Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics

Edition
Ninth

Ir. Mat Sharif Ismail

© 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 Ninth Edition

CHAPTER VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:

1
STATICS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.

Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University
Introduction

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Contents

What is Mechanics?
Fundamental Concepts
Fundamental Principles
Systems of Units
Method of Problem Solution
Numerical Accuracy

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

What is Mechanics?
• Mechanics is the physical science concerned and describes
the state of rest or motion of bodies (objects) that subjected
to the action of forces.

• Categories of Mechanics:
- Rigid bodies
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Deformable bodies
- Fluids
• Mechanics is the foundation of most engineering sciences and
is an indispensable (absolutely necessary) prerequisite to
engineering study.
• Mechanics is an applied science - it is not an abstract or pure
science but does not have the empiricism found in other
engineering sciences.
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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

What is Statics?

BRANCHES OF MECHANICS

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
 Mechanics is the branch of physical science that
deals with the response of bodies to the action of
forces.
 Static is the branch of mechanics involving the study
of forces and the effect of forces on the bodies /
system that are in equilibrium, that are either at rest
or move with a constant velocity.
 Dynamics is concerned with the accelerated motion
of bodies. While statics can be considered as a
special case of dynamics with acceleration is zero.

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Unit of Measurement
• Length – quantity to describe the size and position of a physical body/
system in terms of coordinates x, y, z (space) measured from a
reference point or origin.

• Time - a succession of an event requires specification of when or

position at which it occurred. Expressed in seconds, minutes or hour.

• Mass – a property of matter used to characterize and compare bodies,

it manifests as a gravitational attraction between the two bodies.

• Force – a form of power exerted by the action of one body on another.

A force is characterized by its magnitude, direction and point of
application, i.e., a force is a vector quantity.

In Newtonian Mechanics, length, time, and mass are absolute concepts,

independent of each other. Force however, is derivative of the three’s.
The force acting on a body is related to the mass of the body, and the
variation of its velocity with time (m/s2).

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Concepts
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

* Force unit, Newton (N), is derived from the 3 basic units

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Concepts
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

SI Units
• Stands for System International Units
• F = ma is maintained only if 3 of the units, called basic units,
are defined.
• SI unit specifies length in meters (m), time in seconds (s)
and mass in kilograms (kg)
• The 4th unit is derived from the equation (F = ma), where F
is a force [in Newton (N)], mass (kg), length (m) and time
(s); then N = kg.m/s2.
• In Engineering it can be represent as N = kg.ms-2

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Concepts
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
Prefixes
• For a very large or small numerical quantity, units can be
modified by using a prefix
• Each represent a multiple or sub-multiple of a unit
Eg: 4,000,000 N = 4000 kN (kilo newton)
= 4 MN (mega newton)
0.005 m = 5 mm (millimeter)

• In Engineering, unit used “to the power of 10+ or 10- (exponential)

represent a multiple or sub-multiple of a unit.
Eg: 4,000,000 N = 4 x 106 N (newton)
= 4 MN (mega newton)
0.005 m = 5 x 10-3m (meter)
= 5 millimeter
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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education South

Asia Pte Ltd
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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Idealizations
• Idealization = Modeling; used • Rigid Bodies = Combination of
in order to simplify application a large number of particles in
of the theory. Some which all are at fixed distance
definitions of important from one another and remain
idealization. fix before and after applying a
load.
• Particle(s) are mass with
neglected size. Ex: The size • Concentrated force =
of the earth is insignificant represent the effect of a
compared to the size of its loading which act at a point on
orbit. Therefore, the earth can a body. It is applied when the
be modeled as a particle area over which the load acts
when studying its orbital is very small compared to
motion. overall size of the body.

• A body can be idealized as a

particle to simplify in the
analysis of the problem.
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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS

To solve problems, it is important to present work in a logical and
orderly way as suggested:
1. Correlate actual physical situation with the theory.
2. Draw any diagrams and tabulate the problem data.
3. Apply principles in mathematics forms.
4. Solve equations which are
dimensionally homogenous.
5. Report the answer with
significance figures.
6. Use technical judgment
and common sense.

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
Engineering mechanics is formulated on the basis of Newton’s
three laws of motion.

• First Law

“A particle originally at rest, or moving

in a straight line with constant velocity,
will remain in this state provided that
the particle is not subjected to an
unbalanced forces”.

