This law states that, “If number of coplanar concurrent forces acting simultaneously on a body, be represented in magnitude and direction by the sides of polygon taken in same order, then their resultant may be represented in magnitude and direction by the closing side of the polygon, taken in opposite order.”
Consider four forces F1 = AB, F2 = BC, F3 = CD, and F4 = DE acting at a point „O‟ as shown in space diagram. Label all the forces by Bow‟s notation. Considering suitable scale for vector diagram and find vector length for different forces. Draw vector ab // AB, bc // BC, cd // CD, and de // DE as shown in the vector diagram to represent the forces F1, F2, F3, and F4 respectively. abcde is an open polygon. Join the first point „a‟ and last point „e‟. The closing side „ae‟ of the polygon represents the resultant of all the forces in magnitude and direction. In space diagram, through „O‟ draw line parallel to „ae‟ to locate the position of the resultant. Measure angle „‟, which gives the direction of resultant with the horizontal.