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Basic Concepts
1.1. Introduction to mechanics. 1.2. Basic definitions. 1.3. Rigid body. 1.4. Scalar and vector
quantities. 1.5. Fundamental units and derived units. 1.6. Systems of units—Highlights—
Objective Type Questions—Exercises.

1.1. INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICS

In any field the importance of a thorough knowledge of fundamentals cannot be over
emphasised. Fundamentals have always been stressed in the learning of new skills. Similarly, the
mechanics branch of science which deals with the forces and their effect on bodies on which they act
is founded on basic concepts and forms the ground-work for further study in the design and analysis
of machines and structures. Mechanics can be divided into two parts. (Fig. 1.1)
(i) ‘Statics’ which relates to the bodies at rest and (ii) ‘dynamics’ which deals with bodies in
motion. (In mechanics the term strength of materials refers to the ability of the individual parts of a
machine or structure to resist loads. It also permits the determination of dimensions to ensure
sufficient strength of the various parts). Dynamics may be further into the following two groups :

Engineering Mechanics

Statics Dynamics

Physical science of
bodies in rest

Kinematics Kinetics

Physical science of Physical science of

motion of points bodies and the forces
which are in motion

Fig. 1.1

(a) ‘Kinematics’ which deals with the motion of bodies without any reference to the cause of
motion.
(b) ‘Kinetics’ which deals with the relationship between forces and the resulting motion of
bodies on which they act.
The branch of science which deals with the study of different laws of mechanics as applied to
solution of engineering problems is called Applied Mechanics.

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1.2. BASIC DEFINITIONS

Length. This term is applied to the linear dimensions of a straight or curved line. For example,
the diameter of circle is the length of a straight line which divides the circle into two equal parts ; the
circumference is the length of its curved perimeter.
Area. The two dimensional size of a shape or a surface is its area. The shape may be flat (lie
in a plane) or curved, for example, the size of a plot of land, the surface of a fluorescent bulb, or the
cross-sectional size of a shaft.
Volume. The three dimensional or cubic measure of the space occupied by a substance is
known as its volume.
Force. This term is applied to any action on the body which tends to make it move, change its
motion, or change its size and shape. A force is usually thought of a push or pull, such as a hand
pushing against a wall or the pull of a rope fastened to a body.
Pressure. The external force per unit area, or the total force divided by the total area on
which it acts, is known as pressure. Water pressure against the face of a dam, steam pressure in a
boiler, or earth pressure against a retaining wall are some examples.
Mass. The amount of matter contained in a body is called its mass, and for most problems in
mechanics, mass may be considered constant.
Weight. The force with which a body is attracted towards the centre of earth by the
gravitational pull is called its weight.
The relation between mass (m) and weight (W) of a body is given by the equation
W=m×g ...(1.1)
The value of g is taken as 9.81 m/sec2 (usually 9.80 m/sec2 to make the calculation work
easier) in M.K.S. system as well as in S.I. units.
Density. The weight of a unit volume of a body or substance is the density. This term is
sometimes called weight density, to distinguish it from a similary definition (mass density) made in
terms of mass.
Moment. The tendency of a force to cause rotation about some point is known as a moment.
Table 1.1. Difference between Mass and Weight

Mass Weight

1. It is the quantity of matter contained in a body. 1. It is the force with which the body is attracted
towards the centre of earth.
2. It is constant at all places. 2. It is different at different places.

3. It resists motion in the body. 3. It produces motion in the body.

4. It is a scalar quantity since it has magnitude only. 4. It is a vector quantity since it has magnitude as
well as direction.
5. It can be measured by an ordinary balance. 5. It is measured by a spring balance.
6. It is never zero. 6. It is zero at the centre of earth.
7. It is measured in kilogram (kg) in M.K.S. system 7. It is measured in kilogram weight (kg wt. or kgf)
of units as well as in S.I. units. in M.K.S. system of units and in newton (N) in S.I.
units.

Torque. The action of a force which causes rotation to take place is known as torque. The
action of a belt on a pulley causes the pulley to rotate because of torque. Also if you grasp a piece of
chalk near each end and twist your hands in opposite directions, it is the developed torque that
causes the chalk to twist and, perhaps, snap.
BASIC CONCEPTS 5
Work. The energy developed by a force acting through a distance against resistance is known
as work. The distance may be along a straight line or along a curved path. When the distance is
linear, the work can be found from work = force × distance. When the distance is along a circular
path the work can be found from work = toque × angle. Common forms of work include a weight
lifted through a height, a pressure pushing a volume of substance, and torque causing a shaft to
rotate.
Power. The rate of doing work, or work done per unit time is called power. For example, a
certain amount of work is required to raise an elevator to the top of its shaft. A 5 HP motor can raise
the elevator, but a 20 HP motor can do the same job four times faster.

