page 11

3. FORCES

• WHAT? - We look at mechanical structures, and determine the distribution of forces and
moments.

• WHY? - a fundamental subject for every form of Mechanical Engineering (and every other
branch of engineering that has ever existed)

e.g., an electric transmission tower

When the weight of the transmission line (a force) is applied, how much
force does each part (beam) of the tower carry. How much support is
needed on the ground
If we do the analysis we can then determine how large the beams must be,
but this will be taught in Mechanics of Materials.

egr20935.jpg

• The difference between statics and dynamics, in brief,

Statics - does nothing, just sits there
Dynamics - moving things

EX1.WM

• Consider some of the applications of statics design techniques,

egr20921.jpg
egr20932.jpg
egr20926.jpg