Statics Intro Info

• Statics

  Statics studies the way that forces effect bodies that are in motion or are stationary
• Why engineers care about statics

  • Engineers are concerned with the way that mechanics can be applied so that they can determine how objects will react to applied forces
• Force

  The action of one body on another

  A force tends to move a body in the direction of its action

  A force applied to a body has a tendency to produce a rotation of that body

  A force produces or tends to produce a change in motion of a body, if not then objects are in static equilibrium

  A force is invisible, but you can see or feel the effect of a force

  No resultant force- no change in state of motion

  Action and reaction forces - are equal and opposite (static equilibrium)
• Three pieces of information required to determine/define a force

  • Magnitude (how big is the force?)

  Direction (angle of the force)

  Line of action (point in space)