UNIT – 1

MECHANICS
s, Principle of transmissibility of forces; Newton’s laws of motion, Introduction to SI units, Moment of

Engineering Mechanics

It is a branch of applied sciences that describes and predicts the state of

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

Engineering Mechanics deals with the application of principles of

mechanics and different laws in a systematic manner.

Engineering Mechanics

Mechanics of Solids Mechanics of Fluids

Mechanics of Rigid bodies Mechanics of Deformable bodies

Statics Dynamics

Concepts of: Physical quantity, Scalar quantity, and Vector quantity

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Particle: A particle is a body of infinitely small volume and the entire
mass of the body is assumed to be concentrated at a point. (An object
that has no size but has mass and is assumed to be concentrated at one
point)

Rigid body: It is one, which does not alter its shape, or size or the
distance between any two points on the body does not change on the
application of external forces.

Deformable body: It is one, which alters its shape, or size or the

distance between any two points on the body changes on the application
of external forces.

F . .
A B F

In the above example, the body considered is rigid as long as the distance
between the points A and B remains the same before and after application
of forces, or else it is considered as a deformable body.

Continuum: A continues distribution of molecules in a body without

intermolecular space is called continuum.

Force: According to Newton‘s I law, force is defined as an action or

agent, which changes or tends to change the state of rest or of uniform
motion of a body in a straight line.

Units of force: The gravitational (MKS) unit of force is the kilogram force
and is denoted as kgf‘. The absolute (SI) unit of force is the Newton and is
denoted as ‗N‘.

Note: 1 kgf = ‗g‘ N (But g = 9.81m/s 2) Therefore 1 kgf = 9.81 N or 10

N.

Point force: A force which is acting at a fixed point is called point force

Force system: if two or more forces are acting on a body or a particle,

then it is said to be force system

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Characteristics of a force

These are ones, which help in understanding a force completely,

representing a force and also distinguishing one force from one another.

A force is a vector quantity. It has four important characteristics, which

can be listed as follows.

1. Magnitude: It can be denoted as 10 kgf or 100 N.

2. Point of application: It indicates the point on the body on

which the force acts. (point at which force acts )

3. Line of action: The line along which the force acts

4. Direction: It is represented by a co-ordinate or cardinal

system.

Ex.1: Consider a body being pushed by a force of 10 N as shown in figure

below.

Line of action
BODY

A
B
10 N

The characteristics of the force acting on the body are

1) Magnitude is 10 N.

2) Point of application is A.

3) Line of action is A to B or AB.

4) Direction is horizontally to right.

Ex.2: Consider a ladder AB resting on a floor and leaning against a wall, on

which a person weighing 750 N stands on the ladder at a point C on the
ladder.

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The characteristics of the force acting on the ladder are

1) Magnitude is 750 N.

2) Point of application is C.

3) Line of action is C to D or CD.

4) Direction is vertically downward.

Idealization or assumptions in Mechanics: In applying the principles

of mechanics to practical problems, a number of ideal conditions are
assumed. They are as follows.

1) A body consists of continuous distribution of matter.

2) The body considered is perfectly rigid.

3) A particle has mass but not size.

4) A force acts through a very small point.

Classification of force systems: Depending upon their relative

positions, points of applications and lines of actions, the different force
systems can be classified as follows.

A. Coplanar force system (same plane )

B. Non coplanar force system
C. Collinear force system
A. COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM: if two or more forces are acting in a
single plane, then it is said to be a coplanar force system. the types
of coplanar force system are:
i. Coplanar concurrent force system

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 ii. Coplanar non concurrent force system
iii. Coplanar parallel force system

i) Coplanar Concurrent forces: It is a force system, in which all the

forces are lying in the same plane and lines of action meet a single point.
(line of action passes through same point)

Ex.: The forces in the rope and pulley arrangement.

ii) Coplanar non-concurrent forces: It is a force system, in which all

the forces are lying in the same plane but lines of action do not meet a
single point.

Ex.: Forces on a ladder and reactions from floor and wall, when a ladder
rests on a floor and leans against a wall.

iii) Coplanar parallel forces: It is a force system, in which all the forces
are lying in the same plane and have parallel lines of action. (Line of
action parallel to each other)

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 Y

Ex.: The forces or loads and the support reactions in case of beams

Coplanar parallel force system is further divided into two categories:

1) Like parallel force system: All the forces are parallel to each other and
are in the same direction

2) Unlike parallel force: The forces are parallel to each other, but some
forces have line of action in opposite direction.

