Chapter 1

Large cranes such as this one are required to lift extrememly large loads. Their
design is based on the basic principles of statics and dynamics, which form the
subject matter of engineering mechanics.
General Principles

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
■ To provide an introduction to the basic quantities and idealizations
of mechanics.
■ To give a statement of Newton’s Laws of Motion and Gravitation.
■ To review the principles for applying the SI system of units.
■ To examine the standard procedures for performing numerical
calculations.
■ To present a general guide for solving problems.

1.1 Mechanics
Mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences that is concerned with the
state of rest or motion of bodies that are subjected to the action of forces.
In general, this subject can be subdivided into three branches: rigid-body
mechanics, deformable-body mechanics, and fluid mechanics. In this book
we will study rigid-body mechanics since it is a basic requirement for the
study of the mechanics of deformable bodies and the mechanics of fluids.
Furthermore, rigid-body mechanics is essential for the design and analysis
of many types of structural members, mechanical components, or electrical
devices encountered in engineering.
Rigid-body mechanics is divided into two areas: statics and dynamics.
Statics deals with the equilibrium of bodies, that is, those that are either
at rest or move with a constant velocity; whereas dynamics is concerned
with the accelerated motion of bodies. We can consider statics as a special
case of dynamics, in which the acceleration is zero; however, statics
deserves separate treatment in engineering education since many objects
are designed with the intention that they remain in equilibrium.
 WHAT IS MECHANICS?

Study of what happens to a “thing” (the technical name is

“BODY”) when FORCES are applied to it.

Either the body or forces can be large or small.

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 BRANCHES OF MECHANICS

Mechanics

Rigid Bodies Deformable Bodies Fluids

(Things that do not change shape) (Things that do change shape)

Statics Dynamics Incompressible Compressible

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
(Section 1.3)

Four fundamental physical quantities (or dimensions).

• Length
• Mass
• Time
• Force

Newton’s 2nd Law relates them: F = m × a

We use this equation to develop systems of units.
Units are arbitrary names we give to the physical quantities.

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 UNIT SYSTEMS

Force, mass, time and acceleration are related by Newton’s

2nd law. Three of these are assigned units (called base units)
and the fourth unit is derived. Which one is derived varies by
the system of units.
We will work with two unit systems in statics:
• International System (SI)
• U.S. Customary (USCS)

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
Table 1-1 in the textbook summarizes these unit systems.

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 COMMON CONVERSION FACTORS

Work problems in the units given unless otherwise instructed!

Can you convert a force value of 47 lb into SI units?

Answer is 209.06 N

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
(Section 1.4)

• No plurals (e.g., m = 5 kg, not kgs )

• Separate units with a • (e.g., meter second = m • s )

• Most symbols are in lowercase.

• Key exceptions are N, Pa, M and G.
• Exponential powers apply to units, e.g., cm • cm = cm2
• Compound prefixes should not be used.
• Table 1-3 in the textbook shows prefixes used in the SI
system

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.
 Table 1–3 shows some of the prefixes used
in the SI system.

Statics, Fourteenth Edition Copyright ©2016 by Pearson Education, Inc.

R.C. Hibbeler All rights reserved.