Chapter 01

Chapter Objectives
 To provide an introduction to the basic quantities and

idealizations of mechanics.  Modelling
 To state Newton’s Laws of Motion and Gravitation.
 To review the principles for applying the SI system of
units.
 To examine the standard procedures for performing
numerical calculations.
 To present a general guide for solving problems.
In-Class Activities
1. Reading Quiz
2. Applications
3. Mechanics
4. Fundamental Concepts
5. Units of Measurement
6. The International System of Units
7. Numerical Calculations
8. General Procedure for Analysis
9. Concept Quiz
READING QUIZ
1. The subject of mechanics deals with what

happens to a body when ______ is/are applied to it.
a) Magnetic field
b) Heat
c) Forces
d) Neutrons
e) Lasers
READING QUIZ
2. ________________ still remains the basis of most of

today’s engineering sciences.
a) Newtonian Mechanics
b) Relativistic Mechanics
c) Greek Mechanics
d) Euclidean Mechanics
APPLICATIONS
MECHANICS
• Mechanics can be divided into 3 branches:

- Rigid-body Mechanics
- Deformable-body Mechanics
- Fluid Mechanics
• Rigid-body Mechanics deals with

- Statics – Equilibrium of bodies
 At rest
 Moving with a constant velocity
- Dynamics – Accelerated motion of bodies
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Basic Quantities
1. Length
- locate the position of a point in space
- describe the size of a physical system
2. Time
- succession of events
3. Mass
- measure of a quantity of matter
- used to compare the action of one body with that of
another
4. Force
- a “push” or “pull” exerted by one body on another
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS (cont)
Idealizations
1. Particle
- has a mass, but size can be neglected
2. Rigid Body
- a combination of a large number of particles
3. Concentrated Force
- the effect of a loading assumed to act at a point
on a body
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
• First Law
“A particle originally at rest, or
moving in a straight line with
constant velocity, will remain in
this state provided that the
particle is not subjected to an
unbalanced force”
• Second Law
“A particle acted upon by an unbalanced force F
experiences an acceleration a that has the same
direction as the force and a magnitude that is
directly proportional to the force”
F  ma
• Third Law
“The mutual forces of action and reaction
between two particles are equal and, opposite
and collinear”
Newton’s Law of Gravitational Attraction

m1 m 2
F G
r2
F = force of gravitation between two particles
G = universal constant of gravitation
m1,m2 = mass of each of the two particles
r = distance between the two particles
mM e
Weight: W  G 2
r
2
Letting g  GM e / r yields W  mg
g – acceleration due to gravitation
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
SI Units
• Stands for Système International d’Unités
• F = ma is maintained only if
– 3 of the units, called base units, are defined
– 4th unit is derived from the equation
• SI system specifies length in meters (m), time in
seconds (s) and mass in kilograms (kg)
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT (cont)
* Force unit, Newton (N), is derived from the others
Unit (ISO 1000)  for vibration unit !

Quantities SI Vibration unit Equivalent unit
unit
Displacement, x m m 1 m = 10-6 m
Velocity, v m/s mm/s 1 mm/s = 10-3 m/s
Acceleration, a m/s2 g 1 g = 9.81 m/s2
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT (cont)
• At the standard location,

g = 9.806 65 m/s2
• For calculations, we use
g = 9.81 m/s2
• Thus,
W = mg (g = 9.81 m/s2)
• Hence, a body of mass 1 kg has a weight of 9.81 N, a
2 kg body weighs 19.62 N
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
Prefixes
• For a very large or small numerical quantity, units can
be modified by using a prefix
• Each represent a multiple or sub-multiple of a unit

Eg: 4,000,000 N = 4000 kN (kilonewton)
= 4 MN (meganewton)
0.005 m = 5 mm (millimeter)
THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS
(cont)
NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS
Dimensional Homogeneity
• Each term must be expressed in the same units
• Regardless of how the equation is evaluated, it
maintains its dimensional homogeneity
• All terms can be replaced by a consistent set of units
NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS (cont)
Significant Figures (Số có nghĩa)