B. NON COPLANAR FORCE SYSTEM : if two or more force are acting

in a different plane , the force constitute a non-coplanar force
system
i. Non coplanar concurrent force system
ii. Non coplanar non concurrent force system
iii. Non coplanar parallel force system

i. Non coplanar concurrent force system: It is a force system, in

which all the forces are lying in the different planes and still
have common point of action.

yyyy

Ex.: The forces acting on a tripod When a camera is mounted on a tripod.

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 ii. Non- coplanar non-concurrent forces: It is a force system, in
which all the forces are lying in the different planes and also
do not meet a single point.

Ex.: Forces acting on a building frame.

iii. Non- coplanar parallel forces: It is a force system, in which all

the forces are lying in the different planes and still have
parallel lines of action.

Ex: The forces acting and the reactions at the points of contact of bench
with floor in a classroom.

C. COLLINEAR FORCE SYSTEM

i. Collinear forces: It is a force system, in which all the forces
have the same line of action.

F F2
Line of action

Ex.: Forces in a rope in a tug of war.

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 ii. Non Collinear force system: It is a force system, in which line
of action of force do not coincide with one another.

Fundamental Laws in Mechanics

Following are considered as the fundamental laws in Mechanics.

1) Newton‘s I law

2) Newton‘s II law

3) Newton‘s III law

4) Principle of physical independence of forces

5) Principle of superposition of forces

6) Principle or Law of transmissibility of forces

7) Parallelogram law of forces.

1) Newton’s I law: It states, everybody continues in its state of rest or of

uniform motion in a straight line, unless it is compelled to do so by force
acting on it. This law helps in defining a force.

2) Newton’s II law: It states, ―The rate of change of momentum is

directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction
of the impressed force.‖

This law helps in defining a unit force as one which produces a unit
acceleration in a body of unit mass, thus deriving the relationship F = m. a

3) Newton’s III law: It states, for every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.‖ the significance of this law can be understood from the
following figure.

Consider a body weighing W resting on a plane. The body exerts a force W

on the plane and in turn the plane exerts an equal and opposite reaction
on the body.

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Principle of physical independence of forces: it states that “if two or
more forces act on body or an object, every force produces its own effect
on object independent of remaining force”

Principle of superposition of forces: It states that “if two or more

forces act on a body, then the combined effect due to all the force is the
vector addition of induvial force.
OR
This principle states that the net effect of a system of forces on a body is
same as that of the combined effect of indusial force.

The net effect can be represented by single force i.e. Resultant (R

F1 F3

= R

F2

R=F1+F2+F3

Principle or Law of transmissibility of forces: It states, ―The state

of rest or of Uniform motion of a rigid body is unaltered if the point
of application of the force is transmitted to any other point along the
line of action of the force.”

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 Body

A B A B
F F

Line of action

From the above two figures we see that the effect of the force F on the
body remains the same when the force is transmitted through any other
point on the line of action of the force.

This law has a limitation that it is applicable to rigid bodies only.

Resultant Force:

Whenever a number of forces are acting on a body, it is possible to find a

single force, which can produce the same effect as that produced by the
given forces acting together. Such a single force is called as resultant
force or resultant.

F1 F2

O F3

In the above figure R can be called as the resultant of the given forces F 1,
F2 and F3.

The process of determining the resultant force of a given force system is

known as Composition of forces.

The resultant force of a given force system can be determining by

Graphical and Analytical methods. In analytical methods two different

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principles namely: Parallelogram law of forces and Method of Resolution of
forces are adopted.

Parallelogram law of forces: This law is applicable to determine the

resultant of two coplanar concurrent forces only. This law states ―If two
forces acting at a point are represented both in magnitude and direction
by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then the resultant of the two
forces is represented both in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of
the parallelogram passing through the same point.”

B
C

R
F2 F 2sin
F2

F 2cos D
O F1 A

Let F1 and F2 be the two forces acting at a point 0 and θ be the angle
between them. Let OA and OB represent forces F1 and F2 respectively
both in magnitude and direction. The resultant R of F1 and F2 can be
obtained by completing a parallelogram with OA and OB as the adjacent
sides of the parallelogram. The diagonal OC of the parallelogram
represents the resultant R both magnitude and direction.

