LEC # 01

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Basic quantities
The following four quantities are used
throughout rigid-body mechanics.
1- Length
2- Time (although the principles of statics are
time independent)
3- Mass
4- Force
 IDEALIZATIONS

 Models or idealizations are used in mechanics in order to

simplify the application of the theory. A few of the more
important idealizations will now be defined.

 PARTICLE
A particle has a mass but a size that can be neglected. For
example, the size of the earth is insignificant compared to
the size of its orbit & therefore, the earth can be modeled
as a particle, the principles of mechanics reduce to rather
simplified form, since the geometry of the body will not be
involved in the analysis of the problem.
 RIGID BODY

 A rigid body can be considered as a combination of a large

number of particles in which all the particles remain at a
fixed distance from one another both before & after
applying a load. As a result, the material properties of any
body that is assumed to be rigid will not have to be
considered when analyzing the forces acting on the body.

 In most cases the actual deformations occuring in

structures, machines, mechanisms & the like are relatively
small & rigid body assumption is suitable for analysis.
 FORCE VECTORS
 Scalars
A quantity characterized by a positive or negative number is called a scalar. Mass,
volume & length etc.. are scalar quantities.

 Vectors
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude & direction. Force, displacement &
velocity etc.. are vector quantities.

 Types of vectors

1. Unit Vector ( a vector divided by its magnitude)

2. Null Vector (having zero magnitude)
3. Free Vector (Action is not confined to or associated with a unique line in space.)
4. Sliding Vector (Unique line of action in space but not a unique point of
application)
5. Fixed vector (A unique point of application is specified)
Representation of a Vector
PRINCIPLE OF TRANSMISSIBILITY
“Principle of transmissibility states that a force may be
applied at any point on its given line of action without
altering the resultant effects of the force external to the
rigid body on which it acts.”

Thus, whenever we are interested in only the resultant

external effects of a force, the force may be treated as a
sliding vector.

 A sliding vector has a unique line of action in space but

not a unique point of application. For example, when an
external force acts on a rigid body, the force can be applied
at any point along its line of action without changing its
effects on the body as a whole.
PRINCIPLE OF TRANSMISSIBILITY
COPLANAR, CONCURRENT and
COLLINEAR FORCES
 INTRODUCTION

The subject Mechanics of Machines may be defined as that

branch of Engineering science which deals with the study of
relative motion between the various parts of a machine, and
forces which act on them. The knowledge of this subject is
very essential for an engineer in designing the various parts of
a machine.
 Imagine being on a design and development team. The
team is responsible for the design of an automotive
windshield wiper system.
 INTRODUCTION

 The first design task is to determine the appropriate

movements of the wipers.
 Once the desired movement has been established, an
assembly of components must be configured to produce
the wipe pattern.
 Analyzing other motion issues such as timing of the wipers
and wiping tendencies.
 For this wiper system, like most machines, understanding
and analyzing the motion is necessary for proper
operation.
 INTRODUCTION

 Another major task in designing machinery is to determine

the effect of forces acting in the machine. These forces
dictate the type of power source required to operate the
machine. The forces also dictate the required strength of
the components.
 MACHINES AND MECHANISMS
 Machines are devices used to alter, transmit, and direct
forces to accomplish a specific objective.
 A mechanism is the mechanical portion of a machine that
has the function of transferring motion and forces from a
power source to an output. It is the heart of a machine.
 KINEMATICS

 Kinematics is the study of geometry of

motion. Kinematic analysis involves
determination of position,
displacement, rotation, speed, velocity
and acceleration.
 Recommended Books
 1. David H. Myszka, “Machines & Mechanisms”.

 2. J.E. Shigley, “Theory of machines”.

 3. J.E. Shigley, “Machines and Mechanisms”.

 4. R.S. Khurmi & J.K. Gupta, “Theory of machines”.

 5. R. Norton, “ Design of machines”.