ENGINEERING MECHANICS: STATICS W = mg

Mechanics is a branch of physical sciences that is g = 9.81 m/s2 (SI Units)

concerned with the state of rest or motion of bodies g = 32.2 ft/s2 (U.S. Customary)
that are subjected to the action of forces Name Length Time Mass Force
In general, this subject can be divided into three meter second kilogram newton
International
branches: mechanics of rigid bodies, mechanics of System of N
deformable bodies, and fluid mechanics. Units (SI) m s kg 𝒌𝒈. 𝒎
𝒔𝟐
Mechanics of rigid bodies is divided into two areas: foot second slug pound
U.S.
statics and dynamics. Customary 𝒍𝒃. 𝒔𝟐
FPS ft s 𝒇𝒕
lb
Statics deals with the equilibrium of bodies, that is,
those that are either at rest or move with a constant Conversion Factors
velocity.
Unit of Unit of
Dynamics is concerned with the accelerated motion Quantity Measurement Measurement
of bodies. (FPS) (SI)
Force lb 4.448 N
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion Mass slug 14.59 kg
Law of Inertia (1st Law) – a particle originally at rest, Length Ft 0.3048 m
or moving in a straight line with constant velocity, Prefixes
tends to remain in this state unless an unbalanced Exponent SI
Prefix
force acts on it. form symbol
Multiple
Law of Acceleration (2nd Law) – A particle acted 1 000 000 000 109 giga G
upon by an unbalanced force F experience an 1 000 000 106 mega M
acceleration a that has the same direction as the 1 000 103 kilo k
force and a magnitude that is directly proportional Submultiple
to the force. This law may be expressed 0.001 10-3 milli m
mathematically as F = ma 0.000 001 10-6 micro µ
0.000 000 001 10-9 nano n
Law of Interaction (3rd Law) – The mutual forces of
action and reaction between two particles are FORCE VECTORS
equal, opposite, and collinear.
Scalar is any positive or negative physical
Newton’s Law of Gravitational Attraction quantity that can be completely specified by
its magnitude. Examples of scalar quantities
include length, mass, and time.
F= force of gravitation between two particles
Vector is any physical quantity that can be
G=universal constant of gravitation; according
completely specified by its magnitude and
to experimental evidence, G=(6.67x10-11Nm2/kg)
direction for its complete description.
m1 & m2 = mass of each of the two particles
Examples of vector quantities encountered
r = distance between the two particles
in statics are force, position, and moment.
6,731 km = average radius of earth
5.972 x 1024 kg = approximate mass of earth
FINDING RESULTANT OF CONCURRENT FORCES (2D) 3D VECTORS

∑ 𝑭𝒙 = 𝑭𝟏𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽𝟐 + ⋯
∑ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝑭𝟏𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝟏 + 𝑭𝟐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽𝟐 + ⋯
R = (∑ 𝑭𝒙)𝟐 + (∑ 𝑭𝒚)𝟐 𝑽 = 𝑽𝒙𝒊 + 𝑽𝒚𝒋 + 𝑽𝒛𝒌
∑ 𝑭𝒚
θR = 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝑽 = 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑨𝒚𝟐 + 𝑨𝒛𝟐
∑ 𝑭𝒙
𝑨𝒙 𝑨𝒚 𝑨𝒛
USING COMPLEX MODE ON YOUR CALCULATOR 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒙 = ; 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒚 = ; 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽𝒛 =
𝑨 𝑨 𝑨
y,i a+bi 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒙 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒚 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽𝒛 = 𝟏
r ∑ 𝑭 = ∑ 𝑭𝒙𝒊 + ∑ 𝑭𝒚𝒋 + ∑ 𝑭𝒛𝒌
θ
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
x,real
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: 1. Express the force F shown as a Cartesian
1. Determine the magnitude and direction of the vector.
resultant of the three concurrent forces acting on the
hook.

ANS: {100.0i + 100.0j + 141.4k}

ANS: R = 452.37lb @ 20.69° 2. Determine the magnitude and coordinate

2. The end of the boom O is subjected to three direction angles of the resultant force
concurrent and coplanar forces. Determine the acting on the ring.
magnitude and the direction of the resultant
force.

ANS: FR = 191lb
ANS: R = 484.70N @ 142.24° 𝜽𝒙 = 𝟕𝟒. 𝟖° ; 𝜽𝒚 = 𝟏𝟎𝟐° ; 𝜽𝒛 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟔°
FORCE DIRECTED ALONG A LINE 2. Determine the tension in cable AB, AC, and
AD.
1. Determine the compression in each of the three
legs of the tripod subjected to the vertical 2-kN
force. The weight of the legs is negligible
compared with the applied load.

ANS: FAB = 57.95 kg (T)

FAC = 38.33 kg (T)
FAD = 47.61 kg (T)
PRACTICE PROBLEMS:

1. Resolve the horizontal 600-lb force in Fig.1

into components acting u and v axes and
determine the magnitudes of these
ANS: FAD = -0.925 N (C) components. Ans: Fu=1039 lb ; Fv=600 lb
FBD = -0.376 N (C)
FCD = -0.898 N (C) 2. The link in Fig.2 is subjected to two forces F1
and F2. Determine the magnitude and direction
Step 1. – Determine the position coordinates of
of the resultant force. Ans: 629N @ 67.9°
each point (in x, y, and z). Assume the point of
intersection as the origin. 3. Two forces act on the hook shown in Fig. 3.
Specify the magnitude of F2 that the resultant
Pt. A (230, -380, -1100)
force FR acts along the positive y axis and has a
Pt. B (500, 400, -1100)
magnitude of 800 N. Ans: F2 = 700 N; 𝜽𝒙 =
Pt. C (-440, 240, -1100)
𝟏𝟎𝟖° ; 𝜽𝒚 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟖° ; 𝜽𝒛 = 𝟕𝟕. 𝟔°
Step 2. – Find A by using
𝑨 = 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑨𝒚𝟐 + 𝑨𝒛𝟐 > Store to A
Do the same for B and C

Step 3. – Go to MODE > EQN > anX+bnY+cnZ=dn

(MODE – 5 – 2)

Input the following:

Fig.2
a b c d Fig.1
∑𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎 230 500 −440 0
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
∑𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎 −380 400 240 0
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
∑𝑭𝒛 = 𝟎 −1100 −1100 −1100 2
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶 Fig.3

-Engr. DDLC