Vector Mechanics for Engineers. ES 61.

Mechanics is the science that describes the conditions of rest or motions of bodies subjected to the
actions of forces. Mechanics of Rigid Bodies is divided into two, the statics and dynamics. Statics deals
with the equilibrium of bodies that are assumed to be (1) rigid, and (2) at rest or moving with constant
velocity with forces applied on it.

There are the fundamental concepts that should be put in mind. The Newton’s Law of Motions which
discusses the object at rest and continuously moving with constant velocity, when it has an acceleration
and when an object is in contact with another object with same magnitude but in opposite direction.
The Principle of Transmissibility where the motion will remain unchanged if the force is replaced by a
force of the same magnitude and direction but on different point. The concept of Vectors and its
operations are also important because most of the forces applied are in Vector form. The position of the
objects can also be given in vector form.

Equilibrium of a particle. Summing up all the forces acting on the body and equating it to zero because it
is in equilibrium. The concept of free body diagram (FBD), where the body is isolated and equate the
forces acting on it to zero, should be used. The forces applied and the body can be represented in three-
dimensional point of view, so the summation of the components of x, y, and z axes should be separated
for better solving.

Moment. The moment of force is the measure of the tendency of the force to make the body rotate
about a point or a specified axis. The force depends on the distance of the f on that axis and the
magnitude of the F. The distance and the force must be perpendicular in order to have a rotation. The
moment of a couple is about the two forces with the same magnitudes and parallel lines of action but in
the opposite sense.

Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies. Structures and supports has its corresponding reactions if forces are applied
to it. These reactions include forces and moments along the component of x, y, and z axes. There are also
cables and tensions involved. Summing up all the forces (including external forces) and moments in
every component and equate it to zero because it is the condition for equilibrium.

Centroid and Center of Gravity. The weights of the particles can be replaced by a single resultant weight.
Solving these problems can be obtained by manipulating the given points and integration of the
formulas. For better solving in composite bodies, bodies should be observed one by one tabulate the
centroids.

Trusses. In solving trusses, there are two methods. The method of joints in which each of the joints are
isolated, solving for the forces and finding if its tension or compression. The method of sections in which
the trusses are cut in section – left sections and right section, then solve for the corresponding forces
acting on it.

Shear and Moment Diagrams. In these cases, a beam with loads (concentrated loads) and forces are cut
in sections. Cutting of section depend on the phases of the loads or forces applied. Then finding the
forces, moments and shear unknown equations. Then plot the corresponding values to obtained the
moment diagram and shear diagram.
Moment of Inertia. the moment of inertia must be specified with respect to a given axis of rotation. It is
related to a centroidal axis or a given axis. Formulas for different shapes are derived from the centroid
formulas and it also needs a manipulation of the system,

These are the topics we discussed in out ES 61. Some of them were fun to solve like in the first topics
because you will just sum all the forces that are acting on the body to satisfy the equilibrium conditions.
Also the support reactions in a structure were listed already which make them easy to solve. All you have
to do is master all the reactions. I have a difficulty in retaining the last topics maybe because the concept
was not well introduced to us (or maybe on my side only) and less examples were given. So I am looking
forward to learn more in ES 64 about the concepts and encounter more examples.