20.08.

2024

ME 103
ENGINEERING MECHANICS
Lecture-02
Basic Principles and Theorems

Instructor
Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Dr Susanta Behera
Surat, Gujarat
Credit Scheme

Subject Code Scheme Credit

Engineering Mechanics ME 103 3-1-0 4

Books
• Beer, F.P. and Johnston, E.R., Vector mechanics for engineers: Statics and Dynamics, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi.
• Meriam, J.L. and Kraige, L.G. Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics, John Wiley and sons, New York
• Hibbeler, R.C. “Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics”, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi
• S Timoshenko and D H Young, ”Elements of Strength of Materials”, Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 2006
• S SBhavikatti, “Strength of Materials”, Vikas Publication House, New Delhi, 2007
Grading Policy

Description Percentage
Class Tests (2 nos) 20%
Mid Sem. Exam. 30%
End Sem. Exam. 50%
Total 100%

Attendance 75% required

 Mechanics

Mechanics of Mechanics of Mechanics of

Deformable Bodies Rigid Bodies Fluid

Strength of Ideal
Materials Static Dynamics Fluid

Theory of Viscous
Plasticity Fluid
Kinematics Kinetics

Theory of Compressible
Elasticity Fluid
 Mechanics

Mechanics of Mechanics of Mechanics of

Deformable Bodies Rigid Bodies Fluid

Strength of Ideal
Materials Static Dynamics Fluid

Theory of Viscous
Plasticity Fluid
Kinematics Kinetics

Theory of Compressible
Elasticity Fluid
Idealizations in Mechanics
Particle
A particle has a mass, but a size that can be neglected

Rigid Body
A rigid body is one in which the distance between any two arbitrary points is invariant. A body, therefore,
qualifies to be represented as a rigid body if the deformation between its parts is negligible in the course of its
analysis.

Concentrated Force
A concentrated force represents the effect of a loading which is assumed to act at a point on a body.

Deformable Body
A body is said to be a deformable body if the relative deformation between its parts cannot be ignored in the
course of its analysis.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A FORCE

1. Magnitude of the force

2. The direction of the line, along which the force
acts (i.e., along OX, OY, at 30° North of East etc.).
It is also known as line of action of the force.
3. Nature of the force (i.e., whether the force is
F=5N
push or pull). This is denoted by placing an arrow A
head on the line of action of the force.
4. The point at which (or through which) the force
acts on the body
System of Forces
1. Coplanar forces. The forces, whose lines of action lie on the same plane, are known as coplanar forces.
2. Collinear forces. The forces, whose lines of action lie on the same line, are known as collinear forces.
3. Concurrent forces. The forces, which meet at one point, are known as concurrent forces. The concurrent
forces may or may not be collinear.
4. Coplanar concurrent forces. The forces, which meet at one point and their lines of action also lie on the
same plane, are known as coplanar concurrent forces.
5. Coplanar non-concurrent forces. The forces, which do not meet at one point, but their lines of action lie
on the same plane, are known as coplanar non-concurrent forces.
6. Non-coplanar concurrent forces. The forces, which meet at one point, but their lines of action do not lie
on the same plane, are known as non-coplanar concurrent forces.
7. Non-coplanar non-concurrent forces. The forces, which do not meet at one point and their lines of
action do not lie on the same plane, are called non-coplanar non-concurrent forces.
Principle of transmissibility of forces

The principle of transmissibility of force states that the condition of motion of a rigid body remains unchanged if
a force of a given magnitude, direction and sense acts anywhere along the same line of action on the rigid body

Principle of superposition of forces

The principle of superposition of forces states that a single, net, or resultant force has the same effect as the
sum of the individual forces acting on an object.
Resultant force
The resultant force is a single force which will have the same effect as a number of forces would produce
acting on a body

R=F1+F2+F3+F4+…+Fn

Resultant force
Condition for equilibrium
When object is in equilibrium under the action of system of forces, following conditions are satisfied:

