Statics of Rigid Bodies

Mech E1 Mon to Fri

Engr. Vincent John B. Agdales
 List of Topics:
I. Principles of Statics
II. Resultants of Force Systems
III. Equilibrium of Force Systems
IV. Analysis of Structures
V. Friction
VI.Centroids and Centers of Gravity
VII. Moments of Inertia

Reference book: Singer, Ferdinand L.,

Engineering Mechanics, Second Edition
 How to Pass the Subject Course?
MIDTERMS PRE-FINALS FINALS

MTQ1 PFQ1
(34 points) (34 points)
PF EXAM FINALS
MT EXAM
MTQ2 PFQ2 SCORE EXAM
(33 points) SCORE (33 points) (100 points)
(100 points) SCORE
(if not exempted)
MTQ3 PFQ3
(33 points) (33 points)

Computation: Cut-off Score:

Average 1 = ½ Quiz Average 1 + ½ MT Exam Score General Average = 45
Average 2 = ½ Quiz Average 2 + ½ PF Exam Score Final Average = 40
General Average = ½ Average 1 + ½ Average 2 You need to attain a score more
Final Average = General Average + Final Exam Score than the cut-off score to pass this
subject course.
Chapter I: Principles of Statics
 Engineering Mechanics
may be defined as the science which considers the effects of forces on rigid bodies. The
subject divides naturally into two parts: STATICS & DYNAMICS

Statics Dynamics
We consider the effects and distribution of We consider the motion of rigid bodies
forces on rigid bodies which are and remain caused by the forces acting upon them
at rest, or of having constant velocity

In statics, we consider first the various types of force systems, then their application to the
various conditions shown. For the present, we will confine ourselves to the world of statics.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Fundamental Concepts and Definitions
RIGID BODY – A rigid body is defined as a definite amount of matter the parts of which are
fixed in position relative to each other. Actually, solid bodies are never rigid; they deform
under the action of applied forces.

FORCE – Force may be defined as that which changes, or tends to change, the state of
motion of a body. This definition applies to the external effect of a force. The internal effect of a
force is to produce stress and deformation in the body on which the force acts. External
effects of forces are considered in engineering mechanics; internal effects, in strength of
materials.

Characteristics of a Force:
• Magnitude
• Position of its line of action
• Direction (or sense) in which the force acts along its line of action

PRINCIPLE OF TRANSMISSIBILITY – PoT 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; it is independent of
the point of application.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Force Systems
A force system is any arrangement where two or more forces act on a body or on a group or
related bodies. When the lines of action of all the forces in a force system line in one plane,
they are referred to as being coplanar; otherwise, they are non-coplanar.

The force systems are further classified according to their lines of action. Forces whose lines
of action pass through a common point are called CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEMS; those
in which the lines of action are parallel are called PARALLEL FORCE SYSTEMS; and those
in which the lines of action neither are parallel nor intersect in a common point are known as
NON-CONCURRENT FORCE SYSTEMS.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Axioms of Mechanics
The principles of mechanics are postulated upon several self-evident facts which cannot be
proved mathematically but can only be demonstrated to be true. The axioms are discussed at
length in subsequent articles as they are used. At this time, we shall merely collate them for
reference and state them in the following form:

 Parallelogram Law: The resultant of two forces is the diagonal of the parallelogram formed
on the vectors of these forces.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Axioms of Mechanics
The principles of mechanics are postulated upon several self-evident facts which cannot be
proved mathematically but can only be demonstrated to be true. The axioms are discussed at
length in subsequent articles as they are used. At this time, we shall merely collate them for
reference and state them in the following form:

 Equilibrium Law: Two forces are in equilibrium only when equal in magnitude, opposite in
direction, and collinear in action.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Axioms of Mechanics
The principles of mechanics are postulated upon several self-evident facts which cannot be
proved mathematically but can only be demonstrated to be true. The axioms are discussed at
length in subsequent articles as they are used. At this time, we shall merely collate them for
reference and state them in the following form:

 A set of forces in equilibrium may be added to any given system of forces without changing
the effect of the original system.

