Session 1 Introduction and Review of Basic Math Skill

Mechanics
STATICS
Equilibrium of bodies under the action of balanced forces

MECHANICS

DYNAMICS
Motions of bodies under the action of unbalanced forces

STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Relationships among the external forces applied to the bodies, the resulting stresses, and deformation.

Newtons Laws
First law
A particle remains at rest or continues to move along a straight line with a constant velocity if the force acting on it is zero.

Second law
If the force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle accelerates in the direction of the force, and the magnitude of the acceleration is proportional to the magnitude of the force.

Third law
The forces of action and reaction between interactive bodies always have the same magnitude and opposite directions.

The Nature of a Force

Characteristics of a force
Ex. Apply a 30 newton force on a 10kg block

Free body diagram Applied force: 30 nt

Friction: fs = 98.1 0.1 = 9.81 nt

Gravity: mg = 109.81 = 98.1 nt

Units
U.S. customary system of units (English system)
Length: foot (ft) Force: pound (lb) Time: second (s)

International system (SI units)

Length: meter (m) Mass: kilogram (kg) Time: second (s)

Conversion Symbols
SI prefixes

1 kg = 1000 g 1 km = 10 m = 1000 m 1 um = 10 m = 0.000001 m

-6 3

Unit Conversion

Unit Conversion
Example: Convert a velocity of 30mph into its equivalent value in m/s.

Consistency of Units in an Equation

Using the equation s = vt, find the distance s in feet traveled by a car at a constant speed v = 65 mph for a period of t = 30 sec.

Rules for Numerical Computation

Approximate numbers
Exact number: usually derived from definition or counting Approximate number: usually obtained through some kind of measurement

Significant digits
Except for the zeros used as placeholders, all the other digits in an approximate number are called significant digits. Ex. 0.587, 0.00408, 3050 3 significant digits 22.40, 2.890, 4.560 108 4 significant digits

Accuracy and Precision

The accuracy of a number refers to its number of significant digits. Ex. 1570, 60.9, 0.0805 accurate to 3 significant digits 0.745 precise to the nearest thousandths

Rules for Numerical Computation

Example: A steel plate 1.25 in thick is coated with a thin
layer of paint 0.014 in thick. Of these two value thickness, which one has a better accuracy and which one has a greater precision?

Rules for Numerical Computation

Rule 1: When approximate numbers are multiplied or divided, the result is expressed with the same accuracy as the least accurate number.

Rule 2: When approximate numbers are added or subtracted, the result is expressed with the same accuracy as the least accurate number.

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

B c a C b

Pythagorean theorem

c 2 = a 2 + b2
sin A = a c b cos A = c a tan A = b

Trigonometry of right triangles

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Examples: A 16-ft ladder leans against a wall, forming
an angle of 75 with the floor. Determine the height h that the ladder reaches on the wall.

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

B c a C

A + B + C = 180

Law of sines Law of cosines

a b c = = sin A sin B sin C

a 2 = b 2 + c 2 2bc cos A b 2 = c 2 + a 2 2 ca cos A c 2 = a 2 + b 2 2 ab cos A

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Example: A 20-ft ladder AB leans on a wall makes an angle
of 25 with the wall. The ground is 15 from the horizontal. Determine the height h that the ladder reaches on the wall.

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Example: For the bracket support shown in the figure, rod AB is 500 mm long and makes an angle of 60 with the vertical. The vertical distance between the support is 600 mm. Compute the length of rod BC.

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Simultaneous Equations a1 x + b1y = k 1 a2x + b2y = k2
To solve the two-dimensional equilibrium problem, three methods are usually used: Elimination by Substitution Elimination by Addition and Substitution Cramers Rule

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Cramers rule for two equations a1 x + b1y = k 1 a2x + b2y = k2
Determinants:

a1 a2

b1 b2

= a1b2 a2b1
x=

k1 k2 a1 a2
a1 y= a2 a1 a2

b1 b2 b1 b2
k1 k2 b1 b2

Mathematics Used in Mechanics

Example 4x + y = 10 3x - 5y = 19

Vectors
Break the vector P into its x and y components, given the angle a Add the vectors P and Q. Find the magnitude of the resultant vector and its angle with respect to the other two vectors and with respect to the x and y axes. y Given the magnitudes of P and Q and the angle b, compute the dot product (scalar product) of the two. Given the magnitudes and angles of the two vectors, compute the cross product (vector product) of the two vectors.
P

a x

Calculus
Given the equation y = x2 +3x + 4, plot the function.
Compute the slope of the function at any value of x Find the minimum value of y and the point (x,y) at which it occurs Find the area between the x axis and y(x) between x = 0 and x = 5