LECTURE 1

The science which treats of the general laws of motion and

equilibrium of material bodies and of their resulting mutual
interactions is called theoretical mechanics. This science
constitutes one of the scientific bedrocks of modern engineering
According to the nature of the problems treated, mechanics is
divided into statics, kinematics, and dynamics.

The Subject of Statics

Statics is the branch of mechanics which studies the laws of

composition of forces and the conditions of equilibrium of material
bodies under the action of forces.
 Fundamental Principles

1st Principle. A free rigid body subjected to the action at

two forces can be in equilibrium if, and only if, the two forces
are equal in magnitude (F1 = F2), collinear, and opposite in
direction
 2st Principle. The action of a given force system on a rigid body
remains unchanged if another balanced force system is added to, or
subtracted from, the original system.

Corollary of the 1st and 2nd Principles. The point of

application of a force acting on a rigid body can be transferred to any
other point on line of action of the force without altering its effect.
 3st Principle. (the Parallelogram Law). Two forces
applied at one point of a body have as their resultant a force
applied at the same point and represented by the diagonal of a
parallelogram constructed with the two given forces as its sides.
 4st Principle. To any action of one material body on
another there is always an equal and opposite reaction,
 5st Principle. (Principle of Solidification). If a freely
deformable body subjected to the action of a force system is in
equilibrium, the state of equilibrium will not be disturbed if the
body solidifies (becomes rigid).
A body whose displacement in space is restricted by
other bodies, either connected to or in contact with it, is called
a con strained body. We shall call a constraint anything that
restricts the displacement of a given body in space.
 Constraints and Their Reactions
A body whose displacement in space is restricted by other
bodies, either connected to or in contact with it, is called a
constrained body. We shall call a constraint anything that
restricts the displacement of a given body in space.
1. Smooth. Plane (Surface) or Support. A smooth
surface is one whose friction can be neglected in the first
approximation. Therefore, the reaction N of a smooth surface
or support is directed normal to both contacting surfaces at
their point of contact and is applied at that point.
 2. String. The reaction T of the string is thus
directed along the string towards the point of suspension.
 3. Cylindrical Pin (Bearing). When two bodies are joined
by means of a pin passing through holes in them the connection
is called a joint or hinge. In this case neither the magnitude R nor
the direction (angle a) of force R are immediately apparent.
 4 Ba1l-and-Socket Joint and Step Bearing. This type
of constraint prevents displacement in any direction.
The reaction R of a ball-and-socket joint or a pivot can
have any direction in space. Neither its magnitude R nor Its
angles with the x, y, and z axes are immediately apparent.
 Axiom of Constraints
Any constrained body can be treated as a free body
detached from its constraints, provided the latter are
represented by their reactions.
• Reading:
• S.Targ, Theoretical mechanics, pp. 17-
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