1. The algebraic sum of the components of the forces in any direction must equal to zero.
2. The algebraic sum of the moments of the forces about any point must equal zero.
Types of Equilibrium

From practical point of view, a body is said to be in equilibrium when it comes back to its original position, after
it is slightly displaced from its position of rest. In general, following are the three types of equilibrium :

Stable Equilibrium:
A body is said to be in stable equilibrium, if it returns back to its original position, after it is slightly displaced
from its position of rest. A smooth cylinder, lying in a curved surface, is in stable equilibrium. If we slightly
displace the cylinder from its position of rest (as shown by dotted lines), it will tend to return back to its original
position in order to bring its weight normal to horizontal axis as shown in Fig. (a).
Unstable Equilibrium:
A body is said to be in an unstable equilibrium, if it does not return back to its original position, and heels
farther away, after slightly displaced from its position of rest. A smooth cylinder lying on a convex surface is in
unstable equilibrium. If we slightly displace the cylinder from its position of rest (as shown by dotted lines) the
body will tend to move away from its original position as shown in Fig. (b).

Neutral equilibrium:
A body is said to be in a neutral equilibrium, if it occupies a new position (and remains at rest in this position)
after slightly displaced from its position of rest. This happens when no additional force sets up due to the
displacement. A smooth cylinder lying on a horizontal plane is in neutral equilibrium as shown in Fig. 5.30 (c).
Parallelogram Law of Forces
It states that, “If two forces acting simultaneously at a point be represented in magnitude and direction by two
adjacent sides of a parallelogram, their resultant may be represented in magnitude and direction by the
diagonal of the parallelogram passing through that point.”
Solved Problem
Two forces act at an angle of 120°. The bigger force is of 40 N and the resultant is perpendicular to the smaller
one. Find the smaller force.

Solution
Triangle Law of Forces
It states that, “If two forces acting simultaneously at a point be represented in magnitude and direction by two
sides of a triangle taken in order, their resultant may be represented in magnitude and direction by the third
side of a triangle taken in opposite order”
Polygon Law of forces
It states that “If a number of forces acting simultaneously at a point be represented in magnitude and direction
by the sides of a polygon taken in order, their resultant may be represented in magnitude and direction by the
closing side of the polygon taken in opposite order”

R = P1 + P2 + P3 + P4
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion

FIRST LAW. If the resultant force acting on a particle is zero, the particle remains at rest (if
originally at rest) or moves with constant speed in a straight line (if originally in motion).

SECOND LAW. If the resultant force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle has an
acceleration proportional to the magnitude of the resultant and in the direction of this
resultant force.

F = ma

THIRD LAW. The forces of action and reaction between bodies in contact have the same
magnitude, same line of action, and opposite sense
Resolution of forces
Resolution is the process of splitting up the given force into components, without changing its effect on the
body.
It is often convenient to decompose a single force into two distinct forces; they are known as components.

There are mainly two methods of resolving a force.

1. Perpendicular/Orthogonal resolution
2. Non-perpendicular/Non-Orthogonal resolution
Solved Problem
A horizontal line PQRS is 12 m long, where PQ = QR = RS = 4 m. Forces of 1000 N, 1500 N, 1000 N and 500 N
act at P, Q, R and S respectively with downward direction. The lines of action of these forces make angles of
90°, 60°, 45° and 30° respectively with PS. Find the magnitude, direction and position of the resultant force.

Solution
Equilibrant
• A force, which is equal, opposite and collinear to the resultant of a concurrent force system is known as the
equilibrant of the concurrent force system.

• Equilibrant is the force which, when applied to a body acted by the concurrent force system, keeps the body
in equilibrium.

• A single force which brings the system to equilibrium, thus equilibrant is equal in magnitude, opposite in
direction and collinear to resultant force.

