Introduction to Statics

What is mechanics?
Mechanics is a science which describes and predicts the conditions of rest
and motion of bodies under the action of forces. It is the foundation of most
engineering sciences.
 Basic Concepts in Mechanics

• There are four basic concepts in mechanics:

– Space: position of a point P

– Time: time of an event

– Mass: used to characterize and compare bodies of certain

mechanical experiments.

– Force: Represents the action of one body on another.

 Space, (x,y,z)

• The position of a point P can

be defined by three lengths: x,
y, and z, measured from a
certain reference point or
origin (O), in three given
directions X, Y, and Z

• These lengths (x,y,z) are

known as the coordinate of P:
P(x,y,z)
 Time, t

• The time of the event should be

given.

• For example :
– At time t0, point P coordinates
are (x0,y0,z0)
– At time t1, point P coordinates
are (x1,y1,z1)
 Mass, m

• Two bodies of the same mass

will be attracted by the earth in
the same manner.

• These two bodies will also

offer the same resistance to a
change in translational motion.
 Force, F

• Force can be exerted by actual

contact, or it can be exerted at
a distance such as
gravitational and magnetic
forces.

• Forces is characterized by its

point of application, its
magnitude, and its direction.

• A force is represented by a
vector.
 Example of Force Vector

• Force F1 has:
– a magnitude of 10 lbs,
– its point of application is A
– it is in the vertical direction.

• Force F2 has:
– a magnitude of 25 lbs,
– its point of application is B,
– its direction is at 45 degree
from horizontal (or 45
degree from vertical).
 Newtonian Mechanics

• In newtonian mechanics space, time, and mass are absolute

concepts i.e. independent of each other.

• However, the concept of force is not independent of the other three.

dv
F = m×a = m×
dt
 Definition of Particle and Rigid Bodies

• A particle is a very small amount

of matter which may be assumed
to occupy a single point in space.

• A rigid body is a combination of a

large number of particles
occupying fixed positions with
respect to each other.
 Fundamental Principles of Newtonian Mechanics
• The parallelogram Law of addition
of forces- figure 1. (Chapter 2)

• The principle of transmissibility:

Equivalent Forces - figure 2 Figure 1
(Chapter 3)

• Newton’s Three fundamental laws :

– First law – Inertia (Chapter 2)
– Second law: F= ma (dynamics)
– Third law: action=-reaction
(Chapter 6)

• Newton’s law of Gravitation

Figure 2
 Newtons Law of Gravitation

• Two particles of mass M and m

are mutually attracted with equal
and opposite forces F and –F of
magnitude given by the formula:

Mm
F =G 2
r
– r is the distance between two
particles.
– G is a universal constant called
the constant of gravitation.
 What happens if M = mass of the earth?

• The force F exerted by the

earth on a particle located on
its surface is defined as the
weight W of the particle.

• The weight W of a particle of

mass m may be expressed as
W= mg

• g= 9.81 m/s2 or 32.2 ft/s2

* We assume the Earth to be spherical and

neglect the radius of the object relative to the
radius of the Earth in this discussion
 Importance of Dimensions and Units

• Any physical quantity can be characterized by dimensions.

• The magnitudes assigned to the dimensions are called units.

• Basic dimensions such as mass m, length L, time t, and are

selected as primary or fundamental dimensions.

• While others such as velocity v, volume V, and force F are

expressed in terms of the primary dimensions and are called
secondary dimensions, or derived dimensions.
 System of Units

• The metric SI ( Le Système International d’Unités) is a simple and

logical system based on a decimal relationship between the various
units and its is being used for scientific and engineering work in
most of the industrialized nations.
E.g.: 1m = 10 dm = 100 cm = 1000 mm

• The english system which is also known as the United States

Customary System (USCS) has no apparent systematic numerical
base and various units are related to each other rather arbitrarily.
E.g.: 1 ft= 12 in, 1mile = 5280 ft etc..
 Primary Dimensions and their base units

• The SI units are said to be absolute units, i.e. the three base units
chosen are independent of the location where measurements are made.

• The USCS units do not form an absolute system of units because of their
dependence upon the gravitational attraction of the earth. They form a
gravitational system of units.
Example of Secondary Dimensions and their
Derived Units
SI unit prefixes (table 1.1)
 USCS units frequently encountered

• 1 mile (mi) = 5280 ft

• 1 inch (in) = ± ft
• 1 kilopound (kip) = 1000 lb

• 1 ton = 2000 lb
 Mass

• Mass is the property of a body of fluid that is a measure of its inertia

or resistance to a change in motion.

• It is a physical quantity expressing the amount of matter in a body.

Therefore, the mass of an object is not dependent on gravity and is
different from its weight.

• The mass symbol is m

force F
Newton’ s Second Law : mass = ⇒m=
acceleration a
 Force-Mass Relationship

In the S.I. units: In the U.S.C.S. units:

• 1 kg is the mass which • 1 slug is the mass which
receives an acceleartion of 1 receives an acceleartion of 1
m/s2 when a force of 1N is ft/s2 when a force of 1lb is
applied to it. applied to it.