 Action and reaction forces are equal but oppositely directed.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Free – Body Diagrams
One of the most important concepts in mechanics is that of the free-body diagram. To do so,
it is necessary to isolate the body being considered. A sketch of the isolated body which
shows only the forces acting upon the body is defined as a FREE-BODY DIAGRAM. The forces
acting on the free body are the action forces, also called applied forces. The reaction forces
are those exerted by the free body upon other bodies.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Free – Body Diagrams
Find the FBD of the following:

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Scalar and Vector Quantities
• Scalar quantities have a size or magnitude only and need no other information to specify
them. For example, imagine two groups of marbles, one consisting of 10 marbles and the
other have 5 marbles. If a common group is formed by mixing them, the resultant number
will be 15 marbles, a result obtained by arithmetical addition. Further examples are 10
centimeters, 50 seconds, 7 liters, and 100 kg.

• Vector quantities have both a size or magnitude and a direction, called the line of action
of the quantity.

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Parallelogram Law
The parallelogram law of vector addition is the process of adding vectors geometrically. This
law says, "Two vectors can be arranged as adjacent sides of a parallelogram such that their
tails attach with each other and the sum of the two vectors is equal to the diagonal of the
parallelogram whose tail is the same as the two vectors".

Find the magnitude of the resultant vector using the parallelogram method:

F2 = 90 N
FR
F1 = 80 N
F1 = 80 N FR
F1 = 80 N 120°

60° 120° 60° F2 = 90 N

COSINE LAW: FR2 = 902 + 802 – 2(90)(80) cos 120°
F2 = 90 N a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
FR =
b = a + c – 2ac cos B
2 2 2

c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos C FR = 147.309 N

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Parallelogram Law
Find the magnitude of the resultant vector using the parallelogram method:

F1 = 100 N F1 = 50 N

55° 75°

F2 = 70 N F2 = 85 N

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Triangle Law
Triangle law of vector addition states that when two vectors are represented as two sides of
the triangle with the order of magnitude and direction, then the third side of the triangle
represents the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.

Find the magnitude of the resultant vector using the parallelogram method:

FR
F2 = 85 N
FR
F2 = 85 N 105°

105° 75° F1 = 100 N

COSINE LAW: FR2 = 1002 + 852 – 2(100)(85) cos 105°
F1 = 100 N a2 = b2 + c2 – 2bc cos A
FR =
b = a + c – 2ac cos B
2 2 2

c2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab cos C FR = 147.054 N

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 Units of Measurement
The four basic quantities — length, time, mass, and force — are not all independent from one another; in
fact, they are related by Newton’s second law of motion, F = ma.
Because of this, the units used to measure these quantities cannot all be selected arbitrarily. The equality F
= ma is maintained only if three of the four units, called base units, are defined and the fourth unit is then
derived from the equation.

SI Units (SI)
The International System of units, the SI system defines length in meters (m), time in seconds (s), and mass in kilograms (kg).
The unit of force, called a newton (N), is derived from F = ma . Thus, 1 newton is equal to a force required to give 1 kilogram of
mass an acceleration of 1 m/s2 (N = kg . m/s2).

W = mg (g = 9.81 m/s2)

U.S. Customary (FPS)

The U.S. Customary system of units, the length is measured in feet (ft), time in seconds (s), and force in pounds (lb), The unit of
mass, called a slug , is derived from F = ma . Hence, 1 slug is equal to the amount of matter accelerated at 1 ft/s2 when acted
upon by a force of 1 lb (slug = lbs2/ft).

m =W/g (g = 32.2 ft/s2)

Chapter I: Principles of Statics
 Units of Measurement
Common units of measurement used in engineering:
1 N = 1 kg(m/s2)
1000 N = 1 kN
g = 9.81 m/s2 (S.I. Units)
g = 32.2 ft/s2 (English System)
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
1 kip = 1000 lbs
1000 m = 1 km

Chapter I: Principles of Statics

 “The real fight is the one
within yourself. It is YOU vs.
your BAD HABITS.”

Engr. Vincent John B. Agdales, CE