Derived units in acceleration metre/sec mi? terms of Base units | activity(radioactive) ‘sec st area square metre im concentration ‘mole/cubic metre molim? luminance candela/square metre ‘edim? mass density kilogram/cubic metre kgfm? specific volume cubic metre/kilogram mikg velocity, speed metressec mis volume cubic metre m 1.4 Scalar and Vector Quantities All quantities involved in engineering mechanics are classified into scalar and vector quantities. Scalar Quantities are those that can be described completely by its magnitude only, like mass, length, volume, power, temperature and time, etc. For example if a person asks a shopkeeper to pack 2 kg potatoes, it is providing sufficient information for the required task, Such quantities are called scalar quantities. Vector Quantities are those which cannot be described completely by its magnitude only, like force, weight, moment, couple, displacement, velocity, acceleration and momentum, etc, For example, ifa person is applying 20 Nm couple on cap of bottle, it does not specify ‘whether person is tightening or loosing cap but when direction is stated clockwise or anticlockwise it serves the full information. Such quantities which are defined by both magnitude as well as direction are called vector quantities. 1.5 Force and its Characteristics A force is a vector quantity that causes interaction between bodies, It changes or tends to change the position of a body whether the body is in rest or in motion. A force can cause a body to push, pull or twist. A force is specified by four characteristics, ie, magnitude, point of application, line of action, and sense. 1.6 Force System Force System is a collection or pattern or group of various forces acting on a rigid body. Itis, of two types and its classification depends upon number of forces acting in planes. 1.6.1 Classification of force system ‘The force system is classified into two categories (a) Coplanar Force System —(b) Non-Coplanar Force System