• F= ma where F= 1N, a=1m/s2 • F= ma where F= 1lb, a=1 ft/s2

1 N = 1kg ⋅ m/s 2 1 lb = 1 slug ⋅ ft/s 2

 Weight

• Weight is the amount that a body of fluid weighs, that is, the force
with which the fluid is attracted toward Earth by gravitation. Its
symbol is W

When acceleration is equal to the acceleration due to gravity, g,

then Newton’s law becomes:

W
Weight = m × g ⇒ m =
g

• The mass of a body remains the same whether on earth or on the

moon. However its weight will change.
 Weight-Mass Relationship

In the S.I. units: In the U.S.C.S. units:

• g = 9.81 m/s2 • g= 32.2 ft/s2

• The mass of 1 kg weighs: • The mass of 1 slug weighs:

w = m x g= 1kg x 9.81m/s2 = w = m x g= 1slug x 32.2ft/s2 =
9.81kg·m/s2 = 9.81 N 32.2 slugs·ft/s2 = 32.2 lb

• 1 kg weighs 9.81 N • 1 slug weighs 32.2 lb

 Mass expressed as lbm(pounds-Mass)*

• A fluid having a weight of 1.0 lb (pound-force) has a mass of 1.0

lbm (pound-mass)
i.e.: 1lb= 1lbm x 32.2 ft/s2 = 32.2 lbm·ft/s2 =1 slug·ft/s2

• 1 slug = 32.2 lbm

• 1 lbm will not receive an acceleration of 1 ft/s2 when a force of 1lb is

applied to it.

• This is not a coherent system. This system will be avoided.

1st Example using SI conversion: What is the volume in cubic meters
(m3) of a rectangular prism having a length l = 9 dm, and a width w= 5
cm, and a height h= 2 mm?
Solution:
- What we know:
l = 9 dm= 0.9 m
w = 5 cm= 0.05 m
h = 2 mm = 0.002 m
- Formula:
Volume(m3) = l(m)xw(m)xh(m)
- Solving:
Volume = 0.9 m x 0.05 m x 0.002 m = 0.00009 m3 or 9x10-5 m3

• 2nd Example : convert 15 cm3 to m3

Solution:
– What we know: 1cm = 0.01 m = 10-2 m
– Solving: 15 cm3 = 15 (10-2 m) 3 = 15 x10-6 m3
 Example in the USCS Conversion

• The magnitude of a velocity is 30 mi/h. Convert it to ft/s

• Solution: 5280 ft
– What we know: 1 mi = 5280 ft ⇒ =1
1 mi
1h
1 h = 3600 s ⇒ =1
3600 s
 Conversion From One System of Units to Another

• Units of length: 1 ft = 0.3408 m

• Units of force: 1 lb = 4.448 N

Per definition, 1 lb has a mass of 0.4536 kg at sea level and altitude of 45°
where g= 9.807 m/s2
w = mg ⇒ 1 lb = 0.4536kg x 9.807 m/s2 = 4.448 kg.m/s2 = 4.448 N

• Units of mass: 1 slug = 14.59 kg

1 lbm = 0.4536 kg

1 lb = 1 slug ⋅ ft/s 2 ⇒ 1slug = 1lb ⋅ s 2 /ft

 lb ⋅ s 2  4.448 N  ft 
1slug = 1   
 1 lb  0.3048 m  = 14.59N ⋅ s 2
/m = 14.59 kg
 ft 
 Example of conversion from one system of units to another

• Convert the moment of a force from USCS units which was found to be 47
lb·in, to SI units of N·m

• Solution:
– We know to convert: 1lb = 4.448 N and 1 ft = 0.3048 m

– We need to convert inch (in) to meter (m)

1 in = • ft=± ( 0.3048 m)=0.0254 m

– We can solve :

 4.448 N  0.0254 m 
47 lb·in = 47( lb·in )    = 5.31 N.m
 1 lb  1 in 
 Numerical Accuracy

• The accuracy of the solution of a problem depends upon two items:

– The accuracy of the given data
– The accuracy of the computations performed.

• The solution cannot be more accurate than the less accurate of

these two items.

• In engineering problems the data are seldom known with an

accuracy greater than 0.2 percent.

• Practical rule: use 4 significant figures to record numbers beginning

with 1 and 3 significant figures in all other cases.
How should the following numbers be reported?

Computed results Reported results

0.0428571429 m 0.0429 m = 42.9 10-3 m =

42.9 mm
16947 N 16950 N = 16.95 kN

729134.65 lb 729000 lb = 729 kip

Example: the loading of a bridge is known to be 75,000 lb with a
possible error of 100 lb. To what numerical accuracy should the
reaction at one of the bridge supports be recorded if the calculator
gave an answer of 14,322.225 lb.

Solution

100 lb
The degree of accuracy is : = 0.0013 or 0.13%
75,000 lb
Therefore the possible error on 14,322.225 lb is :
14,322.225 x0.0013 = 18.6 ~ 20 lb
We should record the answer as 14,320 ± 20 lb