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles

• Second Law

“A particle acted upon by an unbalanced force F experiences an

acceleration a that has the same direction as the force and a
magnitude that is directly proportional to the force”.
If force F is applied to a particle of mass m, the law can be
expressed mathematically as;

F  ma

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles

• Third Law

“The mutual forces of action and reaction between two

particles are equal, opposite and collinear”

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles
Newton’s Law of Gravitational Attraction (Weight)
Applying Newton’s 2nd law F = ma

m1 m 2
F G
r2

Where,
F = force of gravitation between two particles
G = universal constant of gravitation (9.81 ms-2)
m1, m2 = mass of each of the two particles
r = distance between the two particles

GM e
Weight: W =m[ ]
r2
Letting g  GM e / r 2 yields W  mg = 1 N

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles
The universal constant of gravitation
G = 66.73(10-12 ) m3/(kg s2 )
• By ignoring the value of mass and radius of the earth, while a particle
located at or near the surface of the earth,
• However, the only gravitational force having any sizable magnitude is
that between the earth and the particle.
• Let we analyzed the unit of ‘G’ and ‘g’ for future application.

unit G = m3 / kg.s2
GM m 3.kg m
unit g= 2 e = =
r kg.s 2 m 2 s2

unit W = mg = kg.m/s2 1 Newton (N)

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles
Newton’s Law of Gravitation
• At the standard location, on or near the
surface of the earth, g = 9.806 65 m/s2
• For calculations, we use g = 9.81 m/s2

• Thus, W = mg …… (g = 9.81 m/s2)

• Hence, a body of mass 1 kg has a weight of
9.81 N, a 2 kg body weighs 19.62 N

• The unit of force called a Newton (N) is

derived from F = ma.
• Thus, 1 newton is equal to a force required
to give a mass of 1 kilogram an acceleration
of 1 m/s2 …….. (1 N = 1 kg.m/s2).

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Fundamental Principles
Systems of Units
• U.S. Customary Units:
• Kinetic Units: length, time,
The basic units are length, time,
mass, and force. and force which are arbitrarily
• Three of the kinetic units, referred to defined as the foot (ft), second
as basic units, may be defined (s), and pound (lb). Mass is the
arbitrarily. The fourth unit, referred derived unit,
to as a derived unit, must have a
F
definition compatible with Newton’s m=
2nd Law, a
 
F  ma 1lb
1slug =
1ft s
• SI unit
æ mö
1N =( 1kg ) ç1 2 ÷
è s ø

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Scalars and Vectors

• Scalar = A quantity characterized by a positive or negative
number (value only). Scalar is indicated by letter in italic
such as, scalar A,
Ex: distance, mass and time

• Vector = A quantity that has both a magnitude and direction. In

statics the vector quantities frequently applied are force,
moment and position.

• For hand written, Vector is represent by a letter with an arrow

written over the value with a capital letter. However if computer
is used a vector is symbolized in a capital letter with bold, A.
Magnitude is always a positive quantity (absolute value)
designated by 2 straight lines on both sides of the value.

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth
Summary
• Statics is the study of bodies that are
at rest or move with constant
velocity.
• A particle has a mass but size are
neglected. A rigid body formed by
infinite number of particles arranged
in fixed distances and does not
deform under load.
• Concentrated forces are the force
that act at a point on a body.
• Newton’s three laws of motion to be
applied as a basic in statics.
• Mass is measure a quantity of matter
that does not change from one
location to another.
• Weight refers to the gravitational
attraction of the earth on a body /
mass.
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• In the SI system the unit of force, (N),
is a derived unit. Meter, second, and
kilogram are base units.
• Prefixes G, M, k, m, μ, and n are used
to represent large and small numerical
quantities. Their exponential size
should be known, along with the rules
for SI units.
• Perform numerical calculations with
several figures and report the answer
to two or three significant figures and
rounding off numbers.
• Algebraic manipulations of an
equation can be checked by verifying
that dimensionally homogeneous.
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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Sample problem 1-1

Convert 2 km/h to m/s.

Solution

2 km æ1000 m öæ 1 h ö
2 km/h = ç ÷ç ÷
h è km øè3600 s ø
=0.556 m/s

Remember to round off the final answer to three

significant figures.

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Sample problem 1-2

Describe the multiplication of 50 mN x 6 GN in a correct SI unit

Solution

(50 mN)(6GN)=[50(10- 3 ) N][6(109 )N]

=300(106 ) N 2
æ 1kN öæ 1kN ö
=300(10 ) N ç 3 ÷ç 3 ÷
6 2

è10 N øè10 N ø
=300 kN 2

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Sample problem 1-3

Describe the multiplication of 400 mm x 0.6 MN in a correct SI unit
Solution

(400 mm)(0.6 MN)2 =[400(10- 3 ) m][0.6(106 )N]2

=[400(10- 3 ) m][0.36(1012 )N 2 ]
=144(109 ) m.N 2
=144Gm.N 2

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

Sample problem 1-4

Describe the division of 45 MN3 / 900 Gg in a correct SI unit

Solution
45(106 N)3
45MN / 900Gg=
3

900(109 g)(10- 3 kg)

45(1018 N 3 )
=
900(106 kg)
=0.05(1012 ) N 3 / kg
3
12 3
æ 1kN ö 1
=0.05(10 ) N ç 3 ÷
è10 N ø kg
=0.05(103 ) kN 3 / kg
=50kN 3 / kg

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 Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
Edition
Ninth

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