A geometric construction used in statics to determine the net effect of two intersecting forces. The two force vectors are drawn as adjacent sides of a parallelogram, and the diagonal drawn from their common origin represents the magnitude and direction of the resultant force. It forms the foundation for vector addition in classical mechanics.
Heard on the job
If you sketch the parallelogram of forces for that bracket, you'll see the resultant points straight down into the weld.
Do not mix it up with
- Polygon of forces: The parallelogram method resolves exactly two forces, while the polygon method resolves three or more.