MN 116 – Engineering Statics

INTRODUCTION
Outline
• Basic Concepts

• Newton’s laws & law of Gravitation

• Units

• Dimensions
Basic Concepts
• Mechanics is the physical science which deals with the
effects of forces on objects.

• Mechanics is divided into Statics and Dynamics.

• Statics is the study of methods for quantifying the forces

between bodies.
Basic Concepts cont…
• Statics is concerned with the equilibrium of bodies under action
of forces.

• Dynamics is concerned with the motion of bodies.

• Forces are responsible for maintaining balance (statics) and

causing motion (dynamics) of bodies, or changes in their shape.
Basic Concepts - Definitions
• Space is the geometric region occupied by bodies whose
positions are described by linear and angular measurements
relative to a coordinate system.
• 3D problems requires three independent coordinates

• 2D problems requires two coordinates

Basic Concepts – Definitions cont…
• Time is the measure of the succession of events and is a
basic quantity in dynamics.
• Note: Time is not directly involved in the analysis of statics problems.

• Mass is a measure of the inertia of a body, which is its resistance to a

change of velocity.
Basic Concepts – Definitions cont…
• Mass is the quantity of matter in a body.

• The mass of a body affects the gravitational attraction force between

it and other bodies.

• The attraction force has many applications in statics.

• Force is the action of one body on another.

Basic Concepts – Definitions cont…
• A force tends to move a body in the direction of its action.

• The action of a force is characterized by its magnitude, by the

direction of its action, and by its point of application.

• A particle is a body of negligible dimensions.

Basic Concepts – Definitions cont…
• Rigid body – A body is considered rigid when the change in
distance between any two of its points is negligible or remain
constant in time for the purpose at hand regardless of the
external forces or moments exerted on it.

• Statics deals primarily with the calculation of external forces

which act on rigid bodies in equilibrium.
The boom is treated as a rigid
body
Scalars and Vectors
• Two kinds of quantities exists in mechanics
• Scalars
• Vectors

• Scalar quantities are quantities that are described only by a magnitude.

• Examples of scalar quantities are time, volume, density, speed, energy

and mass.
Scalars and Vectors cont…
• Vector quantities have both magnitude and a direction of
action.

• Examples of vector quantities are displacement, velocity,

acceleration, force, moment, and momentum.
Scalars and Vectors cont…
• Classification of vectors representing physical quantities
• A free vector (action is not confined to or associated with a unique
line in space e.g. absence of rotation)

• A sliding vector (has a unique line of action in space but not a

unique point of application)
Scalars and Vectors cont…
• Classification of vectors representing physical quantities
• A fixed vector is one for which a unique point of application is
specified.

• The forces and deformations within the body is a function

of the point of application of the force, as well as its
magnitude and line of action.
Conventions for Equations and Diagrams
• A vector quantity V is represented
by a line segment, having the
direction of the vector indicated by
arrowhead.
• The length of the directed line
segment represents to some • Lightface V for magnitude only
convenient scale the magnitude 𝑉 • Boldface V for magnitude and direction

of the vector. • Alternatively use 𝑉 𝑜𝑟 𝑉

Working with Vectors

• The direction of the vector V may

be measured by an angle 𝜃 from
some known reference direction.

• The negative of V is a vector -V

having the same magnitude as V
but directed in the sense opposite
to V.
Working with Vectors cont…
• Vectors must obey the parallelogram law
of combination.

• The law states that two vectors 𝑽𝟏 and

𝑽𝟐 , treated as free vectors, figure (a),
may be replaced by their equivalent
vector V, which is the diagonal of the
parallelogram formed by 𝑽𝟏 and 𝑽𝟐 as its
two sides, as shown in figure (b).
Working with Vectors cont…

• This combination is called the • The scalar sum of the

vector sum, and is represented magnitudes of the two vectors is
by the vector equation written in the usual way as V1 +
𝑽 = 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 V2 .

• The plus sign means vector and • The geometry of the

not scalar addition. parallelogram shows that 𝑽 ≠
𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐
Working with Vectors cont…
• The two vectors 𝑽𝟏 and 𝑽𝟐 , again • The order of addition of the vectors
treated as free vectors, may also be does not affect their sum, so that
added head-to-tail by the triangle law, 𝑽𝟏 + 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟏 .
as shown in figure (c), to obtain the • If 2 vectors acting simultaneously on a body
identical vector sum V. are represented both in magnitude and
direction by 2 sides of a triangle taken in an
order then the resultant(both magnitude and
direction) of these vectors is given by 3rd side
of that triangle taken in opposite order.
Working with Vectors cont…

