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The document provides an overview of scalars and vectors in engineering mechanics, defining scalars as quantities specified by magnitude alone and vectors as quantities requiring both magnitude and direction. It discusses different types of vectors (free, sliding, and fixed) and the characteristics of force systems, emphasizing the importance of magnitude, point of application, line of action, and direction. Additionally, it covers vector operations, particularly the addition of vectors using various methods such as the Parallelogram Law and Triangle Law.

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11 views24 pages

3

The document provides an overview of scalars and vectors in engineering mechanics, defining scalars as quantities specified by magnitude alone and vectors as quantities requiring both magnitude and direction. It discusses different types of vectors (free, sliding, and fixed) and the characteristics of force systems, emphasizing the importance of magnitude, point of application, line of action, and direction. Additionally, it covers vector operations, particularly the addition of vectors using various methods such as the Parallelogram Law and Triangle Law.

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agentking2424
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ENGINEERING MECHANICS

COURSE CODE: ENGG-205


INSTRUCTOR:ENGR. MUHAMMAD JUNAID JAMIL
Scalars and Vectors
Scalar
 Is any positive or negative physical quantity that
can be completely specified by its magnitude
 Indicated by letters in italic such as A
 Only magnitude is associated
Eg: Mass, Volume, Length, Density, Speed
Scalars and Vectors
Vector
–Any physical quantity that requires both a magnitude
and a direction for its complete description
Eg: Force, Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration,
Moment, Momentum
–Represent by a letter with an arrow over it or Bold
Capital letter
Scalars and Vectors

 Graphically, Vector is represented by an arrow


The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the
vector
The angle between the vector and a fixed axis defines the
direction of its line of action.
The head or tip of the arrow indicates the sense of direction of
the vector
Scalars and Vectors

 A Vector V can be written as: V =Vn


 V = magnitude of V
 n = unit vector whose magnitude is one and whose direction
coincides with that of Vector V
Free Vector
A Vector whose action is not confined to or
associated with a unique line in space
 Ex: Movement of a body without rotation.
Sliding Vector
A vector which has a unique line of action
in space but not a unique point of application
 Ex: External force on a rigid body
 Principle of Transmissibility
 Imp in Rigid Body Mechanics
Fixed Vector
A vector for which a unique point of
application is specified
Ex: Action of a force on deformable body

Note: FORCE IS A FIXEDVECTOR


FORCE SYSTEM
Force is completely specified only when the
following four characteristics are specified;
— Magnitude
— Point of application
— Line of action, and
— Direction
Change in any of the four specifications will alter the effect on the bracket
External effect Internal effect
Forces applied; Deformation, strain pattern – permanent strain;
Forces exerted by bracket, Depends on material properties of bracket, bolts, etc.
bolts, Foundation (reactive
force)
FORCE SYSTEM
In case of rigid bodies,
line of action of force is important
(Not its point of application, we are
interested in only the resultant external effects
of the force)
Vector Operations
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar
 If a vector is multiplied by a positive scalar, its magnitude is
increased by that amount
 Multiplying by a negative scalar will also change the
directional sense of the vector
 Graphic examples of these operations are shown in figure
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
 When adding two vectors together it is important to account
for both their magnitudes and their directions
 Four Methods for analysis and Solution
1. Parallelogram Law (Graphical)
2. The Triangle Law (Graphical)
3. Algebraic Solution
4. Using Trigonometry
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
1. Parallelogram Law (Graphical)
Resultant Force (Diagonal) Components (Sides of Parallelogram)
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
1. Parallelogram Law (Graphical)
• Consider two vectors Aand B in Figure are added to form a resultant vector
R = A +B
• First join the tails of the components at a point
• From the head of B, draw a line parallel to A. Draw another line from the head
of A that is parallel to B. These two lines intersect at point P to form the
adjacent sides of a parallelogram
• The diagonal of this parallelogram that extends to P forms R, which then
represents the resultant vector R = A + B
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
2. Triangle Law (Graphical)
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
2. Triangle Law (Graphical)
• Vector B is added to vector A in a “head-to-tail” fashion, i.e., by
connecting the head of A to the tail of B
• The resultant R extends from the tail of A to the head of B
• In a similar manner, R can also be obtained by adding A to B
• By comparison, it is seen that vector addition is commutative; in other
words, the vectors can be added in either order
i.e., R = A + B = B +A
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
3. Algebraic Solution Using Trigonometry
• Resolve all the forces into their components along the axis provided
or supposed e.g., x, y and z components
• Add them using the Cartesian coordinate system. Like dimension
components are added to one another. e.g., X-component is added to
x component
• Finally the Resultant vector is found by adding the x, y and z
component by resultant vector model
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
4. Geometrical solution Using Trigonometry
• The Resultant and components are found
out using the law of sines and cosines
Vector Operations
Addition of Vectors
4. Geometrical solution
Using Trigonometry
Figure B

Figure A
Figure C
Figure E

Figure F

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