WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Normal Road, Baliwasan, Zamboanga City

I. INTRODUCTION TO STATICS

Lesson 1

Introduction
Mechanics is the physical science which deals with the effect of forces on objects. No other
subject plays a greater role in engineering analysis than mechanics. Although the principles of
mechanics are few, they have wide application in engineering. The principles of mechanics are central
to research and development in the fields of vibrations, stability and strength of structures and many
more which involves the applications of statics and dynamics.

In this lesson we will encounter basic principles, concepts, laws, units and techniques in solving
problem in regards to static. Which are very helpful as we go through the study of static subject course.

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you can:

1. Describe the basic concept of mechanics.

2. Identify Scalar and Vector.
3. Explain basic concepts.
4. Identify the difference of Newton’s Laws.
5. Describe Law of Gravitation.
6. Problem Solving in Statics.

Topic Outline:

I. Mechanics
II. Basic Concepts
III. Scalars and Vectors
IV. Newton’s Law
V. Units
VI. Law of Gravitations
VII. Problem Solving Techniques

(For Lecture Purpose Only)

 Try This!

Answer the following problems given below. After you answer find a partner and compare to your
partner the answers you have. Then discuss what you have learned.

I. Fill out the missing units and symbol.

II. Convert the following units,

1) 2343 cm = _____ m _____cm 2) 24m 30cm = ________cm

3) 36250 m = ______km ______m 4. 28km 667m = _______ m

5. 3400 mm = _____cm _____mm 6. 48hrs = _____ min

7. 56 gallons = _______ liters 8. 250 liters = _____ m3

9. 3600 s = _______ min 10. 2450 inch = _______ cm

III. Solve the problem.

1. What is the weights both newtons and pounds in 75-kg beams?

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 Think Ahead!

Solve the following problems.

1. Determine the weight in newtons of a car whose mass is

1400 kg. Concert the mass of the car to slugs and then
determine its weight in ponds.

2. For the vectors V1 and V2 shown in the figure,

a) determine the magnitude S of their vector sum S = V1 + V2

b) determine the angle ꝋ between S and the positive x – axis

c) write S as a vector in terms of the unit vectors i and j and then write
a unit n along the vector sum S

d) determine the vector difference D = V1 – V2

. Congratulations! You have taken another step towards being competent!

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 Read and Ponder

What is Mechanics?

Mechanics can be defined as that science which describes and predicts the conditions of rest
or motion of bodies under the action of forces. It is divided into three parts: mechanics of rigid bodies,
mechanics of deformable bodies, and mechanics of fluids.

The mechanics of rigid bodies is subdivided into statics and dynamics, the former dealing
with bodies at rest, the latter with bodies in motion. In this part of the study of mechanics, bodies are
assumed to be perfectly rigid. Actual structures and machines, however, are never absolutely rigid and
deform under the loads to which they are subjected. But these deformations are usually small and do
not appreciably affect the conditions of equilibrium or motion of the structure under consideration. They
are important, though, as far as the resistance of the structure to failure is concerned and are studied
in mechanics of materials, which is a part of the mechanics of deformable bodies. The third division of
mechanics, the mechanics of fluids, is subdivided into the study of incompressible fluids and of
compressible fluids. An important subdivision of the study of incompressible fluids is hydraulics, which
deals with problems involving water.

The Parallelogram Law for the Addition of Forces. This states that two forces acting on a particle
may be replaced by a single force, called their resultant, obtained by drawing the diagonal of the
parallelogram which has sides equal to the given forces.

The Principle of Transmissibility. This states that the conditions of equilibrium or of motion of a rigid
body will remain unchanged if a force acting at a given point of the rigid body is replaced by a force of
the same magnitude and same direction, but acting at a different point, provided that the two forces
have the same line of action.

Basic Concepts
The following concepts and definitions are the basic to the study of mechanics, and they should
be understood at the outset.