• The difference 𝑽𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐 between • The difference 𝑽′ between the

the two vectors is easily two vectors is expressed by the
obtained. vector equation 𝑽′ = 𝑽𝟏 − 𝑽𝟐
• By adding −𝑽𝟐 + 𝑽𝟏 as shown in • The minus sign denotes vector
figure on the right, where either
subtraction.
the triangle or parallelogram
procedure may be used.
Working with Vectors cont…
• Any two or more vectors whose
sum equals a certain vector V are
said to be the components of that
vector.
• Thus, the vectors 𝑽𝟏 and 𝑽𝟐 in
figure on the right are the
components of V in the directions
1 and 2, respectively.
Working with Vectors cont…

• It is convenient to deal with • The vectors 𝑽𝒙 and 𝑽𝒚 in figure

vector components which are below are the x- and y-
mutually perpendicular; these components, respectively, of V.
are called rectangular
components.
Working with Vectors cont…
• In figure on the right, 𝑽𝒙′ and 𝑽𝒚′ are
the 𝑥 ′ - and 𝑦 ′ -components of V.

• When expressed in rectangular

components, the direction of the
vector with respect to, say, the x-axis
is clearly specified by the angle 𝜃,
−1 𝑽𝒚
where 𝜃 = tan
𝑽𝒙
Working with Vectors cont…

• A vector V may be expressed • The vector n is called a unit vector.

mathematically by multiplying its Thus,
magnitude V by a vector n whose 𝑽 = 𝑉𝒏
magnitude is one and whose • In this way both the magnitude and
direction coincides with that of V. direction of the vector are
conveniently contained in one
mathematical expression.
Working with Vectors (Position Vectors – 2D)

• Position vector of a point relative to another point can be expressed

in terms of the cartesian coordinates of the point.
Working with Vectors (Three Dimensions – 3D)

• It is convenient to express the

rectangular components of V,
figure on the right, in terms of
unit vectors i, j, and k, which are
vectors in the x-, y-, and z-
directions, respectively, with unit
magnitudes.
Working with Vectors (3D) cont…

• The coordinate system is said to be • Otherwise, the coordinate system

right handed if the fingers of the is left handed.
right hand are pointed in the
direction of the positive x axis and
then bent toward the positive y
axis, the thumb points in the
direction of the positive z axis.
Working with Vectors (3D) cont…

• Because the vector V is the

vector sum of the components
in the x-, y-, and z-directions, we
can express V as:
𝑽 = 𝑉𝑥 𝒊 + 𝑉𝑦 𝒋 + 𝑉𝑧 𝒌
Working with Vectors (3D) cont…

• Use the direction cosines l, m, • The magnitudes of the

and n of V, which are defined by components of V can be written
• 𝑙 = cos 𝜃𝑥 as:
• 𝑚 = cos 𝜃𝑦 • 𝑉𝑥 = 𝑙𝑉

• 𝑛 = cos 𝜃𝑧 • 𝑉𝑦 = 𝑚𝑉

• 𝑉𝑧 = 𝑛𝑉
Working with Vectors (3D) cont…

• Using Pythagoras theorem

𝑉 2 = 𝑉𝑥2 + 𝑉𝑦2 + 𝑉𝑧2

• This relation implies that:

𝑙 2 + 𝑚2 + 𝑛2 = 1

• Note: The V in above equation is not in boldface, hence it represent

magnitude and not a vector.
Working with Vectors (Position Vectors – 3D)

• Position vector of a point relative to another point can be expressed

in terms of the cartesian coordinates of the point.
 Components of a vector parallel to a Given
Line
• The vector U is parallel to the line • Then the vector U in terms of its
B through points A and B.
components is given by 𝑼 =
• Obtain the position vector 𝒓𝐴𝐵 from A
𝑼 𝒆𝐴𝐵 .
to B in terms of its components.

• Divide 𝒓𝐴𝐵 by its magnitude to obtain

a unit vector 𝒆𝐴𝐵 that is parallel to the
line.
 Dot Products
• There are two kind of products of vectors
• Dot products, and
• Cross products

• Both can be used to evaluate moment of forces about points or lines.

• The dot product of two vectors may be used in:
• Determining the components of a vector parallel and perpendicular to a given line,
and
• Determining the angle between two lines in space.
 Dot Products cont…

• Consider two vectors U and V.

• The dot product of U and V denoted by U.V is defined to be the

product of magnitude of U, magnitude of V, and the cosine of the
angle θ between U and V when they are placed tail to tail.
 Dot Products cont…

• Sometimes dot product is called scalar product because its result is

scalar.

• The units of the dot product are the products of the units of the two
vectors.

• Notice that the dot product of two nonzero vectors is equal to zero if
and only if the vectors are perpendicular.
 Dot Products cont…

• The dot product has the properties

 Dot Products in Terms of Components

• The dot product of two vectors can be determined if their scalar

components are known.
 Vector Components Parallel and Normal to a
Line
• In some engineering applications a vector must be expressed in terms of
vector components that are parallel and normal (perpendicular) to a given
line.