1.3. RIGID BODY

A rigid body is one which does not change its shape and size under the effect of forces acting
over it. It differs from an elastic body in the sense that the latter undergoes deformation under the
effect of forces acting on it and returns to its original shape and size on removal of the forces acting
on the body. The rigidity of a body depends upon the fact that how far it undergoes deformation
under the effect of forces acting on it.
In real sense no solid body is perfectly rigid because everybody changes it size and shape
under the effect of forces acting on it. It actual practice, the deformation (i.e., change in shape and
size of a body under the effect of forces acting on it) is very small and therefore it may be considered
as a rigid body.

1.4. SCALAR AND VECTOR QUANTITIES

Scalar quantity. A scalar quantity is one that has magnitude only.
Examples. Mass, volume, time and density.
Vector quantity. A vector quantity is one that has magnitude as well as direction.
Examples. Force, velocity, acceleration and moment etc.
A vector quantity is represented by a line carrying an arrow head at one end. The length of
the line (to convenient scale) equals the magnitude of the vector. The line, together with its arrow
head, defines the direction of the vector. Suppose a force of 60 N is applied to point A in Fig. 1.3 at an
angle of 45° to the horizontal. The vector AB represents this force since its length equals 60 N
(to scale) and its direction is proper. If the vector BA is drawn to same scale (Fig. 1.2) it represents a
60 N force having a direction exactly opposite to vector AB.

B B

60 N 60 N

45° 45°
A A
Force vector Force vector

Fig. 1.2 Fig. 1.3

1.5. FUNDAMENTAL UNITS AND DERIVED UNITS

The basic quantities or fundamental quantities of mechanics are those quantities which cannot
be expressed in terms of one another. Length, mass, time are usually considered as basic or fundamental
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quantities. The units of these quantities are called fundamental units and are developed by L, M
and T respectively. The units of all other quantities except above are derived with the help of
fundamental units and thus they are known as derived units. For example, units of velocity,
acceleration, density etc. are derived units as explained below :
Displacement L
Velocity = = LT –1
Time T
Velocity LT 1
Acceleration = = LT –2
Time T
Mass M
Density = = ML –3.
Volume L3

1.6. SYSTEMS OF UNITS

The four systems of units in use are given below :
1. Foot-Pound-Second system (F.P.S. system)
2. Centimetre-Gram-Second system (C.G.S. system)
3. Metre-Kilogram-Second system (M.K.S. system)
4. International system of units (S.I. units).
Foot-Pound-Second system. In this system the units of fundamental quantities i.e., length,
mass and time are foot, pound and second respectively.
Centimetre-Gram-Second system. In this system the value of length, mass and time are
expressed as centimetre, gram and second respectively.
Metre-Kilogram-Second system. In this system units of length mass and time are metre,
kilogram and second respectively.
International system of units. This system considers three more fundamental units of
electric current, temperature and luminous intensity in addition to the fundamental units of length,
mass and time.
Important M.K.S. and S.I. system units are given in Table 1.2.
Table 1.2. Important M.K.S. and S.I. system units

S.No. M.K.S. System S.I. System

Quantities Units Symbols Units Symbols

1. Length metre m metre m

2. Mass kilogram kg kilogram kg
3. Time second sec or s second s
4. Temperature celsius or kelvin °C or °K kelvin K
5. Plane angle radians rad radians
6. Area square metre m2 square metre m2
7. Volume cubic metre m3 cubic metre m3
8. Density kilogram per kg/m3 kilogram per kg/m3 or
cubic metre cubic metre kg m–3
9. Velocity metre per second m/sec metre per second ms–1
10. Acceleration metre per second m/sec2 metre per second m/s2 or ms–2
per second per second
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11. Angular radians per rad/sec2 radians per rad/s2 or

