UNIT : 1

FUNDAMENTALS OF
STATICS
• 1.1 Basic Concepts and Fundamental Laws

• 1.2 Force
1.2.1 System of Forces
1.2.2 Resolution
1.2.3 Composition of Forces
1.2.4 Resultant

• 1.3 Moment
1.3.1 Varignon’s Theorem
1.3.2 Law of Moments.

• 1.4 Couple
• Mechanics is the branch of applied science that deals
with study of forces and their effect on bodies in
motion or at rest.

• A study of different laws and principles of mechanics

applied to the engineering problem is known as
Applied Mechanics.
 DIVISION OF APPLIED MECHANICS

 Statics
• It is that branch of applied mechanics which deals with action of
forces on a body at rest.
•
 Dynamics
• It is that branch of applied mechanics which deals with action of
forces on a body in motion.
•
 Kinematics
• It is that branch of dynamics which deals with action of forces
on bodies in motion without considering the mass of body and
force causing motion.

 Kinetics
• It is that branch of dynamics which deals with action of forces
on bodies in motion considering the mass of body and force
causing motion.
 NECESSICITY
• The knowledge of applied mechanics is very
important for an engineering student perusing his
study in different fields like Civil engineering,
Mechanical, Automobile engineering etc. The
detailed study of this subject helps the engineer in
followings ways,
• To plan, design and construct various parts of
structures, machine spare parts etc.
• The knowledge of this subject forms the basis for
other advanced subject like machine design, tool
design, strength of material, Theory of structures,
Design of structures, etc.
Basic Concepts and Fundamental
Laws
 BASIC CONCEPTS
 Particle
• A particle (a body of negligible mass) is defined as a material
point without dimensions but containing definite amount of
matter, means they have only mass & no size.
• But dealing with problems involving distances very long when
compared to the size of body. The size of body can be
neglected without affecting the accuracy.
• e.g. 1. Ship in the mid sea is a particle for an observer at a
control tower.
• 2. An aeroplane is a particle for an observer from the
ground.
Body
• A body is defined as portion of matter which is limited in all
direction i.e. it has mass as well as size. It has mass as well as
size.

Rigid Body
• It is defined as the particles of which are fixed in position
relative to one another, even when subjected to number of
forces. i.e. size and shape of body does not changes.
• As shown in figure, it is assume that distances between A & B
is same as between A’ & B’ where A’ & B’ are altered position
of two particles A & B on body after application of forces F1,
F2 & F3.
 Space
• The geometric region in which study of body is involved is called space.
• A point in the space may be referred with respect to a predetermined point
by a set of linear and angular measurements.
• The reference point is called the origin and set of measurements as
‘coordinates’.
• If coordinates involve only in mutually perpendicular directions they are
known as Cartesian coordinates.
• If the coordinates involve angle and distances, it is termed as polar
coordinate system.
FUNDAMENTAL LAWS
 Parallelogram law of Forces

 Newton’s Laws of Motion

 Newton’s First Law: “Every body continues to be in its state
of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless it is acted
upon by some external agency.”
 Newton’s Second Law: “The rate of change of momentum of a
body is directly proportional to the impressed force and takes
place in the direction of the straight line in which the force
acts”.
 Newton’s Third Law: “For every action, there is equal and
opposite reaction”.
 Newton’s law of Gravitation
• “The force of attraction between any two bodies in the
universe is directly proportional to the product of their masses
and inversely proportional to the square of distance between
them”.

 Law of Transmissibility of Force

• Force
1.2.1 System of Forces

1.2.2 Resolution

1.2.3 Composition of Forces

1.2.4 Resultant
 FORCE
• The force is an important factor in the field of Mechanics, which may be
broadly defined as an agent which produces or tends to produce, destroys
or tends to destroy motion.
• e.g., a horse applies force to pull a cart and to set it in motion.

 Effects of A Force
 It may change the motion of a body. i.e. if a body is at rest, the force may
set it in motion. And if the body is already in motion, the force may
accelerate it.
 It may retard the motion of a body.
 It may retard the forces, already acting on a body, thus bringing it to rest or
in equilibrium.
 It may give rise to the internal stresses in the body, on which it acts.
 Characteristics of a Force

• Magnitude of the force

• The direction of the line, along which the force acts

• Point of application (i.e. The point at which (or through which) the
force acts on the body.)

• Nature of the force (i.e., whether the force is push or pull). This is
denoted by placing an arrow head on the line of action of the force.
• Magnitude : 30 N
• Direction : 30⁰ with horizontal
• Point of application : at O
• Nature : Pull type force
 Unit of a Force:
• SI unit of force is ‘Newton’.
• As per Newton’s second law of motion, “Force is the
product of mass and acceleration”.
Therefore,
• F=mxa
1 N = 1 Kg. x 1 m/s²
 Graphical Representation of Force:
• A force can be represented graphically by drawing a straight line parallel
to the line of action of the force.
• The length of the line to a suitable scale represents the magnitude of the
force.
• The arrow head on the line represents the direction of the force and sense
of the force.
SYSTEM OF FORCES
• When two or more forces act on a body, it forms the system of
force.
 Coplaner Force System
• The line of action of all forces lies in single plane.