Space is the geometric region occupied by bodies whose positions are described by linear and
angular measurements relative to a coordinate system. For two dimensional problems, two independent
coordinates are need while for three dimensional problems, three coordinates are need.

Time is the measure of the succession on events and a basic quantity in dynamics. Time is not
directly involved in the statics analysis problems.

Mass is a measure of the inertia of a body, which is its resistance to a change of velocity. Mass
can also be thought of as quantity of matter in a body. The mass of a body affects the gravitational
attraction force between it and other bodies. This force appears in many applications.

Force is the action of one body on another. A force tends to move a body in the direction of its
action. The action of a force is characterized by its magnitude, the direction of its action, and by its point
of application.

Particle is a body of negligible dimensions. In the mathematical sense, a particle is a body

whose dimensions are considered to be near zero so that we may analyze it as a mass concentrated
at appoint.

Rigid Body. A body is considered rigid when the change in distance between any two of its
points is negligible for the purpose at hand. For the purpose, then, of determining the external forces
which act on the boom, we may treat it as a rigid body. Statics deals primarily with the calculation of
external forces which act on rigid bodies in equilibrium.

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Scalars and Vectors
Two kinds of quantities in mechanics – scalars and vectors. Scalar quantities are those with
which only magnitude is associated. Examples of scalar quantities are time, volume, density, speed,
energy and mass. Vector quantities, on the other hand, possess direction as well as magnitude, and
must obey the parallelogram law of addition. Examples of vector quantities are displacement, velocity,
acceleration, force, moment, and momentum.

Working with Vector (Sum and Difference)

(Fig. 1.1)

Vectors must obey the parallelogram law of combination. This law states that the two vectors
V1 and V2, treated as free vectors, may be replaced by their equivalent vector V, which is the diagonal
of the parallelogram formed by V1 and V2 as its two sides. The combination is called the vector sum,
and is presented by the vector equation (Figure 1.1)

V = V1 + V2

(Fig.1.2)
The difference V1 – V2 between the two vectors is easily obtained by adding –V2 to V1 as
shown, where either the triangle or parallelogram procedure may be used. The difference V’ between
the two vectors is expressed by the vector equation (Figure 1.2)

V’ = V1 – V2

where the minus sign denotes vector subtraction.

Component of a Vector

Any two or more vectors whose sum equals a certain vector V are said to be components of
that vector. It is usually most convenient to deal with vector components which are mutually
perpendicular; these are called rectangular components.

V has component Vx along x-axis and Vy along y-axis.

Finding the angle ꝋ,

A vector V may be expressed mathematically by multiplying its magnitude V by a vector n

whose magnitude is one and whose direction coincides with that of V. The vector n is called a unit
vector. Thus,

V = Vn

(For Lecture Purpose Only)

In order to describe a vector in 2 or 3 (orthogonal) dimensions, we use
the unit vectors, i, j, and k to indicate a vector’s direction towards x, y
and z, respectively (as seen in the figure).

Newton’s Three Fundamental Laws.

Formulated by Sir Isaac Newton in the latter part of the
seventeenth century, these laws can be stated as follows:

First Law. I f the resultant force acting on a particle is zero,

the particle will remain at rest (if originally at rest) or will move with
constant speed in a straight line (if originally in motion).

Second Law. I f the resultant force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle will have an
acceleration proportional to the magnitude of the resultant and in the direction of this resultant force.

F = ma
where F, m, and a represent, respectively, the resultant force acting on the particle, the mass of the
particle, and the acceleration of the particle, expressed in a consistent system of units.

Third Law. The forces of action and reaction between bodies in contact have the same
magnitude, same line of action, and opposite sense.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation.

This states that two particles of mass M and m are mutually attracted with equal and opposite

where r = distance between the two particles, G = universal constant called the constant of gravitation
(G = 6.673 x 10^ -11 m3/ (kg. s2))

For a body of mass m near the surface of the earth, the gravitational attraction of F on the body
is specified. We denote the magnitude of this gravitational force or weight with the symbol W. Because
the body falls with an accelerates g,

W = mg
The weight W will be in Newtons (N) when the mass m in kilograms (kg) and acceleration g is in meter
per second square.

