Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts and Basic Principles Topic 1.

0 :Leaning Outcome Leave blank

Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this chapter, the students should be able to understand and apply
the following concepts:

1.1 Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

1.1.1 Concept of Space, Time, Mass, and Force

1.1.2 Newton’s Laws

1.1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities

1.1.4 System of Units

1.2 Method of Problem Solving in Engineering Mechanics

Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1 : Introduction to Engineering Mechanics Leave blank

Mechanics
Mechanics is the science which describes and
predicts the conditions of rest or motion of
bodies under the action of forces.

Mechanics is an applied science. It is not an

abstract or pure science but does not have the
empiricism found in other engineering sciences.

Categories of Mechanics
Mechanics can be divided into the following
branches:
- Rigid bodies
- Statics
- Dynamics
- Deformable bodies
- Fluids

Statics is the branch of mechanics concerned The 13.5 km-long Penang Bridge, constructed
with the analysis of loads (force, torque/moment) from Penang island to Butterworth on the
on physical systems in static equilibrium. Malaysian mainland.
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.1 Concept of Space, Time, Mass, and Force Leave blank

Concept of Space, Time, Mass, and Force

Space - associated with the notion of the position of a point P given in terms of three coordinates
measured from a reference point or origin.

Time - definition of an event requires specification of the time and position at which it occurred.

Mass - used to characterize and compare bodies, e.g., response to earth’s gravitational attraction and
resistance to changes in translational motion.

Force - represents the action of one body on another. A force is characterized by its point of application,
magnitude, and direction, i.e., a force is a vector quantity.

In Newtonian Mechanics, space, time, and mass are absolute concepts, independent of each other.
Force, however, is not independent of the other three because the force acting on a body is related to the
mass of the body end the variation of its velocity with time. ( F = ma )
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.2 Newton’s Laws Leave blank

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 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.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Two particles are attracted with equal and opposite forces,

Mm GM
F =G W = mg , g =
r2 R2
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.2 Newton’s Laws Leave blank

Newton’s First Law

∑F=0

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Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.2 Newton’s Laws Leave blank

Newton’s Second Law

∑ F = ma

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Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.2 Newton’s Laws Leave blank

Newton’s Third Law

F = -F

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Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities Leave blank

Parallelogram Law
Two forces acting on a particle may be replaced by a single force, called their resultant,
obtained by drawing the diagonal of the parallelogram which has sides equal to the given
forces.

Principle of Transmissibility
The conditions of equilibrium or motion of a rigid body will remain unchanged if a force acting
at a given point of the rigid body is replaced by a force of the same magnitude and same
direction, but acting at a different point, provided that two forces have the same line of action.
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities Leave blank

Parallelogram Law

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Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities Leave blank

Principle of Transmissibility

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Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic 1.1.3 Scalar and Vector Quantities Leave blank

Quantity

Scalar Vector
(Only (Magnitude &
Magnitude) Direction)

Mass Force
Time Velocity
Area Acceleration
Length Displacement
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles 1.1.4 System of Units Leave blank

Kinetic Units
length, time, mass, and force.

Three of the kinetic units, referred to as basic units, may be defined arbitrarily.
The fourth unit, referred to as a derived unit, must have a definition compatible with Newton’s
2nd Law,
 
F = ma

International System of Units (SI)

The basic units are length, time, and mass which are arbitrarily defined as the meter (m),
second (s), and kilogram (kg). Force is the derived unit,

. F = ma
 m
1 N = (1 kg )1 2 
 s 
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles 1.2 Method of Problem Solving in Engineering Mechanics Leave blank

Statement of Problem
Problem
Includes given data, specification of what is to be determined, and a
figure showing all quantities involved.

Statement of Problem Free-Body Diagrams

Create separate diagrams for each of the bodies involved with a clear
indication of all forces acting on each body
Free body Diagram (FBD)
Equation Formulation and Solution

Write the relevant equations that expressing the conditions of rest or

Equation Formulation motion at the bodies considered based on the fundamental principles of
mechanics. Solve the problem by following strictly the usual rules of
algebra.

Solution Error Checking

- Test for errors in reasoning by verifying that the units of the

computed results are correct,
Error Checking - test for errors in computation by substituting given data and
computed results into previously unused equations based on the six
principles,
- always apply experience and physical intuition to assess whether
results seem “reasonable.
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles 1.2 Method of Problem Solving in Engineering Mechanics Leave blank

Statement of Problem

Free Body Diagram

Equation Formulation
and Solution

Rewrite and underline

the answers after
Error Checking
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles 1.2 Method of Problem Solving in Engineering Mechanics Leave blank

Numerical Accuracy
The accuracy of a solution depends on accuracy of the given data, and accuracy of the
computations performed.

The use of hand calculators and computers generally makes the accuracy of the computations
much greater than the accuracy of the data. Hence, the solution accuracy is usually limited by
the data accuracy.

As a general rule for engineering problems, the data are seldom known with an accuracy
greater than 0.2%. Therefore, it is usually appropriate to record parameters beginning with “1”
with four digits and with three digits in all other cases, i.e., 40.2 N and 15.58 N.
Chapter 1 : Basic Concepts & Basic Principles Topic : References Leave blank

Acknowledgement
The contents and figures used this chapter are duplicated and edited from the following
references.

References
Ferdinand P. Beer & Russell Johnston Jr., Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 8th ed. in
SI units, McGraw-Hill, 2007.

J. L. Meriam & L.G. Kraige, Engineering Mechanics, Statics, 6th ed. SI ver., J. Wiley & Sons,
2007.

R. C. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics, Statics, 12th ed. in SI units, Prentice Hall, 2010.