectangular representation of the force P, given that its magnitude is 30 lb.
 Pz

P’ (dash line)
Pz = Psin 500 = (30 lb)(sin 500) = 23 lb P’ = Pcos500 = (30 lb)(cos 500) = 19.28 lb

Px P’
300 +y
Py
+x
Py = P’cos 300 = (19.28 lb)(cos 300) = 16.70 lb
Px = - P’cos 600 = - (19.28 lb)(cos 600) = -9.64 lb
P = (-9.64î + 16.7ĵ + 23ƙ) lb

The length of the position r is 240 mm. Determine the rectangular components of (a) r, and (b)
the unit vector directed from O toward A.

A’
(a) rz = rcos 40o = (240 mm)(cos 400) = 183.85 mm
 A’ = r cos 500 = (240 mm)(cos 500) = 154.27 mm
rx = A’cos 50 = (154.27 mm)(cos 500) = 99.16 mm
ry = A’cos 400 = (154.27 mm)(cos 40) = 118.18 mm
r = (99.16i + 118.18j + 183.85k)mm

(b) x = rx/r r = (99.16)2 + (118.18)2 + (183.85)2 = 240 mm

x = 99.16/240 = 0.41 y = 118.18/240 = 0.49 z = 183.85/240 = 0.77

 = (0.41)2 + (0.49)2 + (0.77)2 = 1

Determine a) the rectangular representation of the position vector A; and b) the angles between A and
each of the positive coordinate axes.

a) Let Axy = a

a = A sin 300 = (12 m)(sin 300) = 6 m; Ax = (a)( cos 400) = (6 m)(cos 400) = 4.6 m

Ay = a sin 400 = a cos 500 = (6m)(sin 400) = (6 m)(cos 500) = 3.86 m

Az = A cos 300 = (12 m)(cos 300) = 10.4 m

A = 4.6 m i + 3.86 m j + 10.4 m k

Cos θx = Ax/A = 4.6 m/12 m θy = cos-1 Ay/A θz = 300

Θx = cos-1(4.6 m/12 m) = cos-1 (3.86 m/12 m)

Θx = 67.50 θy = 71.20

(a) Compute the value of θz between the force vector F and the z-axis. (b) Determine the
rectangular representation of F given that F = 240 N. ( 54.50, 154.3i +120.0j + 139.3j)

cos2θx + cos2θy + cos2θz = 1

cos2θz = 1 – cos2θx – cos2θy
cos2θz = 1 – (cos 500)2 – (cos 600)2
cos θz =  1- 0.41 – 0.25
θz = cos-1(0.583) = 54.330

b) F = F[(cos 500)i + (cos 600)j + (cos 54.330)k

F = (240 N)[(0.64)i + (0.5)j + (0.58)k

F = 153.6i + 120j + 139.2k
Find the rectangular representation of the force F, given its magnitude 240 N.
dx = xA – xO = -4 m – 0 = -4m dy = 5 m dz =3

d = (-4 m)2 + (5 m)2 + (3 m)2 = 7.07 m

F = F(dxi + dyj + dzk)/d = (240)(-4i + 5j + 3k)/7.07
F = -136.78i + 169.73j + 101.84k
The magnitude of the force F is 120 lb. Find its rectangular representation. (63i – 52.5j -87.6k)

d = (18)2 + (-15)2 + (-25)2

d = 34.26 ft
Fx = Fdx/d = (120 lb)(18/34.26) = 63 lb
Fy = (120 lb)(-15/34.26) = -52.54 lb
Fz = (120 lb)(-25/34.26) = -87.56 lb
F = 63i – 52.54j -87.56k
Determine the resultant of the two forces shown. F1 = 120 lb F2 =100 lb
(-96i + 123j -85.8k)

Solutions:

d1 = - 4i + 3j d1 = √(−4)2 + (3)2 = 5 ft d2 = 3j – 5k = √(3)2 + (-5)2 = 5.83 ft

F1 = F1(dxi + dyj + dzk)/d = 120 lb(-4i + 3j)/5

F1 = (-96i + 72j)lb

F2 = 100 lb(3j – 5k)/5.83

F2 = (51.46j – 85.76k) lb

F1 = -96.00i + 72.00j

F2 = 51.46j – 85.76k

FR = -96.00i + 123.45k – 85.76k

The magnitude of the three forces acting on the plate are T1 = 100 kN,
T2 = 80 kN and T3 = 50 kN. Replace these forces with a single equivalent force
R.