Units
With the four fundamental concepts introduced in the preceding section are associated the so-
called kinetic units, i.e., the units of length, time, mass, and force. Three of the units may be defined
arbitrarily; they are then referred to as basic units. The fourth unit is referred to as a derived unit. Kinetic
units selected in this way are said to form a consistent system of units.

International System of Units (SI Units †). In this system, which will be in universal use
after the United States has completed its conversion to SI units, the base units are the units of length,
mass, and time, and they are called, respectively, the meter (m), the kilogram (kg), and the second (s).
All three are arbitrarily defined.

(For Lecture Purpose Only)

The unit of force is a derived unit. It is called the newton (N) and is defined as the force which gives an
acceleration of 1 m/ s2 to a mass of 1 kg,

U.S. Customary Units. Most practicing American engineers still commonly use a system in
which the base units are the units of length, force, and time. These units are, respectively, the foot (ft),
the pound (lb), and the second (s). The pound is defined as the weight of a platinum standard, called
the standard pound, which is kept at the National Institute of Standards and Technology outside
Washington, the mass of which is 0.453 592 43 kg.

This unit, sometimes called a slug, can be derived from the equation F = ma after substituting 1 lb and
1 ft/s2 for F and a , respectively. We write

F = ma 1 lb = (1 slug) (1 ft/s2)

Unit Conversions

The approximate conversions

Problem Solving Technique

A first course in statics is often one of the the first technical courses taken by a technology
student. To develop a procedure for an orderly approach to solving problems, which will result in fewer
errors, a better understanding of the problem, neat and organized solutions, and easier troubleshooting
to find errors that may exist. The method outlined here is an example of such a systematic
approach. There are no claims that it is the best, or the only method, but the important thing is to get
into the habit of following a technique such as this.

1.) Define the problem 5.) Solve

2.) Collect information 6.) Verify the solution
3.) Generate a "plan of attack"
4.) Apply the appropriate principles and equations

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 See if you can do this!

To evaluate what you have learned today and to test your mathematical skills and analysis solve the
following problems. Try to do research and explore any solutions may come up.

I. Solve the following Problems.

1. Determine the angle made by the vector V = -10i + 24j with the positive x –axis. Write the unit
vector n in the direction of V.

2. Determine the weight in newtons of a woman whose weight in pounds is 130. Also, find her mass in
slugs and in kilograms. Determine your own weight in newtons.

3. Determine the magnitude of the vector sum V = V1 + V2 and the

angle Ꝋx which V makes with the positive x – axis. Compute both
graphical and algebraic solutions.

II. In familiarizing quantities and its units consider this one. Fill out the following units of the following.

Quantity SI Unit English Unit

1. Acceleration
2. Area
3. Energy
4. Force
5. Impulse
6. Length
7. mass
8. Moment of a force
9. Moment of Inertia
Of a area
Of a mass
10. Momentum
11. Power
12. Pressure or stress
13. Velocity
14. Volume
Of a solid
Of a liquid
15. Work

Congratulations for a job well done!

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References

1. Beer F. P., Johnston E.R., Mazurek D. F., Cornwell P. J., Eisenberg E. R. Vector Mechanics for
Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, Ninth edition. 2010

2. Beer F. P., Johnston E.R., Mazurek D. F., Cornwell P. J., Eisenberg E. R. Vector Mechanics for
Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, seventh edition. 2010

3. Beer F. P., Johnston E.R., Mazurek D. F., Cornwell P. J., Eisenberg E. R. Vector Mechanics of
Materials, Eight edition.

4. Hibbeler R. C., Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Twelfth Edition,

5. Hibbeler R. C., Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Eleventh Edition

6. Meriam J. L., Kraige L. G., Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Fifth Edition, 2002

7. Meriam J. L., Kraige L. G., Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Sixth Edition,

(For Lecture Purpose Only)