ME 2131

Engineering Mechanics
Equilibrium of Particles and Rigid Bodies

OISHI KANTA
LECTURER
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, KUET.
 Books

• Vector Mechanics for Engineers (Statics) 10thedition

- Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston
• Analytic Mechanics
- Virgil Moring Faires
 Fundamental Concepts and Principles

Mechanics: Mechanics can be defined as that science which describes and predicts
the conditions of rest or motion of bodies under the action of forces.

Statics
Mechanics of rigid bodies

Mechanics Dynamics
Mechanics of deformable
bodies

Mechanics of fluids

Statics: Deals with body at rest.

Dynamics: Deals with bodies in motion.
Six Fundamental Principles
• The Parallelogram Law for the Addition of Forces: This states that 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.
• 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.
• Newton’s Three Fundamental Laws:
⮚If the resultant force acting on a particle is 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)
Six Fundamental Principles
⮚If the resultant force acting on a particle is not zero, the particle will have an
acceleration proportional to the magnitude of the resultant and in the direction of
this resultant force.

F = ma

⮚The forces of action and reaction between bodies in contact have the same
magnitude, same line of action, and opposite sense.
• 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.
Force and Force system
A force represents the action of one body on another and is generally characterized
by its point of application, its magnitude, and its direction.
• Coplanar force system
• Non-coplanar force system
• Concurrent force system
• Non-concurrent force system
• Co-linear force system

Resultant of Several Concurrent Forces

Resolution of a Force into Components
Problems
Sample 2.3: Four forces act on bolt A as shown. Determine the resultant of the
forces on the bolt. (both magnitude and direction)
Problems
Determine the x and y components of each of the forces shown. And hence,
determine the resultant force.
Problems
2.31: Two cables which have known tensions are attached to the top of pylon AB. A
third cable AC is used as a guy wire. Determine the tension in AC, knowing that the
resultant of the forces exerted at A by the three cables must be vertical.
Problems
• Knowing the resultant force which is horizontal determine the tension forces
acting on two ropes.
•
Space and Free Body Diagram
Problems
Two cables are tied together at C and loaded as shown. Determine the tension in AC
and BC.
Problems
A continuous string ACB passes over smooth peg at C. There is a force at the DE
cable. Consider the radius of the pulley negligible. Dimensions are given in the
figure. At C, a weight W = 150 kg is attached. Determine the forces in ACB string
and DE cable.
Problems
A 500-lb cylinder A rests on a smooth inclined plane. For a tension in the rope of
250-lb find the inclination of the plane and the plane reaction.
Problems
•
Vector Product of two vectors
•
Moment of a force about a point
Direction of Force and Moment
Varignon’s Theorem
Problems
A fixed crane has a mass of 1000 kg and is used to lift a 2400-kg crate. It is held in
place by a pin at A and a rocker at B. The center of gravity of the crane is located at
G. Determine the components of the reactions at A and B.
Problems
A man raises a 10-kg joist, of length 4 m, by pulling on a rope. Find the tension T in
the rope and the reaction at A.
Problems
A lever AC is hinged at B and attached to a control cable at C. If the lever is
subjected to a 400 N vertical force at A, determine (a) the tension in the cable, (b)
the reaction at B.
Problems
•
Problems
A vertical load 1-kN is applied at a distance x from the end B of rod AB. The mass
of the rod 25 kg. Determine the reaction forces and distance x.
Rectangular Components of a Force in Space
The relationship existing between the force F and its three components Fx, Fy, Fz is
easily visualized if a “box” having Fx, Fy, Fz for edges is drawn as shown in Fig. The
force F is then represented by the diagonal OA of this box.
Force defined by its magnitude and two points on its line of action
•
Problems
•
Problems
Knowing that the tension is 285 lb in cable AB and 426 lb in cable AC, determine the
magnitude and direction of the resultant of the forces exerted at A by the two cables.
Problems
The boom OA carries a load P and is supported by two cables. Knowing that the
tension in cable AB is 732 N and that the resultant of the load P and of the forces
exerted at A by the two cables must be directed along OA, determine the tension in
cable AC and magnitude of the load P
Problems
A 200-kg cylinder is hung by means of two cables AB and AC, which are attached to
the top of a vertical wall. A horizontal force P perpendicular to the wall holds the
cylinder in the position shown. Determine the magnitude of P and the tension in
each cable.
Problems
A 200-kg cylinder is hung by means of two cables AB and AC, which are attached to
the top of a vertical wall. A horizontal force P perpendicular to the wall holds the
cylinder in the position shown. Determine the magnitude of P and the tension in each
cable.