 Collinear Force System

• The line of action of all forces lies in a single plane and act along the same
line.
• E.g. Forces on a rope in a tug of war.
 Concurrent Force System
• The line of action of all forces lies in a single plane and passes through a
common point.
• E.g. Forces on a rod resting against a wall.
 Non concurrent Force System
• The line of action of all forces lies in a single plane but do not passes
through a common point.
• E.g. Forces on a ladder resting against a wall when person stands on rung
which is not its center of gravity.
 Parallel Force System
• The line of action of all forces lies in a single plane and parallel to each
other.
 Like Parallel Force System
• The lines of action of all forces are parallel to each other and all the forces
acting in same direction.
• E.g. Weight of stationary train on a rail when the track is straight.

 Unlike Parallel Force System

• The lines of action of all forces are parallel to each other and all the forces
are not acting in same direction.
• E.g. Forces acting on RCC beam.
RESOLUTION OF FORCE
• The process of splitting up the given force into a number of
components, without changing its effect on the body is called
resolution of a force.

• A force is resolve,

1. Into two mutually perpendicular components.

2. On two axes which are not right angle to each other,

3. When it lies on X & Y axes.

Resolution of Force into two mutually perpendicular
components.

• Let ‘F’ be the force acting at a point ‘O’, inclined at an angle ‘ϴ’ with x
axis. Y
• Resolve the force along the X & Y axis.
A
C
In 𝛥 OAB
cosϴ = OB/OA F
OB = OA cosϴ
Fy
Fx = F cosϴ
ϴ
X
O B
Fx
In 𝛥 OAB
sinϴ = AB/OA
AB = OA sinϴ
Fx = F cosϴ
Fy = F sinϴ
Fy = F sinϴ
 Conclusion for case no [I] to Case no [VIII]
• Components acting Horizontally Rightwards ( along + ve X
axis) are POSITIVE.
• Components acting Horizontally Leftwards ( along - ve X
axis) are NEGATIVE.
• Components acting Vertically Upwards ( along + ve Y axis)
are POSITIVE.
• Components acting Vertically Downwards ( along - ve Y axis)
are NEGATIVE.
Resolution of Force on two axis which are not right
angle to each other.

C B
2
β
F
F2 F F2
β
β
α α (α+β)
1 O
F1 F1 A
• Since Force ‘F’ is pull. The components F1 & F2 are also pull.

• F1 = F sinβ F2 = F sin α
sin(α+β) sin(α+β)
 Resolution of Force when it lies on X & Y axis
X Axis Y Axis
ϴ=90⁰ F
F
ϴ=0⁰
Fx = F cosϴ = F Fx = F cosϴ = 0
Fy = F sinϴ = 0 Fy = F sinϴ = F
ϴ=180⁰

Fx = F cosϴ = -F Fx = F cosϴ = 0
Fy = F sinϴ = 0 F Fy = F sinϴ = -F
ϴ=270⁰
 Conclusion for case no [IX] to Case no [XII]
 A horizontal force has only X component
• X component of horizontal rightward force = + ve given force
=+F
• X component of horizontal leftward force = - ve given force
=-F

 A vertical force has only Y component

• Y component of vertically upward force = + ve given force
=+F
• Y component of vertically downward force = - ve given force
=-F
Methods to find Resultant

 Resultant of two co planer concurrent forces.

 Triangle law of Forces (Graphical method)
 Parallelogram law of Forces (Analytical method)

 Resultant of three or more co planer concurrent forces.

 Polygon law of Forces (Graphical method)
 Method of Resolution & Composition (Analytical method)

 Resultant of three or more non concurrent forces.

 Graphical method
 Analytical method using Varignon’s Theorem.
Triangle law of Forces
• Statement
• “If two concurrent forces are acting simultaneously on a
particle, be represented in magnitude & direction by two
sides of triangle, taken in order; their resultant may be
represented in magnitude & direction by third side of
triangle, taken in reverse order”.
c
Q=80N

R Q
C B
a b
P=100N P
A
Parallelogram law of Forces
• Statement
• “If two concurrent forces are acting at & away from the
point, be represented in magnitude & direction by two
adjacent sides of parallelogram, their resultant may be
represented in magnitude & direction by diagonal of the
parallelogram, which passes through point of intersection”.
D C
Q

Q R
Q
ϴ
ϴ α
P A
O P B E
• Magnitude of Resultant

R  P  Q  2 PQ cos 
2 2

• Direction of Resultant
Q sin 
tan  
P  Q cos 
Particular Cases

 If ϴ = 90⁰ cos ϴ = 0

Q
Q R
R  P Q 2 2 
P
P ϴ =90⁰  If ϴ = 0⁰ cos ϴ = 1

P Q R  PQ
ϴ =0⁰

 If ϴ = 180⁰ cos ϴ = -1
P Q

ϴ =180⁰ R  PQ
Polygon law of Forces
• Statement
• “If number of forces are acting simultaneously on a
particle, be represented in magnitude & direction, by sides of
polygon taken in order; their resultant may be represented in
magnitude & direction by closing side of polygon, taken in
opposite order”.
c
30 N 20 N
B
d
A
C
a’

