ENGINEERING MECHANICS

(Statics of Rigid Bodies)

ENGR. JOSHUA DLS. PERANTE

Instructor
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Introduction
Engineering Mechanics science which considers the effects

of forces on rigid bodies.

Engineering
Mechanics

Statics

Force
Systems

Applications

Dynamics

Kinematics

Kinetics
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Fundamental Concepts
Rigid Bodies definite amount of matter the

parts of which are fixed in position relative to

each other.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Fundamental Concepts
Force that which changes, or tends to change,

the state of motion of a body.

Characteristics
1. Magnitude

2. Position of its line of action

3. Direction or sense
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Free Body Diagram (FBD)

Isolate the body being considered
Applied Forces forces acting on the free body
Reaction Forces those exerted by the free body upon other
bodies.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Free Body Diagram (FBD)

May consist of an entire assembled structure or an

isolated part of it.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Scalar and Vector Quantities

Scalar Quantities which possess magnitude only and can be

added arithmetically

Vector can be combined only by geometric addition

(has magnitude and direction)

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Vector Addition
Graphical method by arranging the given vectors in tip-to-

tail fashion and connecting the tail of the first vector with the
tip of the last one

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Vector Addition
Trapezoid rule for vector addition
Triangle rule for vector addition
Law of cosines,

R 2 P 2 Q 2 2 PQ cos B

R PQ

Law of sines,
B

sin A sin B sin C

Q
R
A

Vector addition is commutative,

PQ Q P

Vector subtraction
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Vector Addition
Parallelogram Law The resultant of two forces is the

diagonal of the parallelogram formed on the vectors of these

forces

F1

F2

F1
R

F2
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Vector Addition
Polygon Rule by arranging the given vectors in tip-to-tail

fashion and connecting the tail of the first vector with the tip
of the last one (used in computing several concurrent forces)
F2
F3
F1
R

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Resultant of Several Concurrent Forces

Concurrent forces: set of forces which all
pass through the same point.
A set of concurrent forces applied to a
particle may be replaced by a single
resultant force which is the vector sum of
the applied forces.
Vector force components: two or more force
vectors which, together, have the same
effect as a single force vector.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 1
Find the resultant

Solution:

(Graphical Method)

Tip to tail method

Parallelogram method

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 1
Find the resultant

Solution:

(Trigonometric Solution)
Using law of cosines:

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 1
Find the resultant

Solution:

(Trigonometric Solution)
Using law of sines:

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 2
A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the resultant of the
forces exerted by the tugboats is a 5000-lb force
directed along the axis of the barge, determine
( a ) the tension in each of the ropes knowing that a 5 45,
( b ) the value of a for which the tension in rope 2 is minimum

Solution:
A.

(Trigonometric Solution)

Using triangle rule

Using law of sines

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 2
A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the resultant of the
forces exerted by the tugboats is a 5000-lb force
directed along the axis of the barge, determine
( a ) the tension in each of the ropes knowing that a 5 45,
( b ) the value of a for which the tension in rope 2 is minimum

Solution:

(Trigonometric Solution)

B. Note: minimum value of T2 occurs

when T1 and T2 are perpendicular

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem 2
A barge is pulled by two tugboats. If the resultant of the
forces exerted by the tugboats is a 5000-lb force
directed along the axis of the barge, determine
( a ) the tension in each of the ropes knowing that a 5 45,
( b ) the value of a for which the tension in rope 2 is minimum

Solution:

(Trigonometric Solution)

B.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Rectangular Components of a Force

May resolve a force vector into perpendicular
components so that the resulting parallelogram is a

rectangle. Fx and Fy are referred to as rectangular

vector components and

F Fx Fy

Define perpendicular unit vectors i and j which

are parallel to the x and y axes.
Vector components may be expressed as products
of the unit vectors with the scalar magnitudes of
the vector components.

