Engineering Mechanics

Mechanics is the oldest of the physical sciences which deals with the effects of forces on
objects.
The principles of mechanics are very important in the fields of vibrations, stability and
strength of structures, machines and etc.

1.1.1 Branches of Engineering Mechanics

1. Statics - deals with body at rest or in equilibrium.

2. Dynamics – the branch of mechanics which deals with body in motion. It is
subdivided into Kinematics and Kinetics.

1.1.2 Basic Concepts and Definition of Terms

Space is the geometric region occupied by bodies whose positions are described by
linear and angular measurements relative to a coordinate system.
Time is the measure of the succession of events and is a basic quantity in dynamics.
Mass is a measure of the inertia of a body, which is its resistance to a change of velocity.
Force is the action of one body on another.
A 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 a point.
Rigid Body is defined as a definite amount of matter the body parts of which are fixed in
position relative to each other.

Note: A body is considered rigid when the change in distance between any two of its
points is negligible for the purpose at hand. The rigidity of the body does not employ
when the body is stretched, deformed, bind and etc. In engineering mechanics, even
how strong is the force applied in the body (enough for the body to be deformed), the
body is always considered and assumed to be rigid.

Quantities in Mechanics
1. Scalar quantities are those that have magnitude only.
Examples: speed, distance, volume, time, density, mass.
2. Vector quantities are those that have magnitude and direction as well.
Examples: displacement, acceleration, force, moment and momentum.
1.1.3 Basic Units of Mechanics

Dimensional S.I. units English

Symbol
Quantity Unit Symbol Unit Symbol
Mass M Kilogram Kg Slug -
Length l meter, m, cm, mm foot, inches, ft, in, yd
centimeter, yard
millimeter
Time t Second, s, min, hr Second, s, min, hr
minute, minute,
hour hour
Force F Newton N pound lb

1.1.4 Force System

Force is a vector quantity, which tends to change the state (at rest or in motion) of the body. It
is commonly considered as a push or pull exerted by one body on another.

Example: A 10-N Force at 300 from the horizontal

F=
going upright.
10N
30 Magnitude – color red
0
Direction – color green
Line of action
Force Systems

1. Collinear Forces are forces that act on the same line of action.
F2
F1

2. Parallel Forces are forces that are of the same angle to one another.

F1

F2

3. Coplanar Forces are forces lying on the same plane.

Non-coplanar is opposite of coplanar.
y
F1

4. Concurrent forces are forces that meet or pass through a common point.
Non-concurrent is opposite of concurrent
F2

F3
x

F1
c

F
B

F
 F2

Coplanar, concurrent forces

1.1.5 Principle of Transmissibility

The Principle of transmissibility of a force states that the external effect of a force on a body is
the same for all points of application along its line of action; i.e., it is independent of the point
of application.

Line of action
F F

a b

The effect of force F on the body in (a) is the same effect of F on the same body in (b)

Ex. α

is the same as

Newton’s Laws

1st Law (Law of Inertia)

“A body at rest will remain at rest or in motion at that constant velocity, unless acted upon by
some unbalanced, external force.”

2nd Law (Law of acceleration)

“The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.”

3rd Law (Law action and reaction)

“For every force that acts on one body there is a second force equal in magnitude and opposite
in direction.

Free Body Diagram (FBD) is a sketch of the isolated body which shows only the forces acting
upon the body. The forces acting on the free body are the action forces, also called the applied
forces. It is very important in the analysis of problems in mechanics.

Example: Draw the F.B.D. of the figure using the following references
 (a) FBD @ C
(b) FBD @ B
(c) FBD @ A B
(d) FBD of boom AC
(e) FBD of the derrick

D
E
At point C

C
(a)

W
C or

T
(principle of transmissibility of force)
P
W

W
W
P
W
(b) (c)
Bh B T
B A
or v
h h

T T T A
Bv T
v

(d) (e) D
T
h

C
Ah T

A
E W
T h
Av
E
v