d1x = - 1m d1y = 2m d1z = 6 m

d1 =  (-1 m)2 + ( 2m)2 + (6 m)2 = 6.4 m

d2x = - 2 m d2y = - 3 m d2z = 6 m

d2 =  (-2 m)2 + (-3 m)2 + (6 m)2 = 7 m

d3x = 2 m d3y = -3 m d3z = 6 m

d3 =  (2 m)2 + (3 m)2 + (6 m)2 = 7 m

T1 = T1(d1xi + d1yj + d1zk)/d1

= 100 kN(- 1mi + 2mj + 6mk)/6.4 m

T1 = (-15.63i + 31.25j + 93.75k) kN

T2 = 80 kN(-2mi -3mj + 6mk)/7m

T2 = (-22.86i – 34.29j + 68.6k)kN

T3 = 50 kN(2mi - 3mj + 6mk)/7m

T3 =(14.3i – 21.43j + 42.86k)kN

T1 = (-15.63i + 31.25j + 93.75k) kN

T2 = (-22.86i -34.29j + 68.6k) kN

T3 = (14.3i – 21.43j + 42.86k) kN

R = (-24.2i – 24.47j + 205.21k)kN

R =  Rx2 + Ry2 + Rz2

R = 208 kN

Θx = cos-124.2/208 = 83.30 θy = cos-1 24.47/208 = 83.240 θz = cos-1205.21/208 = 9.40

Determine the magnitude of the Resultant Force at A.

dBx = 3 m dBy = -2 m dBz = -6 m

dB =  (3 m)2 + (-2 m)2 + (- 6m)2

dB = 7 m

dCx = 2 m dCy = 3 m dCz = -6 m

dc =  (2 m)2 + (3 m)2 + (-6 m)2

dC = 7 m

FB = 840 N(3mi – 2mj - 6mk)/7m

FB = (360i – 240j – 720k)N

FC = 420 N( 2mi + 3mj – 6mk)/7m

FC = (120i + 180j – 360k) N

FB = (360i – 240j – 720k)N

FC = (120i + 180j – 360k)N

FR = (480i - 60j – 1080k)N

If FB = 700 N and FC = 560 N, determine the magnitude and the coordinate angles
of the resultant force acting on the flagpole.
 dbx = 2 m dby = - 3 m dcz = - 6 m db = 7 m

dcx = 3 m dcy = 2 m dcz = -6m dc = 7 m

FB = 700 N(dBxi + dByj + dBzk)/dB

FB = 700 N(2i – 3j -6k)/7

200 Ni – 300 Nj – 600 Nk

FC = 560 N(3i + 2j – 6k)/7 θX = cos-1 Rx/R = cos-1440/1175 = 680

= 240i + 160j – 480k θy = cos-1 Ry/R = cos-1 140/1175 = 830

R = 440i -140j – 1080k θz = cos-1 Rz/R = os-1080/1175 = 230

R = 4402 + (-140)2 + (-1080)2

= 1175 N

04. The three force acting on a pole is equivalent to a single force R. Determine the
magnitude of R.
F1 = 120 lb F1x = 0 F1y = 0 F1z = -120 lb 300

F1 = -120 lbk

F2 = 80 lb F2x = 0 F2y = -F2 (sin300) = 80 lb(0.5)

F2y =- 40lb

F2z = -F2 cos 300 = -80(cos 300)

= - 69.3 lb

F3z = -(160 lb)(cos 300) = -138.6 F3y = 80 (sin 500) = 61.28 lb

a = 160 lb (sin 300)

= 80 lb

F3x = (80)(cos 500) = 51.42 lb

F3 = 51.4i + 61.28j – 138.6 k

F1 = -120k

F2 = - 40j – 69.3k

R = 51.4i + 21.28j - 327.9k

R = 332. 6 lb
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
This Instructional Materials was compiled using the following reference books
Engineering Mechanics STATICS
By Andrew Pytel & Ian Kiusalaas
3rd Edition
Engineering Mechanics STATICS
Hibbeler 13th Edition
.