• Projection of a vector onto the line is the component of a vector parallel to

a line.

• Dot product can be used to determine the components of a vector parallel

and normal to a line.
 Vector Components Parallel and Normal to a
Line cont…
• Consider vector U and straight line L.

• U can be expressed as the sum of vector components 𝑼𝑝 and 𝑼𝑛 that

are parallel and normal to L.
 Vector Components Parallel and Normal to a
Line cont…
• The parallel component in terms of the angle θ between U and the
vector component 𝑼𝑝 , the magnitude of 𝑼𝑝 is

• Let e be a unit vector parallel to L. The dot product of e and U is

 Vector Components Parallel and Normal to a
Line cont…
• The parallel component in terms of the angle θ between U and the
vector component 𝑼𝑝 , the magnitude of 𝑼𝑝 is

• Let e be a unit vector parallel to L. The dot product of e and U is

 Vector Components Parallel and Normal to a
Line cont…
• Comparing the two equations gives the magnitude of 𝑼𝑝 as

• Therefore the parallel vector component, or projection of U onto L is

• The normal vector component can be obtained from the relation

 Cross Products

• The cross product of two vectors can be used to determine the

moments of forces.

• Consider two vectors U and V.

• The cross product of U and V, denoted by 𝐔 × 𝐕 is defined by

 Cross Products cont…

• The angle θ is the angle between U and V when they are placed tail to
tail.

• The vector e is a unit vector defined to be perpendicular to both U

and V.

• The vectors U, V and e are defined to be right-handed system.

 Cross Products cont…

• If the fingers of the right hand are • The right-hand rule for determining
pointed in the direction of the the direction of e is shown on the
vector U (the first vector in the figure.
cross product) and then bent
toward the vector V ( the second
vector in the cross product), the
thumb points in the direction of e.
 Cross Products cont…

• Sometimes cross product is called vector product because its result is

a vector.

• The units of the cross product are the product of the units of the two
vectors.

• Notice that the cross product of two nonzero vectors is equal to zero if
and only if the two vectors are parallel.
 Cross Products cont…

• Cross product is not commutative.

 Cross Products in Terms of Components

• The cross product of two vectors U and V, expressed in terms of their

component, is

• This can be compactly written as the determinant

• The equation gives the correct result only if the right-handed

coordinate system is used to determine the components of U and V.
Cross Products in Terms of Components cont…
• The right-hand rule indicate that • Clock method
𝒊 × 𝒋 = 𝒌.
 Mixed Triple Products

• Mixed triple product is defined by

• In terms of the scalar components of the vectors,

 Mixed Triple Products

• The result can be expressed as the determinant

• Interchanging any two of the vectors in the mixed triple product

changes the sign but not the absolute value of the result.
Newton’s Laws
Newton’s Laws – Law I

• A particle remains at rest or continues to move with uniform velocity

(in a straight line with a constant speed) if there is no unbalanced
force acting on it.

• Newton’s first law contains the principle of the equilibrium of forces,

which is the main topic of concern in statics.
Newton’s Laws – Law II

• The acceleration of a particle is proportional to the vector sum of

forces acting on it, and is in the direction of this vector sum.

• Newton’s second law forms the basis for most of the analysis in
dynamics.

• As applied to a particle of mass m, it may be stated as 𝑭 = 𝑚𝒂

• Note: F and a are in boldface.

Newton’s Laws – Law II cont…

• F is the vector sum of forces acting on the particle and a is the

resulting acceleration.

• This equation is a vector equation because the direction of F must

agree with the direction of a, and the magnitudes of F and ma must
be equal.
Newton’s Laws – Law III

• The forces of action and reaction between interacting bodies are

equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and collinear (they lie on
the same line).

• The third law states that forces always occur in pairs of equal and
opposite forces.
Newton’s Laws – Law III cont…

• In the analysis of bodies under the action of forces, it is absolutely

necessary to be clear about which force of each action–reaction pair
is being considered.

• It is necessary first of all to isolate the body under consideration and

then to consider only the one force of the pair which acts on the body
in question.
Newton’s law of gravitation

• It states that any particle of

matter in the universe attracts
any other with a force varying
directly as the product of the
masses and inversely as the
square of the distance between
them.
Newton’s law of gravitation cont…

• In symbols, the magnitude of the attractive force F is equal to G (the

gravitational constant) multiplied by the product of the masses (𝑚1 and
𝑚2 ) and divided by the square of the distance R.

