Force Composition and Force Resolution Flashcards

Flashcards on Force Composition and Resolution

Force Composition

Vector addition to produce a single resultant force.

Force Composition (Linear)

Adding multiple linear forces to produce a single, representative resultant force

Force Composition Illustration

Illustrates that when multiple internal and/or external forces are acting at the same time the resulting combined action can be determined

Co-linear Forces

Forces that are in a straight line such as in a tug-of-war

Parallelogram Method

A method for representing or adding non-linear vectors by completing a parallelogram and drawing the resultant force from the origin to the opposite end.

Polygon Method

A method for representing or adding vectors by placing the tail of the second vector to the tip of the first, maintaining magnitude and direction, and drawing the resultant from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last.

Force Resolution

Taking a resultant force and dividing it into its components

Tangential Component

The component that acts parallel to the segment or lever, often providing joint compression/stabilization or distraction.

Normal Component

The component that acts perpendicular to the segment or lever, often providing the majority of rotary movement at the joint.

Cosine (cos)

Related to the adjacent side of a right triangle.

Sine (sin)

Related to the opposite side of a right triangle.

Tangent (tan)

The association between the opposite and adjacent sides of a right triangle.