Chapter 1 - Introduction of Mechanics

Introduction

    Basic mechanics involves the study of two principal areas – statics and dynamics.

     Statics is the study of forces on objects or bodies which are at rest or moving at a constant velocity, and the forces are in balance, or in static equilibrium.

   

    A ball at rest may have several forces acting on it, such as gravitational force (weight) and a force opposing that gravity (reaction). The ball is at rest or static, has forces in balance or EQUILIBRIUM

    Dynamics is the study of forces on moving bodies, and the forces are in dynamic equilibrium. 

The concept of applied mechanics is useful when it comes to analyzing stress, designing of machine structures and hydraulics, etc.

There are only seven basic units in the SI system but only three are frequently used in statics and dynamics:

Physical Quantity     Unit            Symbol

 1.  Length                 meter             m

 2.  Mass                 kilogram         kg

 3. Time                   second             s