acceleration second per second second per second rad s–2
12. Force kilogram weight kgf newton N
13. Moment of kilogram weight kgf m newton metre Nm
force metre
14. Momentum kilogram metre kg m/sec kilogram metre kg m s–1
per second per second
15. Angular -do- kgm/sec -do- kg m s–1
momentum
16. Moment of kilogram metre kg m2 kilogram metre kg m2
inertia squared squared
17. Work ‘W’ kilogram metre kgf m joule or newton metre J or Nm
18. Torque ‘T’ -do- kgf m -do- J or Nm
19. Power kilogram metre kg m/sec watts or joules
per second per second W or J/s
20. Energy ‘E’ kilogram metre kgf m joule or newton metre J or Nm
21. Pressure kilogram per kgf/m2 newton per N/m2 or
intensity square metre square metre Nm–2
22. Specific cubic metre per m3/kg cubic metre per m3/kg or
volume kilogram mass kilogram mass m3 kg –1
23. Dynamic kilogram per kg/m-sec newton second Ns/m2 or
viscosity metre per sec per square metre Nsm–2
24. Kinematic metre per second m/sec2 metre per second m/s2 or
viscosity per second per second ms–2
25. Specific kilocalorie per kcal/kg °C joule per unit
heat unit mass per mass per degree J/kg K or
degree celsius kelvin J kg–1 K–1

HIGHLIGHTS

1. ‘Statics’ is the branch of mechanics which relates to bodies at rest.

2. ‘Dynamics’ is the branch of mechanics which deals with bodies in motion. Kinematics deals with the
motion of bodies without any reference to the cause of motion.
Kinetics deals with the relationship between forces and the resulting motion of bodies on which they act.
3. Mass is the amount of matter contained in a body.
4. Weight is the force with which a body is attracted towards the centre of the earth by the gravitational
pull.
5. Density is the weight of unit volume of a body or substance.
6. Power is the rate of doing work.
7. A rigid body is one which does not change its shape and size under the effect of forces acting over it.
8. A scalar quantity is one that has magnitude only.
9. A vector quantity is one that has magnitude as well as direction.
10. The basic quantities or fundamental quantities are those quantities which cannot be expressed in terms
of one another.
11. System of units. The four system of units in use are :
(i) Foot-Pound-Second system (F.P.S. system)
(ii) Centimetre-Gram-Second system (C.G.S. system)
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(iii) Metre-Kilogram-Second system (M.K.S. system)

(iv) International system of units (S.I. units).

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Fill in the Blanks :

(i) ......is the branch of mechanics which relates to bodies at rest.
(ii) ......is the branch of mechanics which deals with bodies in motion.
(iii) ......deals with the motion of the bodies without any reference to the cause of motion.
(iv) ......deals with relationship between forces and the resulting motion of bodies on which they act.
(v) ......is the term applied to the linear dimensions of a straight or curved line.
(vi) The external force per unit area, or the total force divided by the total area on which it acts, is known
as......
(vii) The amount of matter contained in a body is called its......
(viii) ......= torque × angle.
(ix) The rate of doing work is called......
(x) A scalar quantity is one that has......only.
2. Say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ :
(i) The two dimensional size of a shape or a surface is its area.
(ii) Mass helps motion.
(iii) Velocity is a vector quantity.
(iv) A rigid body is one which undergoes change in its shape and size under the effect of forces acting
over it.
(v) Acceleration is a scalar quantity.
(vi) In real sense, no solid body is perfectly rigid.
(vii) There is no difference between mass and weight.
(viii) The tendency of a force to cause rotation about some point is known as a moment.
(ix) Mass can be measured by a spring balance.
(x) Weight resists motion in the body.

Answers
1. (i) Statics (ii) Dynamics (iii) Kinematics (iv) Kinetics (v) Length
(vi) pressure (vii) mass (viii) Work (ix) power (x) magnitude.
2. (i) Yes (ii) No (iii) Yes (iv) No (v) No (vi) Yes
(vii) No (viii) Yes (ix) No (x) No.

EXERCISES

1. (a) Define the terms :

(i) Statics
(ii) Dynamics.
(b) Differentiate between ‘Kinematics’ and ‘Kinetics’.
2. Define the following terms :
Force, volume, pressure, work and power.
3. Write a short note on ‘Rigid body’.
4. (a) Explain the terms ‘Mass’ and ‘Weight’.
(b) How does mass differ from weight ?
5. (a) Define ‘Scalar’ and ‘Vector’ quantities.
(b) Which of the following quantities are scalar ?
Mass, force, volume, velocity, time, acceleration.
6. Describe the various systems of units. Which system of units is being followed these days and why ?