Engineering Mechanics

Lecture 2
5/10, Friday
3-4am
 2-Particle Interactions

Sun : earth

f21
Atom : atom
f12
2

1
f12   f 21

f12  f 21  0
 3-Particle Interactions

F3 3

f32
fij  f ji  0
f23
f31

2 F2
i, j  1, 2,3
f13
f21
F1 f12
1
 Many-Particle Interactions
For an N particles system, Newton’s 1st law
in equilibrium
Fi   f ij  0 i  1, 2,
j i

F3 3
Summation of the above equation gives
f32
f31
f23  F   f
i
i
i j i
ij 0

f13 2 F2 Newton’s 3rd law

f21
F1 f12  f i j i
ij 0
1
Therefore:
F  0
i
i
 Free-Body-Diagram

Isolate the body in question with the representation of

all external forces acting on it.

F  0
i
i
Problem 1
Remove Spike from Timber

It is desired to remove the spike from the timber by applying force

along its horizontal axis. An obstruction A prevents direct access, so
that two forces, one is 1.6kN and the other P, are applied by cables
as shown. Compute the magnitude of P necessary to ensure axial
tension T along the spike. Also find T.
 Remove Spike from Timber


T 

Vertical: P sin a  1.6sin 

Horizontal:

T  P cos a  1.6 cos 

Problem 2
 Knot in Static Equilibrium?
F1 F2

Horizontal:

F1 cos   F2 cos 
  Vertical:
F1 sin   F2 sin   mg

Mass: m
 When strings are
almost straight horizontally
cos 
F1 F2 F1  mg
sin  cos   cos  sin 
cos 
F2  mg
sin  cos   cos  sin 

 
 0
when
 0

F1  
F2  
Mass: m