• The force that cancels the effect of the force system acting on the body is also known as equilibrant.
Free body diagram
The Free Body Diagram (FBD) is a sketch of the body showing all active and reactive forces that acts on it after
removing all supports with consideration of geometrical angles and distance given.

Importance of FBD
1. The sketch of FBD is the key step that translates a physical problem into a form that can be analysed
mathematically.
2. The FBD is the sketch of a body, a portion of a body or two or more connected bodies completely isolated
or free from all other bodies, showing the force exerted by all other bodies on the one being considered.
3. FBD represents all active (applied) forces and reactive (reactions) forces. Forces acting on the body that are
not provided by the supports are called active force (weight of the body and applied forces). Reactive forces
are those that are exerted on a body by the supports to which it is attached.
4. FBD helps in identifying known and unknown forces acting on a body.
5. FBD helps in identifying which type of force system is acting on the body so by applying appropriate
condition of equilibrium, the required unknowns are calculated.
Procedure for Drawing a FBD

1. Draw a neat sketch of the body assuming that all supports are removed.
2. FBD may consist of an entire assembled structure or any combination or part of it.
3. Show all the relevant dimensions and angles on the sketch.
4. Show all the active forces on corresponding point of application and insert their magnitude and direction, if
known.
5. Show all the reactive forces due to each support.
6. The FBD should be legible and neatly drawn, and of sufficient size, to show dimensions, since this may be
needed in computation of moments of forces.
7. If the sense of reaction is unknown, it should be assumed. The solution will determine the correct sense. A
positive result indicates that the assumed sense is correct, whereas a negative result means the assumed
sense is incorrect, so the correct sense is opposite to the assumed sense.
8. Use principle of transmissibility wherever convenient.
Examples
Support Reactions
Types of Connection Reaction Number of unknown
1.Roller Support
One unknown. The reaction is a force
which acts perpendicular to the surface
at the point of contact.

2.Pin/hinge Support Two unknowns. The reactions are two

components of force, or the magnitude
and direction of the resultant force

Three unknowns. The reactions are the

3. Built in/Fixed Support couple moment and the two force
components, or the couple moment and
the magnitude and direction of the
resultant force
4. smooth contacting surface
One unknown. The reaction is a force which
acts perpendicular to the surface at the
point of contact

5. member pin connected

to collar on smooth rod
One unknown. The reaction is a force which
acts perpendicular to the rod.

6. roller or pin in confined

smooth slot
One unknown. The reaction is a force which
acts perpendicular to the slot
6. Torsional spring action

One unknown. Moment

Lami's Theorem
If three concurrent coplanar forces acting on a body having same nature (i.e., pulling or
pushing) are in equilibrium, then each force is proportional to the sine of angle included
between the other two forces.

By Lami's theorem, we have

Solved Problem
An electric light fixture weighting 15 N hangs from a point C, by two strings AC and BC. The string AC is inclined
at 60° to the horizontal and BC at 45° to the horizontal as shown in Fig. Using Lami’s theorem, or otherwise,
determine the forces in the strings AC and BC.

Solution Applying Lami’s equation at C,

FBD Ans.
VARIGNON’S PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS (OR LAW OF MOMENTS)
It states that the moment of resultant of all the forces in a plane about any point is equal to the algebraic sum
of moment of all the forces about the same point

Varignon's theorem is used for determining the position of the resultant of parallel and general force systems
Solved Problem
A uniform plank ABC of weight 30 N and 2 m long is supported at one end A and at a point B 1.4 m from A as
shown in Fig. Find the maximum weight W, that can be placed at C, so that the plank does not topple

Solution
We know that weight of the plank (30 N) will act at its midpoint, as it is of uniform section. This point is at a
distance of 1 m from A or 0.4 m from B as shown in the figure.

We also know that if the plank is not to topple, then the reaction 30  0.4 = W  0.6
at A should be zero for the maximum weight at C. Now taking 30  0.4
W = = 20 N Ans.
moments about B and equating the same, 0.6