ENGINEERING MECHANICS:

STATICS
1 CONCURRENT FORCES IN A PLANE
1.1 Principles of Statics - II
Free Body Diagram Concept With
Visualization

OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to :

a) Draw a free body diagram (FBD)

b) Understand the essential problem of
Statics: FBD

In-Class Activities

Inquiry-Based Questions
Applications
Free Body, Free Body Diagram.
Drawing the free body diagram
Essential Problem of Statics
Concept questions
Group problem solving

APPLICATIONS
For a spool of given
weight, what are
the forces in cables
AB and AC ?

APPLICATIONS (continued)

For a given cable

strength, what is
the maximum
weight that can
be lifted ?

APPLICATIONS (continued)
For a given weight
of the lights, what
are the forces in
the cables? What
size of cable must
you use ?

CONSTRAINT

We have to investigate the conditions of

equilibrium of bodies that are not
entirely free to move.
Restriction to the free motion of a body
in any direction is called constraint.

Example 1

A ball resting on a
horizontal plane such
that it is free to move
along the plane but
cannot move vertically
downward.
The ball exerts a
vertical push against
the surface of the
supporting plane at the
point of contact at A.

Example 2

A body that is not entirely

free to move and is acted
upon by some applied force
(or forces) will exert
pressures against its
supports.
These actions of a
constrained body against its
supports induce reactions
from the supports on the
body.

Law of Action and Reaction

Any pressure on a support causes an

equal and opposite pressure from the
support so that action and reaction are
two equal and opposite forces.
This principle of statics is Newtons third
law of motion stated in a form suitable
for the discussion of problems of
statics.

Newtons 3rd Law: Animation

Space diagram

In practice, a problem
in engineering
mechanics is derived
from an actual physical
situation.
A sketch showing all the
physical conditions of
the problem is known
as space diagram.

EQUILIBRIUM OF PARTICLE IN 1-D

This is an example of a 1-D

force system. Consider a ball
which is resting on a horizontal
plane (Fig. a). The ball is in
equilibrium.
To determine the reaction of
the support on the ball, we
need to learn how to draw a
free body diagram and apply
equation of equilibrium.

THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF A

FREE BODY DIAGRAM (FBD)

Free Body Diagrams are one of the most important things for
you to know how to draw and use.
What ? - It is a drawing that shows
all forces (active and reactive)
acting on the particle.
Why ? - It helps you write the
equations of equilibrium used to
solve for the unknowns (usually
forces or angles).

How ?

1. Imagine the particle to be isolated or cut

free from its surroundings.
2. Show all the forces that act on the
particle.
Active forces: They want to move the particle.
Reactive forces: They tend to resist the motion.
3. Identify each force and show all known
magnitudes and directions. Show all
unknown magnitudes and / or directions as
variables .

Ball at rest on floor: animation

Example 2

A body that is not entirely

free to move and is acted
upon by some applied force
(or forces) will exert
pressures against its
supports.
These actions of a
constrained body against its
supports induce reactions
from the supports on the
body.

Ball tied by string and presses against

wall: animation

Free Body and Free body

diagram

A Free body is a body not connected with

other bodies and which from any given
position can be displaced in any direction in
space.
A free body diagram is a diagram of a body
or a group of bodies (or part of a body) which
is isolated from its surroundings and on which
all external forces such as weight, applied
forces, constraints or reactions and friction
are acting.

EXAMPLE

Write the scalar EofE:

+ Fy = Ra W = 0
Solving the equation gives: Ra = W

The general procedure for constructing

a free-body diagram is as follows:

1. A sketch of the body is drawn, by

removing the supporting surfaces. (Decide
which system to isolate. The system chosen
should involve one or more of the desired
unknown quantities. Next isolate the chosen
system by drawing a diagram which represents
its complete external boundary.)
2. Indicate on this sketch all the applied or
active forces, which tend to set the body in
motion, such as those caused by weight of the
body or applied forces etc.

The general procedure

(Contd.)

3. Also indicate on this sketch all the reactive

forces, such as those caused by the constraints or
supports that tend to prevent motion. (The sense of
unknown reaction should be assumed. The correct
sense will be determined by the solution of the
problem. A positive result indicates that the
assumed sense is correct. A negative result
indicates that the correct sense is opposite to the
assumed sense.)
4.
All relevant dimensions and angles, reference
axes are shown on the sketch.

Wedges: FBD

EQUILIBRIUM OF PARTICLE IN 2-D

This is an example of a 2-D or
coplanar force system. If the
whole assembly is in
equilibrium, then particle A is
also in equilibrium.
To determine the tensions in
the cables for a given weight
of the engine, we need to
learn how to draw a free body
diagram.

THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF A

FREE BODY DIAGRAM (FBD)

Free Body Diagrams are one of the most important things for
you to know how to draw and use.
What ? - It is a drawing that shows
all external forces acting on the
particle.
Why ? - It helps you write the
equations of equilibrium used to
solve for the unknowns (usually
forces or angles).

How ?
1. Imagine the particle to be isolated or cut free from its
surroundings.
2. Show all the forces that act on the particle.
Active forces: They want to move the
particle. Reactive forces: They tend to
resist the motion.
3. Identify each force and show all known
magnitudes and directions. Show all A
unknown magnitudes and / or directions as
variables .

Note : Engine mass = 250 Kg

EXAMPLE

FBD at A
Note : Engine mass = 250 Kg

SPRINGS, CABLES, AND PULLEYS

Spring Force = spring constant *

deformation, or
F=k* S

With a
frictionless
pulley, T1 = T2.

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: The car is towed at constant

speed by the 600 N force
and the angle is 25.
Find:
Plan:

Draw the Free Body

Diagram for point A.

The essential problem of

statics

We have a body either partially or completely

constrained which remains at rest under the action of
applied forces.
Isolate the body from its supports and show all
forces acting on it by vectors, both active and
reactive. (FBD)
Then consider what conditions this system of forces
must satisfy in order to be in equilibrium, i.e., in
order that they will have no resultant.