𝐺 𝑚1 𝑚2
𝐹=
𝑅2

• In SI units, the value of G is approximately 6.674 × 10−11 𝑚3 . 𝑘𝑔−1 . 𝑠 −2

Newton’s law of gravitation cont…

• Gravitational forces exist between every pair of bodies.

• On the surface of the earth the only gravitational force of appreciable

magnitude is the force due to the attraction of the earth.

• The gravitational attraction of the earth is the only gravitational force

we need to consider for most engineering applications on the earth’s
surface.
Newton’s law of gravitation cont…

• The gravitational attraction of the earth on a body (its weight) exists

whether the body is at rest or in motion.

• Because this attraction is a force, the weight of a body should be

expressed in newtons (N) in SI units and in pounds (lb) in U.S.
customary units.
Newton’s law of gravitation cont…

• For a body of mass m near the surface of the earth, the gravitational
𝐺 𝑚1 𝑚2
attraction F on the body is specified by 𝐹 =
𝑅2

• The magnitude of the gravitational force or weight is usually denoted

with the symbol W.

• Because the body falls with an acceleration g, equation 𝑭 = 𝑚𝒂 gives

𝑾 = 𝑚𝒈
Units and Dimensions
Units and dimensions

• Four fundamental quantities called dimensions are mostly used.

• These are length, mass, force, and time.

• The units used to measure these quantities cannot all be chosen

independently because they must be consistent with Newton’s
second law.
Units and dimensions cont…
SI UNITS U.S. CUSTOMARY
DIMENSIONAL
QUANTITY
SYMBOL
UNIT SYMBOL UNIT SYMBOL

Mass M kilogram kg slug -

Length L meter m foot ft

Time T second s second sec

Force F newton N pound lb

SI Units

• The International System of Units is a modern version of the metric system.

• By international agreement, SI units will in time replace other systems.

• In SI, the units kilogram (kg) for mass, meter (m) for length, and second (s)
for time are selected as the base units, and the newton (N) for force is
derived from the preceding three.

𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑁 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝑔 × 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚ൗ 2

𝑠
U.S. Customary Units

• The U.S. customary, or British system of units, also called the foot-pound-
second (FPS) system, has been the common system in business and
industry in English-speaking countries.

• In FPS, the units of feet (ft) for length, seconds (sec) for time, and pounds
(lb) for force are selected as base units, and the slug for mass is derived as

𝑓𝑡ൗ
𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑏 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔𝑠 × 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2
Standard Values

• The standard value for gravitational acceleration g is its value at sea

level and at a 45° latitude.

• In the two systems these values are:

• SI units 𝑔 = 9.80665 𝑚Τ𝑠2

• U.S. units 𝑔 = 32.1740 𝑓𝑡ൗ𝑠𝑒𝑐 2

Learn by doing

• A person walks 300m to the east and 400m to the north to reach his
friend’s house. What is the total displacement of the person, and
what is the total distance traveled by the person?
Problem Solving in Statics

• Statics is studied to obtain a quantitative description of forces which

act on engineering structures in equilibrium.

• Mathematics establishes the relations between the various quantities

involved and enables us to predict effects from these relations.

• Dual thought process is necessary in solving statics problems.

Problem Solving in Statics cont…

• Think about both the physical situation and the corresponding

mathematical description.

• In the analysis of every problem, make a transition (use graphics)

between the physical and the mathematical.
Formulating Problems and Obtaining Solutions

• Formulate each problem and develop its solution through the

following sequence of steps:
1. Formulate the problem:
a) State the given data

b) State the desired result

c) State your assumptions and approximations

Formulating Problems and Obtaining Solutions
cont…
2. Develop the solution:
a) Draw any diagrams you need to understand the relationships.
b) State the governing principles to be applied to your solution.
c) Make your calculations.
d) Ensure that your calculations are consistent with the accuracy justified by the data.
e) Be sure that you have used consistent units throughout your calculations.
f) Ensure that your answers are reasonable in terms of magnitudes, directions, common
sense, etc.
g) Draw conclusions.
 The Free-Body Diagram

• In applying the principles of mechanics to analyze forces acting on a

body, it is essential that we isolate the body in question from all other
bodies so that a complete and accurate account of all forces acting on
this body can be taken.

• This isolation should exist mentally and should be represented on

paper.
 The Free-Body Diagram cont…

• The diagram of such an isolated body with the representation of all

external forces acting on it is called a free-body diagram.

• The free-body-diagram method is the key to the understanding of

mechanics.

• The isolation of a body is the tool by which cause and effect are
clearly separated.
 Solution Methods

• Solutions to the problems of statics may be obtained in one or more

of the following ways.
• Obtain mathematical solutions by hand, using either algebraic symbols or
numerical values (most problems can be solved this way).

• Obtain graphical solutions for certain problems.

• Solve problems by computer.