Mechanics

The science concerned with the motion of bodies under the action of forces, including the special case
in which a body remains at rest.

Branches of Mechanics
Statics:
is the study of bodies and structures that are in equilibrium. For a body to be in equilibrium, there must
be no net force acting on it.

Dynamics:
is the subdivision of mechanics that is concerned with the motion of material objects in relation to the
physical factors that affect them: force, mass, momentum, energy.

Kinematics
concerned with the geometrically possible motion of a body or system of bodies without
consideration of the forces involved (i.e., causes and effects of the motions).

Kinetics
concerns the effect of forces and torques on the motion of bodies having mass.

Statics
Force, in mechanics, any action that tends to maintain or alter the motion of a body or to distort it.

Units of Measure of Force:

S.I. Units – Newton (N)or KiloNewton (kN)
English - Pound force (lbf)

Scalar and Vector Quantities

The mathematical quantities that are used to describe the motion of objects can be divided into two
categories. The quantity is either vector or a scalar. These two categories can be distinguished from one
another by their distinct definitions:

Scalars are quantities that are fully described by a magnitude (or numerical value) alone.
Examples: time, volume, area, speed, mass, temperature, distance, energy, work,...

Vectors are quantities that are fully described by both magnitude and a direction.
Examples: force, acceleration, velocity, momentum,...

The combination of two or more single vectors is called a resultant vector or resultant.