MECHANICS is the oldest of the physical sciences which deals with the effects of forces on objects.

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.

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.

1.4 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.

Force Systems

1. Collinear Forces are forces that act on the same line of action.
2. Parallel Forces are forces that are of the same angle to one another.
3. Coplanar Forces are forces lying on the same plane. Non-coplanar is opposite of coplanar
4. Concurrent forces are forces that meet or pass through a common point. Non-concurrent is opposite of
concurrent

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.

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.

Resultant “Two or more forces acting on a body can be replaced by a single force called the Resultant Force”.

Parallelogram Law “The resultant of two forces is the diagonal of the vectors formed by these forces”.

Triangle Law “If two forces are represented by free vectors placed head to tail, their resultant is the vector directed
from the tail of the first vector to the head of the second vector”

Polygon Method “If the heads and tails of free vector of forces are series connected, the vector connected from the tail
of the first vector to the head of the last vector is the resultant vector”.

The moment of a force about an axis or line is the measure of its ability to produce turning or twisting about the axis.
“The magnitude of the moment of a force about an axis which is perpendicular to a plane containing the line of action of
the force is defined as the product of the force and the perpendicular distance from the axis to the line of action of the
force”.

Varignon’s Theorem, which states that “the moment of a force about any point is equal to the sum of the moments of
the components of the force about the same point.

Couple is two-equal, parallel, oppositely directed forces. Their resultant is zero, and their effect only effect is to cause
rotation of the body upon which they act

Static Equilibrium is the state of the body where when at rest it will remain at rest. The resultant of the body in the
state of equilibrium is zero. According to 1st Law of Newton “If the resultant of forces acting on the body is zero, it will
remain at rest if originally at rest or remain in motion with constant speed if originally in motion”

Graphical Condition. The graphical representation of system of forces w/ zero resultant (state of equilibrium) is a close
polygon

Analytical Condition: Force (vectors) in equilibrium must satisfy the three given conditions.

Analysis of structure is the process by which we determine how the loads applied to a structure are distributed
throughout the structure. The basic procedure developed in the last chapter for isolating a body by constructing a
correct free-body diagram is essential for the analysis of statically determinate structures. The basic element of a plane
truss is basically the triangle and structures built from it are known as simple trusses.

Types of Structures

1. Truss/es are designed to support loads which are stationary fully constrained structures. Trusses consist exclusively of
straight members connected at joints of each member. Member of truss are acted upon by two equal and opposite
forces directed along the members. The force is towards the joint. Bridges, roof supports, derricks, and other such
structures are common examples of trusses.

2. Frames are also designed to support loads and are also stationary, fully constrained structures. Frame always contain
one multi force member, where the member is acted by three or more forces which in general not directed along the
members. The force application is on lateral part.

3. Machines which are designed to transmit and modify forces and are structures containing moving parts. Machines
like frame, always contain one multi-force members.

In simple trusses the members of a truss are joined together by means of pins, riveting or by welding

Method of Sections In method of section, a cutting plane is passed through the entire truss, separating it into two parts
without cutting more than 3 members. To apply this method, use the two basic equations:
Varignon’s Theorem It states that the moment of a force at a certain point is equal to the algebraic sum of the moments
of its components about the point

Moment It is the cross product of force and the perpendicular distance to which the force is applied.

Concurrent forces Are forces that meet in one common joint.

Free Body Diagram It is a sketch of the isolated body which shows only the forces acting upon body

Resultant It is a single force which would have the same effect as of the many forces acting in one body

Principle of transmissibility It states that the external effect of a force on a body is the same for all points of application
along its line of action

1st law It is the state of the body where when at rest it will remain at rest

Force It is defined as that which changes or tends to change, the state of motion of a body

Rigid body It is defined as definite amount of matter the body parts of which are fixed in position relative to each other

Coplanar Are forces lying on the same plane.