Engineering

Mechanics:
STATICS

Anthony Bedford and

Wallace Fowler
SI Edition

Teaching Slides
Chapter 3: Forces
 What are the forces that are acting on
this bridge?

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 Chapter Outline
 Types of Forces
 Analysis of Forces
 2-Dimensional Force Systems

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 Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of today’s session student’s should be
able to:
Identify different Types of Forces
Apply two most important concepts in mechanics
(Equilibrium & the Free-body Diagram) to real
structures

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Terminology:
 Line of Action:
 The straight line collinear with the force

vector

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 y

3.1 Types of Forces

 System of Forces:
Coplanar
Set of forces x

 Coplanar or 2 dimensional –

line of action of the forces lie in

a plane
 Concurrent – lines of action of

the forces intersect at a point Concurrent

 Parallel – lines of action are

parallel

6
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 3.1 Types of Forces
 External & Internal Forces:
 External force – given object is subjected to

a force exerted by a different object

 Internal force – one part of a given object is

subjected to a force by another part of the

same object
 Requires clear definition of object in

consideration

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Contact Forces:
 Forces that result from contacts between
objects
 E.g. push on a wall  exert a contact force
 Surface of hand exerts a force F on surface

of wall
 Wall exerts an equal & opposite force F on

your hand (Newton’s 3rd Law)

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Ropes & Cables:
 Contact force can be exerted on an object

by attaching a rope or cable to the object &

pulling on it

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Ropes & Cables:
 Example:

 Cable exerts a force T on container

 Magnitude of T – tension in cable

 Cable exerts an equal & opposite force

T on crane

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Assumption:

Cable is straight
Tension where cable is connected to
container = tension near crane
Approximately true if weight of cable <<
tension

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Pulley – wheel with grooved rim that can be
used to change the direction of a rope or
cable

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 3.1 Types of Forces
 Assumption:

Tension is the same on both sides of a

pulley
True when pulley can turn freely & the
rope or cable is either stationary or turns
at a constant rate

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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Equilibrium:
 Unchanging state – state of balance
 Examples:
 Objects are at rest (stationary) relative to the
building are in equilibrium
 Objects within a train traveling at a constant
speed on a straight track, that are at rest
relative to the train, are in equilibrium
 If the train begin increasing or decreasing its
speed, the person standing in the aisle would
no longer be in equilibrium & might lose his
balance
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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Definition: an object is in equilibrium only if each
point of the object has the same constant velocity
(steady translation)
 Vector sum of external forces acting on an object
in equilibrium = 0:
 F = 0 (Equilibrium equation) (3.2)
 Where can we use this equation?

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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Free-Body Diagrams:
 Helps to identify the external forces acting on
the object of interest.
 Drawing of an isolated object & the external
forces acting on it

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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Drawing a free-body diagram involves 3 steps:
1. Identify the object to isolate – the choice is
often dictated by particular forces you want
to determine
2. Draw a sketch of the object isolated from its
surroundings & show relevant dimensions &
angles
3. Draw & label vectors representing all the
external forces acting on the isolated object
– don’t forget to include the gravitational force
A coordinate system is necessary to express the
forces on the isolated object in terms of components
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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 E.g. to determine the tensions in the 2 cables:
 Isolate lower block & part of cable AB
 Indicate the external forces: W & TAB
 Introduce a coordinate system

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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Isolateupper block
 External forces: W, TCD & TAB

 Equilibrium equation:
F = TCDj – TABj – Wj
= (TCD – TAB  W)j = 0
Since TAB = W, TCD = 2W

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 3.2 Analysis of Forces
 Alternatively, treat the 2
blocks & cable AB as a
single object:
 Equilibrium equation:

F = TCDj – Wj – Wj
= (TCD – 2W)j = 0
Again, TCD = 2W

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 3.3 2-Dimensional Force Systems
 By orienting a coordinate system so that
external forces acting on an object lie in
the x-y plane:
F = (Fx)i + (Fy)j = 0
where Fx & Fy are the sums of the x & y
components of the forces
 A vector is zero only if each of its components is
zero  Scalar equilibrium equations:
Fx = 0, Fy = 0 (3.3)
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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
The automobile engine block in
Fig. 3.2 is suspended by a
system of cables. The mass of
the block is 200 kg. The system
is stationary. What are the
tensions in cables AB & AC?

Fig. 3.2

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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
Strategy
We need a free-body diagram that is subjected to
the forces we want to determine. By isolating part
of the cable system near point A where the cables
are joined, we can obtain a free-body diagram that
is subjected to the weight of the block & the
unknown tensions in cables AB & AC.

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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
Solution
Draw the Free-Body Diagram:
Isolate part of the cable system near point A:

Fig. 3.2
W = mg = (200 kg)(9.81 m/s2) = 1962 N
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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
Solution
Apply the Equilibrium Equation:
Select the coordinate system shown.

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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
Solution
Apply the Equilibrium Equation:
Resolve cable tensions into x & y
components:
Fx = TAC cos 45°  TAB cos 60° = 0
Fy = TAC sin 45° + TAB sin 60°  1962 N = 0

Solving these equations,

The tensions in the cables are
TAB = 1436 N & TAC = 1016 N.
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 Example 3.2 Choosing a Free-Body
Diagram
Critical Thinking
 How to choose a free-body diagram that permits
you to determine particular unknown forces?
 May be necessary to try several free-body
diagrams before finding one that provides the
information you need
 Forces to be determined should appear as
external forces on the free-body diagram
 Objective is to obtain a number of equilibrium
equations = number of unknown forces
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 Exercise 3.25 Traffic engineer wants to
suspend traffic light
 A traffic engineer wants to suspend a
500N traffic light above the center of the
two right lanes of a four-lane throughfare
as shown. Points A and C are at the same
height. Determine the tensions in the
cables AB and BC.

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 Exercise 3.25 Traffic engineer wants to
suspend traffic light
 Answers
TAB = 760N, TBC = 838N

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 Summary
 Now you should be able to Identify different
Types of Forces
 How to choose a free-body diagram that permits
you to determine particular unknown forces?
 Use equilibrium equations to determine
Unknown Forces.

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