• Accuracy of a number is specified by the number of
significant figures it contains
• A significant figure is any digit including zero
e.g. 5604 and 34.52 have four significant numbers
• When numbers begin or end with zero, we make use
of prefixes to clarify the number of significant figures
e.g. 400 as one significant figure would be 0.4(103)
Rounding Off Numbers

• Accuracy obtained would never be better than the
accuracy of the problem data
• Calculators or computers involve more figures in the
answer than the number of significant figures in the
data
• Calculated results should always be “rounded off” to
an appropriate number of significant figures
Ex: Vcar = 80.12345 km/h  
Vcar = 80 or 80.1 km/h  
Calculations
• Retain a greater number of digits for accuracy
• Work out computations so that numbers that are
approximately equal
• Round off final answers to three significant figures
GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS
To solve problems, it is important to present work in a

logical and orderly way as suggested:
1. Correlate actual physical situation with theory
2. Draw any diagrams and tabulate the problem data
3. Apply principles in mathematics forms
4. Solve equations which are
dimensionally homogenous
5. Report the answer with
significance figures
6. Use technical judgment
and common sense
EXAMPLE 1
Convert 2 km/h to m/s.
Solution
2 km  1000 m  1 h 
2 km/h      0.556 m/s
h  km  3600 s 
Remember to round off the final answer to three significant figures.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY
IPE, A 3 Step Approach
1.Interpret: Read carefully and determine what is given
and what is to be found/ delivered. Ask, if not clear. If
necessary, make assumptions and indicate them.
2. Plan: Think about major steps (or a road map) that you
will take to solve a given problem. Think of alternative /
creative solutions and choose the best one.
3. Execute: Carry out your steps. Use appropriate
diagrams and equations. Estimate your answers. Avoid
simple calculation mistakes. Reflect on / revise your work.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

CONCEPT QUIZ
1) Evaluate the situation, in which mass (kg), force

(N), and length (m) are the base units and
recommend a solution.
a) A new system of units will have to be formulated.
b) Only the unit of time will have to be changed from

‘seconds’ to something else.
c) No changes are required.
d) The above situation is not feasible.

CONCEPT QUIZ (cont)
2) Give the most appropriate reason for using three

significant figures in reporting results of typical
engineering calculations.
a) Historically slide rules could not handle more than three

significant figures.
b) Three significant figures gives better than one-percent accuracy.
c) Telephone systems designed by engineers have area codes

consisting of three figures.
d) Most of the original data used in engineering calculations do not

have accuracy better than one percent.
CONCEPT QUIZ (cont)
3) For a statics problem, calculations show

the final answer as 12345.6 N. What will
you write as your final answer?
a) 12345.6 N
b) 12.3456 kN
c) 12 kN
d) 12.3 kN
e) 123 kN
CONCEPT QUIZ (cont)
4) In three step IPE approach to problem

solving, what does P stand for?
a) Position
b) Plan
c) Problem
d) Practical
e) Possible

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Chapter Objectives

 To provide an introduction to the basic quantities and

1. The subject of mechanics deals with what

2. ________________ still remains the basis of most of

• Mechanics can be divided into 3 branches:

• Rigid-body Mechanics deals with

Newton’s Law of Gravitational Attraction

* Force unit, Newton (N), is derived from the others

Unit (ISO 1000)  for vibration unit !

• At the standard location,

• Each represent a multiple or sub-multiple of a unit

Significant Figures (Số có nghĩa)

Rounding Off Numbers

To solve problems, it is important to present work in a

Convert 2 km/h to m/s.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd

1) Evaluate the situation, in which mass (kg), force

a) A new system of units will have to be formulated.

b) Only the unit of time will have to be changed from

c) No changes are required.

d) The above situation is not feasible.

2) Give the most appropriate reason for using three

a) Historically slide rules could not handle more than three

b) Three significant figures gives better than one-percent accuracy.

c) Telephone systems designed by engineers have area codes

d) Most of the original data used in engineering calculations do not

3) For a statics problem, calculations show

4) In three step IPE approach to problem

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