From the figure OC = OD2 + CD2

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Introduction to SI units, Moment of a force, couple, moment of a couple,
characteristics of couple, Equivalent force – couple system, Resolution of
forces, composition of forces; Numerical problems on moment of forces
and couples and equivalent force – couple system

INTRODUCTION TO SI UNITS:

S.I stands for “the system international d’units is also called as the
international system of units , formally recognized by Eleventh general
conference of weight and measure in [Link] has also adopted this
system of S.I units

The international system of units consist of 7 Base units, 2

supplementary units and a number of derived units. The unit of
length, mass and time form the base units as meter, kilogram and
seconds respectively

Moment of a force:

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The turning effect produced by a force on a body is known as the moment
of the force

Moment of a force about a point is defined as product of magnitude of

force and the perpendicular distance of the line of action of force from the
point

Mo=Force (F) x perpendicular

distance (d)

=Fxd

Types of moment:

i. If the tendency of the force is to rotate the body in clockwise

direction, it is said to be a clockwise moment and is taken as
positive. (+)

ii. If the tendency of the force is to rotate the body in anti-clockwise

direction, it is said to be an anticlockwise moment and is taken
as negative. (-)

Couple

When two equal and opposite parallel forces act on a body, at some
distance apart then these two forces constitute a couple, which has
tendency to rotate the body

Eg: force applied while locking or unlocking the lock

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  Couple can produce clockwise or anti clockwise rotation

A couple, whether a clockwise or anti clockwise has the following

characteristics:

1. The algebraic sum of forces , constituting the couple is zero i.e. the
resultant of the forces constituting couple is zero (-F+F=0)

2. The algebraic sum of the moment of the forces, constituting the couple,
about any point is equal to the moment of the couple itself

Taking moment of force about point O

Mo=Fd2-Fd1

=F (d2-d1) (d2-d1=a)

Mo= F x a

Moment of couple =F x
a equal and opposite couple I the same
3. A couple can be balanced by an
plane

4. The moment of couple is constant for any point chosen in the plane of
the couple

5. Any two couples whose moment are equal and of same sign are
equivalent

Equivalent system

• For a coplanar force system an equivalent system is a combination

of a force passing through a given point and moment about that
point

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 • This combination force is resultant of all the force acting on the
body

• The moment is sum of all the moments about that point

Hence the Equivalent system consists of:

1. A single resultant force R passing through the point O

2. Sum of all moments of all the forces about the same point

Resolution of a force into a Force and a couple

A given force F acting at a point A can be replaced by an equal force

applied at a point B together with a couple which will be equivalent to the
original force

Above figure shows a body subjected to a force F at A . Now it is required

to shift this force F at B.

Steps for Resolution of a force into a Force and a couple

1. Keeping the force F at point A, superimpose another two equal

opposite and collinear farces at point B

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 2. Now the force at A and one downward force at B will constitute a
couple (F x a) rotating clockwise

3. Fig C shows the force F shifted at point B along with a couple

M= (F x a) at B

Resolution of a force

• It is defined as the process of splitting up the given force into its

two rectangular components (horizontal & vertical ) without
changing its effect on the body is called resolution of a force. A
force is, generally, resolved along two mutually perpendicular
directions.

Resultant Force:

Whenever a number of forces are acting on a body, it is possible to find a

single force, which can produce the same effect as that produced by the
given forces acting together. Such a single force is called as resultant
force or resultant.

F1 F2
R

O F3

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Composition of Forces

The method of finding out the single resultant force of a number of given
forces is called composition of forces

• It is a process of combining a number of forces into a single force

such that the net effect produced by a single force is equal to the
algebraic sum of the effect produced by the individual forces.

• The single force in this case is called the resultant force which
produces the same effect on the body as that of produced by the
individual forces together

• Σ Fx = Algebraic sum of the components of the force along the x

axis

• Σ Fy = Algebraic sum of the components of the force along the Y

axis

• The magnitude of the resultant is given by

R=

• The direction of the resultant

θ=

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Sign convention
Y= + ve

X= - ve X = + ve
(negat

Y= - ve

Note: In case of moments we are concerned with rotation effect not with
direction of arrow head or direction

 If force rotates the body in clockwise direction we treat as clockwise

moment and positive
 If force rotates the body anti clockwise direction we treat as
anticlockwise moment and negative
1. Always resolve the inclined force into horizontal and vertical force
components

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PROBLEMS:

1. A force of 200N is acting at a point making an angel of 40 0 with the

horizontal. Determine the components of this force along the X and
Y direction.

Solu: Components along the X direction (Horizontal direction)

Fx = F*cos θ

=200xcos40

Fx =153.208 N
Components along the Y direction (Vertical direction)

Fy= F*sin θ

=200xsin 40

Fy =128.557 N

Note: Axis to which angel is made is taken as COS θ and axis to which
angel is not made is taken as SIN θ

Problem for practice

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Same problem as above with different value

2. A concert column is carrying a force of 50KN as shown. Replace the

system by force couple system at the point O.