F Fx i Fy j

Fx and Fy are referred to as the scalar components of F

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Unit Vectors
Two vectors of unit magnitude, directed respectively along

the positive x and y axes, denoted by i and j

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Unit Vectors
Two vectors of unit magnitude, directed respectively along

the positive x and y axes, denoted by i and j

(angle defining its direction)

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
A force of 800 N is exerted on a bolt A as shown in determine

the horizontal and vertical components of the force

Solution:

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Addition of Forces by Summing X and Y

Components

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
Four forces act on bolt A as
shown. Determine the resultant of
the forces on the bolt.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
1. Figure/Given:

2. Required: Resultant R

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem

3. Solution:

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
3. Solution:

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Equilibrium of a Particle
When the resultant of all forces acting on a particle is zero, the
particle is in equilibrium.
Newtons First Law: If the resultant force on a particle is zero, the particle
will remain at rest or will continue at constant speed in a straight line.

Particle acted upon by two

forces:
- equal magnitude
- same line of action
- opposite sense

Particle acted upon by three or more forces:

- graphical solution yields a closed polygon
- algebraic solution

R F 0

Fx 0

Fy 0

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Free-Body Diagrams

Space Diagram: A sketch showing

the physical conditions of the
problem.

Free-Body Diagram: A sketch showing

only the forces on the selected
particle.
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at the junction of the rope and cable.
Apply the conditions for equilibrium by
creating a closed polygon from the forces
applied to the particle.
Apply trigonometric relations to determine
the unknown force magnitudes.
In a ship-unloading operation, a 3500-lb
automobile is supported by a cable. A
rope is tied to the cable and pulled to
center the automobile over its intended
position. What is the tension in the
rope?
MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
Construct a free-body diagram for the
particle at A.
Apply the conditions for equilibrium.
Solve for the unknown force magnitudes.
T AC
T AB
3500 lb

sin 120 sin 2 sin 58

T AB 3570 lb
T AC 144 lb

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Rectangular Components in Space

The vector F is

contained in the
plane OBAC.

Resolve F h into
Resolve
into
rectangular components
horizontal and
vertical components.
Fx Fh cos
Fy F cos y

F sin y cos

Fh F sin y

Fy Fh sin
F sin y sin

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Rectangular Components in Space

With the angles between F and the axes,

Fx F cos x Fy F cos y Fz F cos z

F Fx i Fy j Fz k

F cos x i cos y j cos z k

cos x i cos y j cos z k

is a unit vector along the line of action of F

and cos x , cos y , and cos z are the direction

MECH 313
cosines for F
JSPERANTE

EVSU

Rectangular Components in Space

Direction of the force is defined by
the location of two points,
M x1 , y1 , z1 and N x2 , y 2 , z 2

d vector joining M and N

d xi d y j d z k
d x x2 x1 d y y 2 y1 d z z 2 z1

F F

d xi d y j d z k
d
Fd y
Fd x
Fd z
Fx
Fy
Fz
MECH 313
d
d
d
JSPERANTE

EVSU

Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
Based on the relative locations of the
points A and B, determine the unit vector
pointing from A towards B.
Apply the unit vector to determine the
components of the force acting on A.
The tension in the guy wire is 2500 N.
Determine:
a) components Fx, Fy, Fz of the force
acting on the bolt at A,
b) the angles qx, qy, qz defining the
direction of the force

Noting that the components of the unit

vector are the direction cosines for the
vector, calculate the corresponding
angles.

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
SOLUTION:
Determine the unit vector pointing from A
towards B.

AB 40 m i 80 m j 30 m k
AB

40 m 2 80 m 2 30 m 2

94.3 m

40 80 30

i
j
k
94
.
3
94
.
3
94
.
3

0.424 i 0.848 j 0.318k

Determine the components of the force.

F F

2500 N 0.424 i 0.848 j 0.318k

1060 N i 2120 N j 795 N k

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sample Problem
Noting that the components of the unit vector are
the direction cosines for the vector, calculate the
corresponding angles.

cos x i cos y j cos z k

0.424 i 0.848 j 0.318k

x 115.1
y 32.0
z 71.5

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU

Sources
STATICS, Engineering Mechanics, BedFord, Anthony and Fowler
Vector Mechanics for Engineers, Beer, Ferdinand
Engineering Mechanics, Singer, Ferdinand
Engineering Mechanics, Timoshenko and Young
Engineering Mechanics, Hibbeler, R.C

MECH 313
JSPERANTE
EVSU