INTRODUCTION

TO
ENGINEERING
MECHANICS

Mechanics is a science that deals with

motion and deformation of bodies under
the action of forces.
Its essential ingredients are axioms,
theorems, proofs, definitions, principles,
but at the heart of it, what mechanics really
consist of, are problems and solutions.

STATICS, UNITS, CALCULATIONS & PROBLEM SOLVING

Todays Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Identify what is mechanics/statics.
b) Round the final answer appropriately.
d) Apply problem solving strategies.

Tutorial and Homework Tasks

Review Vectors
Dot Product
Cross Product

TEAM EXERCISE AND HOMEWORK:

Solve Problems in the Textbook at the back
of Chapters 1 and 2.
How many?
Try at least 3-4 Problems from each section!

EXERCISE 1
Based on what you know from Physics design the cables A and B required
to support the weight of 100 kN. (i.e. find the required cross-sectional area
for cables A and B? The cables are made from steel and the maximum steel
stress is 300 MPa)
y

Cable A

FA

FAj
45o

FBj
FB
45o

FAi

FBi

Cable B

FAj + FBj = 100

FAj = FBj = 50 [kN]
FA = FB = 50/(cos 45o)
FA = FB = 70.7 [kN]

100 kN

Stress = Force/Area
Area = Force/Stress
Area = 70.7 x 103/300
= 235.7 [mm2]

Introduction
Designing & constructing devices/structures:
Understand the physics underlying the designs
Use mathematical models to predict their behaviour
Learn how to analyse & predict the behaviors of physical

systems by studying mechanics

Engineering & Mechanics

Knowledge of previous designs, experiments, ingenuity &

creativity to develop new designs.

Develop mathematical equations based on the physical

characteristics of the device/structures designs:

Predict the behavior
Modify the design
Test the design prior to actual construction

Engineering & Mechanics

Elementary Mechanics the study of forces & their

effects

Statics the study of objects in

equilibrium

Dynamics the study of objects in

motion

Engineering & Mechanics

Applications in many fields of engineering:

Statics: equilibrium equations

Designing structures (mechanical & civil)

Dynamics: motion equations

Analyse responses of buildings to earthquakes

(civil)
Determine trajectories of satellites (aerospace)

EXERCISE 2
1. The subject of mechanics deals with what happens
to a body when ______ is / are applied to it.
a) magnetic field
b) heat
c) forces
d) neutrons
e) lasers
2. ________________ still remains the basis of
most of todays engineering sciences.
a) Newtonian Mechanics
b) Relativistic Mechanics
c) Euclidean Mechanics
d) Greek Mechanics

WHAT IS MECHANICS??
Study of what happens to a thing (the technical name is
body) when FORCES are applied to it.
Either the body or the forces could be large or small.

BRANCHES OF MECHANICS
Mechanics
Rigid Bodies
(Things that do not change shape)

Statics

Deformable Bodies
(Things that do change shape)

Dynamics

Fluids

Incompressible

Compressible

What may happen if static's is not applied properly?

SYSTEMS OF UNITS
Four fundamental physical quantities.
Length, mass, time, force.
One equation relates them, F = m x a.
We use this equation to develop systems of
units.
Units are arbitrary names we give to the
physical quantities.

EXERCISE 3
Evaluate the situation, in which mass (kg), force (N), and
length(m) are the base units and recommend a solution.
a) A new system of units will have to be formulated
b) Only the unit of time have to be changed from
second to something else
c) No changes are required
d) The above situation is not feasible

EXERCISE 4
Give the most appropriate reason for using three significant
figures in reporting results of typical engineering
calculations.
a) Historically slide rules could not handle more than three
significant figures.
b) Three significant figures gives better than one-percent accuracy.
c) Telephone systems designed by engineers have area codes
consisting of three figures.
d) Most of the original data used in engineering calculations do not
have accuracy better than one percent

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY:

1. INTERPRET: Read carefully and determine what is given
and what is to be found/ delivered. Ask, if not clear.
If necessary, make assumptions and indicate them.
2. PLAN: Think about major steps (or a road map) that you
will take to solve a given problem. Think of
alternative/creative solutions and choose the best
one.
3. EXECTUTE: Carry out your steps. Use appropriate
diagrams and equations. Estimate your answers.
Avoid simple calculation mistakes. Reflect on /
revise your work.

EXERCISE 5
For a statics problem your calculations show the final answer
as 12345.6 N. What will you write as your final answer?
a) 12345.6 N
b) 12.3456 kN
c) 12 kN
d) 12.3 kN
e) 123 kN

VECTORS

2D
VECTORS

10

2D VECTOR ADDITION
Todays Objective:
Students will be able to :
a) Resolve a 2-D vector into components
b) Add 2-D vectors using Cartesian vector notations.