Solu: It is required to find the force couple system at point O

Apply two equal, opposite and collinear force of 50KN at O as shown in fig
below

Taking moment couple at point O =Mo= -50*100

= -5000KNm (anticlockwise)

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Problem for practice

Same problem as above with different value

Question 2
Question 1

40 m

Ans: Mo= - 60000Nm (Anticlockwise) Mo= - 24000Nm

(Anticlockwise)

3. Reduce the force acting at A into system of force and couple at

point O

4m

Solu: Apply equal and opposite forces of 40 KN at O parallel to the given

force as shown in fig 1

Couple at point O, Mo=40cos30x4 + 40sin30x3 = 198.56KN-m (Clockwise)

as shown in fig 2

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 Fig 2
Fig 1

Problem for practice

Same problem as above with different value

4. A horizontal force of 1000 N is acting on lever AB .Find the

equivalent system at point B or support B?

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Solu: Required to find equivalent system at B.

Apply two equal, opposite and collinear force at B of 1000 N as shown in

fig b. Further replace the two equal , opposite and non collinear force by
a couple as in fig c

Taking moment of force about B in Fig b

MB= 1000 X 0.433 = 433Nm (Clockwise moment) +VE

Problem for practice

Same problem as above with different value

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 5. A 100N vertical force is applied to a shaft at A as shown in the
figure. Determine the effect off 100N force at O

Solu :

Apply equal and opposite force of 100N at point O as shown in the figure
below

a) A downward force of 100N at O

b) Clockwise couple at point O = Mo=+Force x perpendicular
distance (OB)
= 100 x 0.3= 30 N-m

Problem for practice

Same problem as above with different value

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 6. A system of forces are acting on rigid body as shown in the figure.
reduce the system to
i. Single force
ii. Single force and couple at A
iii. Single force and couple at B

sol: i) Single force system:

All the forces are acting vertically , hence the resultant force will be
vertical

R=50-150+75-25

= - 50N ( ) Downwards

Let X be th distance of Resultant from A as shown

Taking moment of forces about A and applying Varignons principle

(UNIT 2 TOPIC)

Moment of resultant = Algebraic sum of moments of forces

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50 * X = 50*0+150*1-75*2+25*3.5

50X=87.5

X=1.75 m from A

ii) Single force and couple at A

Introduce an equal, opposite and collinear force at A(Fig b) .Replace the

upward force at A and downward acting force by a clockwise couple at A
(Fig c)

a) Moment of couple at A = MA= +Force x perpendicular distance

=50*1.75=87.5Nm (Clockwise)

iii) Single force and couple at B

Introduce an equal, opposite and collinear force at B (Fig a) .Replace the

upward force at A and downward acting force by a Anti clockwise couple
at B (Fig b)

Moment of couple at B = Mb= - Force x perpendicular distance

= - 50*1.75=87.5Nm (Anti Clockwise)

Problem for practice

Same problem as above with different value

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 7. Figure shows a cantilever beam with a two force and a couple.
Determine
i. The resultant system (resultant force )
ii. Determine equivalent system through A

Solution : i) Resultant force acts vertical as the forces acting are vertical

R= -4000+2500

=-1500N ( ) Downwards

Let Resultant be at a distance of X on LHS of A as shown

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Taking moment of forces about A and applying Varignons principle
(UNIT 2 TOPIC)

Moment of resultant = Algebraic sum of moments of forces

R*X=4000*1-2500*2.5+2000

1500X=250

X=0.166m of LHS of A

The resultant R=1500N is acting at X =0.166m of LHS of A

ii) Equivalent system through A

Introduce a equal, opposite and collinear force R=1500 at A as shown

Single resultant force = 1500N (downwards)

Moment through A=MA= Force * Perpendicular distance

=1500*0.166=250Nm (anticlockwise)

8. A 500N force is applied to point A of a L shaped plate .Find the

equivalent force couple system at B

Solution: The resolved components are shown in fig (b))

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The resultant will be 500N acting at angel 60, since there is only one force
at A.

Taking moment at B.

MB= (500Sin60)*1-(500Cos60)*0.5

= 308 KNm (clockwise)

The equivalent force couple at B is shown in fig C

9. Figure shows the plan of a revolving entrance door with four plans
connected at center O. Two persons approach simultaneously and
exert equal force on the planks. If the resultant moment about the
center pivot O is 50Nm. find the magnitude of force P

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Solution: The resolved components are shown in fig (b)

A little consideration will show that the force Pcos10N constitute a couple
and Psin10N force cancel each other being equal, opposite and collinear

Moment of couple =(Pcos10)*1.6…………………(1)

Given the resulting moment about O=50Nm…….(2)

Equating (1) & (2)

(Pcos10)*1.6= 50

P=31.3 N

Replace the force couple system by a single force w.r.t AB & CD as shown
in the figure

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