Eighth Edition
CHAPTER VECTOR MECHANICS FOR ENGINEERS:
1
STATICS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr. Introduction
Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reser
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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Contents
What is Mechanics?
Fundamental Concepts
Fundamental Principles
Systems of Units
Method of Problem Solution
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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What is Mechanics?
• Mechanics is a branch of the physical sciences that is
concerned with the state of rest or motion of bodies
that are subjected to the action of forces.
• Categories of Mechanics:
- Rigid bodies
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Deformable bodies
- Fluids
Statics deals with the equilibrium of bodies, that is,
those that are either at rest or move with a constant
velocity.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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Fundamental Concepts
Before we begin our study of engineering mechanics, it is important to
understand the meaning of certain fundamental concepts and
principles.
Length: is used to locate the position of a point in space.
Time : definition of an event requires specification of the time and
position at which it occurred.
Mass: used to characterize and compare bodies.
Force: In general, force is considered as a “push” or “pull” exerted
by one body on another.
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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Fundamental Principles
• Newton’s First Law: If the resultant force on a
particle is zero, the particle will remain at rest
or continue to move in a straight line.
• Newton’s Second Law: A particle will have
an acceleration proportional to a nonzero
• Parallelogram Law resultant applied force.
F ma
• Newton’s Third Law: The forces of action and
reaction between two particles have the same
magnitude and line of action with opposite
sense.
• Principle of Transmissibility
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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Systems of Units
• International System of Units (SI):
The basic units are length, time, and
mass which are arbitrarily defined as the
• Kinetic Units: length, time, mass, meter (m), second (s), and kilogram
and force. (kg). Force is the derived unit,
F ma
• Three of the kinetic units, referred to m
as basic units, may be defined
1 N 1 kg 1 2
s
arbitrarily. The fourth unit, referred
to as a derived unit, must have a • U.S. Customary Units:
definition compatible with Newton’s The basic units are length, time, and
2nd Law, force which are arbitrarily defined as the
foot (ft), second (s), and pound (lb).
F ma Mass is the derived unit,
F
m
a
1 lb
1slug
1 ft s
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Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
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Conversation of Units
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-7
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics
h
Eight
Conversation of Units
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-8
