Slide Set-1

Introduction

1. What is Mechanics
2. Fundamental Principles
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

What is Mechanics?

z Mechanics is the science which describes and predicts the

conditions of rest or motion of bodies under the action of
forces.

Introduction Slide 1
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

What is Mechanics? Cont….

Introduction Slide 2
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

What is Mechanics? Cont….

Introduction Slide 3
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

What is Mechanics? Cont…

• Categories of Mechanics:
1. Mechanics of Rigid bodies
z Bodies
B di are assumed d to be
b perfectly
f l rigid
i id (practically
( i ll when
h the
h
deformations are very small and do not appreciably affect the
condition of equilibrium)
z Thi category off mechanics
This h i is i further
f h divided
di id d as:
a) Statics – deals with bodies at rest
b) Dynamics – deals with bodies in motion
2. Mechanics of Deformable bodies
z When the resistance of the structure to failure is concerned
3. Mechanism of Fluids
z Analysis of the state of reset or motion of fluids
a) Mechanics of incompressible fluids (e.g. Hydraulics)
b) Mechanics of compressible fluids (e.g. Aerodynamics)
Introduction Slide 4
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

What is Mechanics? Cont…

z Mechanics is an applied science - it is not an abstract or pure

science.
z Mechanics is the foundation of most engineering sciences
and is an indispensable prerequisite to their study.
z That is why you are introduced to it at this early stage of
your engineering program

Introduction Slide 5
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

Fundamental Principles

The fundamental
principles of mechanics,
which
hi h were fformulated
l t db
by
Sir Isaac Newton in the
latter part of the
seventeenth century, are
the foundation of much of
today’s
today s engineering. The
design and analysis of
almost all devices and
s stems requires
systems eq i es a
knowledge of these
principles.

(Born 4 January 1643)

Introduction Slide 6
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

Fundamental Principles – Cont…

The study of elementary mechanics rests on six fundamental

principles based on experimental evidence (may not be proven
mathematically)

The Parallelogram Law for the Addition of Forces

z It states that two forces actingg on a pparticle may
y be replaced
p by
y
a single force, called their resultant, obtained by drawing the
diagonal of the parallelogram which has sides equal to the given
forces.

Introduction Slide 7
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

Fundamental Principles – Cont…

The Principle of Transmissibility

z This states that the condition of equilibrium or motion of a rigid
body will remain unchanged if a force acting on a given point of
the rigid body is replaced by a force of the same magnitude
same direction, but acting at a different point, provided that the
two forces have that same line of action

Introduction Slide 8
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

Fundamental Principles – Cont…

Newton’s Three • Newton’s First Law: If the resultant force on a

Fundamental Laws particle is zero, the particle will remain at rest or
continue to move in a straight line.

• Newton’s Second Law: A particle will have an

acceleration proportional to a nonzero
resultant applied force.
r r
F = ma
• Newton’s Third Law: The forces of action and
reaction between two particles have the same
magnitude and line of action with opposite
sense.

Newton’s Law of Gravitation: Two particles are attracted with equal and
opposite forces,
Mm GM
F =G W = mg , g=
r2 R2
Introduction Slide 9
 Engineering Mechanics I– ENGG*1210 (Winter 2010) Instructor: Fantahun M. Defersha

Fundamental Principles – Cont…

When in earth orbit,

peoples
l and
d objects
bj t are
said to be weightless even
though
g the g
gravitational
force acting is
approximately 90% of that
experienced on the surface
of the earth. This apparent
contradiction will be
resolved when we study
Newton’s second law of
motion of particles.

Introduction Slide 10