1|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

MODULE 1 – FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Description:

Module 1 provides a discussion of fundamental concepts of Engineering Mechanics, system of

Units, conversion Factors and SI Prefixes

Objectives:

After completing the module, the students are expected to:

1. Understand the fundamental concepts of Engineering Mechanics

2. Become familiar with the System of Units, Conversion Factors and SI Prefixes

Duration:

Contents:

Fundamental Concepts of Engineering Mechanics:

1. Three divisions Mechanics

2. Two divisions of Mechanics of Rigid Bodies
3. Six fundamental principles of Mechanics based on experiments evidences
4. System of Units

5. SI Prefixes

6. Conversion of Units

Discussion:

Mechanics is a branch of Physical Science which describes and predicts the conditions of rest or
motion of bodies under the action of forces. It deals with Newton’s Law of Motion. It serves as a bridge
between theory and application.

Three Divisions of Mechanics

❖ Mechanics of Rigid Bodies

❖ Mechanics of Deformable Bodies

❖ Mechanics of Fluids

Two Divisions of Mechanics of Rigid Bodies

❖ Statics - dealing with bodies at rest

❖ Dynamics - dealing with bodies in motion

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
2|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Six fundamental principles of Mechanics based on experiments evidences:

1. The Parallelogram Law for the Addition of Forces

This states that two forces acting on a particle maybe F2

replaced by a single force, called the resultant, obtained by
drawing the diagonal of the parallelogram which has sides equal R F1
F1
to the given forces.
F2

2. The Principle of Transmissibility

This states that the conditions of equilibrium or of 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 the two forces have the
same line of action.

3. Newton’s First Law of Motion

If the resultant forces acting on a particle are zero, the particle will remain at rest (if
originally at rest) or will move with constant speed in a straight line (if originally in motion).

4. Newton’s Second Law of Motion

If the resultant force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle will have acceleration
proportional to the magnitude of the resultant and in the direction of this resultant force. F = ma.

5. Newton’s Third Law of Motion

The forces of action and reaction between bodies in contact have the same magnitude, same
line of action and opposite sense.

6. Newton’s Law of Gravitation

This states that two particles of mass M and m are mutually attracted with equal and
opposite forces F and F’ of magnitude F given by the formula

GMm
F=
r2
Where:
r
r = distance between two particles

M F F’ m G = universal constant called the constant of

gravitation
STATICS OF RIGID BODIES
−11 m3
Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA G = 6.67 x10
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE kg − s 2
3|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

System of Units:

International System of Units (SI units)

a. Length

The meter had its origin in the metric system. By international agreement, the standard
meter had been defined as the distance between two fine lines on a bar of platinum - iridium alloy.
The 1960 conference redefined the meter as 1, 650, 763. 73 wavelengths of the reddish - orange
light emitted by the isotope krypton - 86. The meter was again redefined in 1983 as the length of
the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1 / 299, 792, 458 of a second.

b. Mass

When the metric system was created, the kilogram was defined as the mass of 1 cubic
decimeter of pure water at the temperature of its maximum density (4.0˚C / 39.2˚F). A solid
cylinder of platinum was carefully made to match this quantity of water under the specified
conditions. Later it was discovered that a quantity of water as pure or as stable as required could
not be provided. Therefore, the primary standard of mass became the platinum cylinder, which
was replaced in 1889 by a platinum - iridium cylinder of similar mass. Today this cylinder still
serves as the international kilogram, and the kilogram in SI is defined as a quantity of mass of the
international prototype of the kilogram.

c. Time

For centuries, time has been universally measured in terms of the rotation of the earth. The
second, the basic unit of time, was defined as 1 / 86, 400 of a mean solar day (see Day) or one
complete rotation of the earth on its axis. Scientists discovered, however, that the rotation of the
earth was not constant enough to serve as the basis of the time standard. As a result, the second was
redefined in 1967 in terms of the resonant frequency of the cesium atom - that is, the frequency at
which this atom absorbs energy, or 9, 192, 631, 770 hertz (cycles per second).

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
4|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

SI Prefixes

Multiplication Factor Prefix Symbol

1,000,000,000,000,000,000 = 1 x 10 18 Exa E

1,000,000,000,000,000 = 1 x 1015 Peta P

1,000,000,000,000 = 1 x 1012 Tera T

1,000,000,000 = 1 x 109 Giga G

1,000,000 = 1 x 106 Mega M

1,000 = 1 x 103 Kilo K

100 = 1 x 102 hecto h

10 deka da

0.10 = 1 x 10 -1 deci d

0.01 = 1 x 10 -2 centi c

0.001 = 1 x 10 -3 milli m

0.000001 = 1 x 10 -6 micro μ

0.000000001 = 1 x 10 -9 nano η

0.000000000001 = 1 x10 -12 pico р

Conversion of Units:

❖ Length 1 foot = 12 inches

1 mile = 5280 feet

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

1 foot = 0.3048 meter

1 meter = 3.281 feet = 39.37 inches

❖ Time 1 day = 24 hours

1 hour = 60 minutes

1 minute = 60 seconds

❖ Mass 1 slug = 14.59 kilograms

❖ Force 1 pound = 4.448 Newton

❖ Angle 2πradians = 360 degrees

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES
Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
5|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Examples:

9 Mg = 9000 kg

10 GPa = 10 x 103 MPa

12 μm = 12 x 10- 9 km

23 ηg = 23 x 10- 6 mg

1 day = 86, 400 sec

1 mile = 1.6098 km

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
6|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Principal SI units used in Mechanics

Quantity Unit Symbol Formula

m
Acceleration Meter per second squared
s2

Angle radian rad

rad
Angular acceleration Radian per second squared
s2

rad
Angular velocity Radian per second
s

Area Square meter m2

kg
Density Kilogram per cubic meter
m3

Energy joule J N-m

kg − m
Force Newton N
s2

Frequency Hertz Hz s -1

Length meter m

Mass kilogram kg

Moment of a force Newton - meter N-m

Power Watt W J/s

N
Pressure Pascal Pa
m2

N
Stress Pascal Pa
m2

Time Second s

m
Velocity meter per second
s

Volume cubic meter m3

Work Joule J N-m

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE
7|FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

References:

1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers 10 th Edition, Beer, F.P., Johnston, E.R.Jr, Mazurek, D.F.,
Cornwell, P.J.2013

2. Engineering Mechanics Statics 13th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2013

3. Engineering Mechanics Statics 14th Edition, Hibbeler, R.C.,2016

STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

Compiled By: JUANITA CARMELITA R. ZOLETA
Reviewed By: ROWEL D. WAJE