Self Study
Problems
A container of weight W = 360 N is supported by cables AB and AC, which are tied to
ring A. Knowing that Q = 0, determine (a) the magnitude of the force P which must be
applied to the ring to maintain the container in the position shown, (b) the
corresponding values of the tension in cables AB and AC
Problems
Cable BAC passes through a frictionless ring A and is attached to fixed supports at B
and C, while cables AD and AE are both tied to the ring and are attached,
respectively, to supports at D and E. Knowing that a 200-lb vertical load P is applied
to ring A, determine the tension in each of the three cables.
Problems
Three cables are used to support a container as shown. Determine the angle formed
by cables AB and AD.
Problems
Knowing that the tension in cable AD is 540 N, determine (a) the angle between cable
AD and the boom AB, (b) the projection on AB of the force exerted by cable AD at
point A
Rectangular Components of the Moment of a Force
•
Problems
A 300-N force is applied at A as shown. Determine (a) the moment of the 300-N force
about D, (b) the smallest force applied at B which creates the same moment about D.
Problems
A precast concrete wall section is temporarily held by two cables as shown. Knowing
that the tension in cable BD is 900 N, determine the moment about point O of the force
exerted by the cable at B.
Moment of a Couple
Two forces F and -F having the same magnitude, parallel lines of action, and opposite
sense are said to form a couple. Clearly, the sum of the components of the two forces in
any direction is zero. The sum of the moments of the two forces about a given point,
however, is not zero. While the two forces will not translate the body on which they
act, they will tend to make it rotate.
Moment of a Couple
•
Problems
Replace the couple and force shown by an equivalent single force applied to the
lever. Determine the distance from the shaft to the point of application of this
equivalent force.
Problems
A 5 × 8-ft sign of uniform density weighs 270-lb and is supported by a ball-and-
socket joint at A and by two cables. Determine the tension in each cable and the
reaction at A.
Problems
The 20-kg square plate shown is supported by three wires. Determine the tension in
each wire.
Problems
A load W is to be placed on the 80-lb plate. Determine the magnitude of W and the
point where it should be placed if the tension is to be 60-lb in each of the three wires.
Problems
A 12-m pole supports a horizontal cable CD and is held by a ball and socket at A and
two cables BE and BF. Knowing that the tension in cable CD is 14-kN and assuming
that CD is parallel to the x-axis, determine the tension in cables BE and BF and the
reaction at A.
Problems
The 2.5-m boom AC is acted upon by the 10kN force shown. A cable is attached to
corners E and F passing over the frictionless hook at B. Another cable is attached from
C to D point. Determine (a) the tension in each cable, (b) the reaction at the ball &
socket at A.
Problems need to be solved
Statics- Beer & Johnston 5th edition
2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 2.34
2.67, 2.68, 2.69
2.75, 2.76, 2.77, 2.78, 2.79, 2.82, 2.83, 2.84, 2.87, 2.88, 2.89, 2.91, 2.92, 2.100
3.6, 3.18, 3.29, 3.30, 3.32
Sample problem: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
4.36, 4.37, 4.38, 4.57, 4.62
4.69, 4.70, 4.71, 4.73, 4.75, 4.76, 4.92
Problems need to be solved
Statics- Beer & Johnston 10th edition
Chapter - 2
2.5, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13
Sample Problem: 2.3
2.21, 2.22, 2.23, 2.24, 2.26, 2.27, 2.28, 2.29
2.35, 2.36, 2.37, 2.38, 2.41, 2.42, 2.43, 2.44, 2.46, 2.47, 2.48, 2.51, 2.57, 2.58
Sample Problems: 2.7, 2.8
2.97
Sample Problem: 2.9
2.99, 2.100, 2.103, 2.104, 2.105, 2.106, 2.107, 2.109, 2.110, 2.121, 2.123
Problems need to be solved
Statics- Beer & Johnston 10th edition
Chapter - 3
Sample Problems: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.6, 3.7, 3.21, 3.24, 3.25, 3.26, 3.39, 3.40, 3.41
Sample Problems: 3.7
3.74
3.85, 3.89, 3.90, 3.92, 3.100
Sample Problem: 3.11
3.147, 3.153
Problems need to be solved
Statics- Beer & Johnston 10th edition
Chapter – 4
Sample Problems:4.1, 4.3
4.15, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20, 4.22, 4.23, 4.24, 4.25, 4.26, 4.29, 4.31, 4.32, 4.36, 4.37,
4.54
Sample Problem: 4.6
4.61, 4.62, 4.72, 4.81, 4.82
Sample Problem: 4.8
4.F7 (Solve), 4.99, 4.103, 4.104, 4.105, 4.107, 4.108, 4.110, 4.125, 4.128