D b
R
40 N 50 N
a
Method of Resolution & Composition
F2 sinϴ F1 sinϴ
F2 F1

F1 cosϴ
F2 cosϴ
ϴ2 ϴ1
ϴ3 ϴ4
F3 cosϴ
F5 cosϴ

F3 F4 F5
F3 sinϴ F5 sinϴ
1. Resolve all the forces Horizontal ly & find algebraic sum of all the horizontal components .
i.e.  Fx
  Fx  F1 cos 1  F 2 cos 2 - F3 cos 3  F5 cos 5
2. Resolve all the forces Vertically & find algebraic sum of all the vertical components .
i.e.  Fy
  Fy  F1 sin  1  F 2 sin  2 - F3 sin  3  F 4  F5 sin  5
3. The Resultant ' R' is given by Equation
R  Fx 2
  Fy 2 ..................Magnitude
4. Let  be the angle made by ' R' with horizontal
 Fy
Then, tan  
 Fx
 Fy
   tan -1 ....................Direction
 Fx

Y Sign of ∑ Fx Sign of ∑ Fy Quad. Of ‘R’

R
+ + I
∑ Fy - + II
ϴ - - III
X
∑ Fx + - IV
 **Note (when R makes an angle θ with horz.)
• ∑Fx = X component of resultant
• R = R Cos θ

• ∑Fy = Y component of resultant

• R = R Sin θ
MOMENT
• It is turning effect produced by a force, on the body ,on which it acts.
• Therefore the moment of force is equal to the product of force and
perpendicular distance of the point about which moment is required and the
line of action of force.
• Mathematically, moment
• M= Fxd
• Where F = force acting on body
d = Perpendicular distance bet’n the point about which the moment
is required, and line of action of force.
• Moment of force @ point ‘O’ O
• = F x OC
• = F x d.
d
F
A B
C
• Unit Of Force
• M=Fxd
• =1Nx1m
• = N-m or KN-m, N-mm
• Types of Moment

Clockwise moment Anti-Clockwise moment

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Moment @ A
Moment @ A
Varignon’s Theorem of Moment
• Statement:
• “When number of co planer forces acting simultaneously on a
particle(body), the algebraic sum of the moments of all the forces about
any point is equal to the moment of their resultant force about the same
point”.

• ∑ MR= ∑ M F

• Varignon’s theorem is used to find the position of Resultant force.

Steps to Find Resultant of Non Concurrent Forces
• Resolve all the forces horizontally & find the algebraic sum of all the
horizontal components.(i.e. ∑Fx).
• Resolve all the forces vertically & find the algebraic sum of all the vertical
components.(i.e. ∑Fy).
• Resultant ‘R’ is given by equation.

R   Fx 2
  Fy 2

• Let ‘α’ be the angle made by resultant ‘R’ with the horizontal line,then

 Fy
tan 
 Fx
• Select some reference point and take moments of all the forces about that
point using correct sign convention.

• Find algebraic sum of moments of all the forces about the reference point.
i.e. ∑MF.

• Let ‘X’ be the perpendicular distance between the resultant & the reference
point. Take moment of resultant about the same reference point. i.e. MR

• Apply Varignon’s theorem of moment to find position of ( i.e. distance ‘X’)

resultant about the same reference point.

• Note:
• If ∑MF is positive then resultant will produce clockwise moment about
reference point.
• If ∑MF is negative then resultant will produce anticlockwise moment
about reference point.
 Law of Transmissibility of Force

• Statement: “The state of rest or motion of the rigid body is unaltered if a

force acting on the body is replaced by another force of the same
magnitude and direction but acting anywhere on the body along the line of
action of the replaced force”.
COUPLE
• A couple is pair of two equal and opposite forces acting on a body in a such
a way that the lines of action of the two forces are not in the same straight
line. P

A B

• The effect of a couple acting on a rigid body is to rotate it without moving

it as a whole. The movement of the whole body is not possible because the
resultant force is zero in the case of forces forming a couple.
• Arm Of Couple
• The perpendicular distance between the lines of action of two forces
forming the couple is called the arm of couple. e.g. AB

• The moment of a couple is known as torque which is equal to one of the

forces forming the couple multiplied by arm of the couple.

• Types of Couple P P

Arm of Couple

P Clock wise Couple Anti clock wise Couple P

 Properties of Couple

 Resultant of forces of couple is zero.

 A couple consist of equal and opposite parallel forces which are

separated by a definite distance.

 The translatory effect or motion( straight line motion) on body is zero

but it can produce rotary motion.

 The rotational effect (moment) of couple about any point is constant

and it is equal to the product of magnitude of the forces and
perpendicular distance between them.
• Moments about O P

• = P × OB – P × OA
B
• = P ( OB – OA ) O A
• = P × AB
P
P
• Moments about O
B
• = P × OB + P × OA
A O
• = P ( OB + OA )
• = P × AB
P
P
• Moments about O
• = P × OA – P × OB B
O
A
• = P ( OA – OB )
• = P × AB . P
Thank you