EXERCISE 6
1) Which one of the following is a scalar quantity?
a) Force
b) Position
c) Mass
d) Velocity
2) For vector addition you have to use ______ law.
a) Newtons Second
b) the arithmetic
c) Pascals
d) the parallelogram

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APPLICATION OF VECTOR
ADDITION

There are four

concurrent cable forces
acting on the bracket.
How do you determine
the resultant force
acting on the bracket ?

SCALARS AND VECTORS

Examples

Scalars

Vectors

(mass, volume)

(force, velocity)

Characteristics

it has a magnitude
(positive or
negative)

it has a magnitude
and direction

Addition rule

simple arithmetic

Parallelogram law

none

bold font, a line, an

arrow or a carrot

Special notation

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VECTOR OPERATIONS

Scalar Multiplication
and Division

VECTOR ADDITION USING EITHER THE

PARALLELOGRAM LAW OR TRIANGLE

Parallelogram Law:

Triangle method
(always tip to tail):

How do you subtract a vector?

How can you add more than two concurrent vectors graphically ?

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RESOLUTION OF A VECTOR
Resolution of a vector is breaking up a vector into components.
It is kind of like using the parallelogram law in reverse.

CARTESIAN VECTOR NOTATION

We resolve vectors into
components using the x and y
axes system
Each component of the vector is
shown as a magnitude and a
direction.
The directions are based on the x and y axes.
We use the unit vectors i and j to designate the x and y axes.

14

For example,
F = Fx i + Fy j

or

F' = F'x i + F'y j

The x and y axes are always perpendicular to each other.

Together, they can be directed at any inclination.

ADDITION OF SEVERAL VECTORS

Step 1 is to resolve each force
into its components
Step 2 is to add all the x
components together and add all
the y components together. These
two totals become the resultant
vector.
Step 3 is to find the magnitude
and angle of the resultant vector.

15

Example of this process,

You can also represent a 2-D vector with a magnitude

and angle.

16

EXERCISE 7
Given: Three concurrent
forces acting on a
bracket.
Find: The magnitude and
angle of the resultant
force.

Procedure:
a) Resolve the forces in their x-y components.
b) Add the respective components to get the resultant vector.
c) Find magnitude and angle from the resultant components.

EXAMPLE

EXERCISE 7

F1 = 15 sin 40 i + 15 cos 40 j = 9.642 i + 11.49 j kN

F2 = -(12/13)26 i + (5/13)26 j = -24 i + 10 j kN
F3 = 36 cos 30 i 36 sin 30 j = 31.18 i 18 j kN

17

EXERCISE 7
Summing up all the i and j components respectively, we get,
FR = (9.642 24 + 31.18) i + (11.49 + 10 18) j
= 16.82 i + 3.49 j [kN]
y
FR

FR = ((16.82)2 + (3.49)2)1/2 = 17.2 [kN]

= tan-1(3.49/16.82) = 11.7

EXERCISE 8
1. Can you resolve a 2-D vector along two directions, which are
not at 90 to each other?
a) Yes, but not uniquely.
b) No.
c) Yes, uniquely.
2. Can you resolve a 2-D vector along three directions
(say at 0, 60, and 120)?
a) Yes, but not uniquely.
b) No.
c) Yes, uniquely.

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EXERCISE 9
Given: Three concurrent
forces acting on a
bracket
Find: The magnitude
and angle of the
resultant force.
Procedure:
a) Resolve the forces in their x-y components.
b) Add the respective components to get the resultant vector.
c) Find magnitude and angle from the resultant components.

EXERCISE 9

F1 = (4/5) 850 i - (3/5) 850 j = 680 i - 510 j [N]

F2 = -625 sin(30) i - 625 cos(30) j = -312.5 i - 541.3 j [N]
F3 = -750 sin(45) i + 750 cos(45) j = -530.3 i + 530.3 j [N]

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EXERCISE 9
Summing up all the i and j components respectively, we get,
FR = (680 312.5 530.3) i + (-510 541.3 + 530.3) j
= - 162.8 i - 521 j [N]

FR = ((162.8)2 + (521)2) = 546 N

= tan1(521/162.8) = 72.64

or

from positive x axis = 180 + 72.64 = 253

FR

QUIZ
EXERCISE
10
1. Resolve F along x and y axes and write it in vector
form. F = { ___________ } N
y
a) 80 cos (30) i - 80 sin (30) j

b) 80 sin (30) i + 80 cos (30) j

c) 80 sin (30) i - 80 cos (30) j
d) 80 cos (30) i + 80 sin (30) j

30
F = 80 N

2. Determine the magnitude of the resultant (F1 + F2)

force in N when
F1 = { 10 i + 20 j } N and F2 = { 20 i + 20 j } N .
a) 30 N

b) 40 N

d) 60 N

e) 70 N

c) 50 N

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