Statics of Particles - Engineering Mechanics (Undergraduate Advanced)

This course provides a complete guide to the statics of particles, a foundational topic in engineering mechanics. It covers the principles of force vectors, resultants, and components, first in two dimensions and then extending to three-dimensional space. The core of the course is the analysis of particles in equilibrium, establishing the conditions required for a particle to remain at rest under the influence of multiple concurrent forces. Statics is the essential science behind structural and mechanical design. The principles covered are the basis for designing every stable structure, from bridges and skyscrapers to aircraft frames and engine components. A command of statics is non-negotiable for any engineer, as it provides the fundamental tools required to analyse forces and ensure the safety and integrity of physical systems. By the end of this course, you will be able to resolve any force into its components and calculate the resultant of any system of concurrent forces in both 2D and 3D. You will also be able to draw a complete free-body diagram for any particle and apply the equations of equilibrium to solve for unknown forces, tensions, and reactions in a variety of engineering problems. This course is for undergraduate students in any engineering discipline, including civil, mechanical, and aerospace. It is a core component of any engineering mechanics curriculum and assumes a prerequisite knowledge of introductory physics and vector mathematics. It is the essential foundation for subsequent courses in dynamics and the mechanics of materials.

73

50 hrs

Enrolment valid for 12 months
This course is also part of the following learning tracks. You may join a track to gain comprehensive knowledge across related courses.
MEE 205: Engineering Mechanics - Statics
MEE 205: Engineering Mechanics - Statics
Master the science of structural stability. This programme provides a complete education in engineering statics, covering the analysis of forces, moments, and equilibrium in rigid bodies. It delivers the non-negotiable principles required to design safe and reliable structures. This learning track is for first or second-year undergraduate students in Civil, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Structural Engineering. It is the foundational mechanics course upon which all subsequent design and analysis subjects are built. Analyse the forces within any static structure, from simple trusses to complex machines. You will master free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations, and structural analysis methods. This programme equips you with the core analytical skills for a career in structural, mechanical, or civil design.

Master the science of structural stability. This programme provides a complete education in engineering statics, covering the analysis of forces, moments, and equilibrium in rigid bodies. It delivers the non-negotiable principles required to design safe and reliable structures. This learning track is for first or second-year undergraduate students in Civil, Mechanical, Aerospace, and Structural Engineering. It is the foundational mechanics course upon which all subsequent design and analysis subjects are built. Analyse the forces within any static structure, from simple trusses to complex machines. You will master free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations, and structural analysis methods. This programme equips you with the core analytical skills for a career in structural, mechanical, or civil design.

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GET 207: Applied Mechanics
GET 207: Applied Mechanics
Master the non-negotiable principles of Engineering Mechanics. This track delivers a rigorous, complete programme in statics and dynamics, built to the NUC GET 207 core curriculum. It moves methodically from force systems and equilibrium to the kinematics of rigid bodies and the kinetics of particles. This is the foundation of all structural and mechanical analysis. This programme is for first and second-year undergraduate engineering students. It is an essential requirement for students in Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Aerospace, and Mechatronics engineering. A working knowledge of introductory physics and calculus is assumed. On completion, you will be able to analyse and solve complex problems in statics and particle dynamics. You will draw free-body diagrams, apply equilibrium equations, analyse trusses and frames, and solve motion problems using Newton's laws, work-energy, and momentum methods. This programme prepares you for advanced courses, particularly Mechanics of Materials, and future professional engineering practice.

Master the non-negotiable principles of Engineering Mechanics. This track delivers a rigorous, complete programme in statics and dynamics, built to the NUC GET 207 core curriculum. It moves methodically from force systems and equilibrium to the kinematics of rigid bodies and the kinetics of particles. This is the foundation of all structural and mechanical analysis. This programme is for first and second-year undergraduate engineering students. It is an essential requirement for students in Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Aerospace, and Mechatronics engineering. A working knowledge of introductory physics and calculus is assumed. On completion, you will be able to analyse and solve complex problems in statics and particle dynamics. You will draw free-body diagrams, apply equilibrium equations, analyse trusses and frames, and solve motion problems using Newton's laws, work-energy, and momentum methods. This programme prepares you for advanced courses, particularly Mechanics of Materials, and future professional engineering practice.

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Course Chapters

1. Introduction
11

Introduction to engineering mechanics, fundamental concepts, systems of units and general analysis procedure.

Chapter lessons

1-1. Welcome
13:12

Welcome and course overview.

1-2. Mechanics
31:04

Meaning of mechanics and engineering mechanics.

1-3. Rigid-body mechanics
10:34

Meaning of rigid-body mechanics and its branches - statics and dynamics.

1-4. Particles and rigid bodies
25:25

Meaning of particles and rigid bodies in the context of engineering mechanics.

1-5. Fundamental concepts (1)
19:59

Meaning of space, mass, time and force.

1-6. Fundamental concepts (2)
16:35

The parallelogram law of addition of forces and the principle of transmissibility of forces.

1-7. Fundamental concepts (3)
28:42

Newton's laws of motion.

1-8. Fundamental concepts (4)
16:27

Newton's law of gravitation.

1-9. Systems of units (1)
15:34

Units of measurement of mass, length, time, force, etc., in the S. I. and U. S. customary units.

1-10. Systems of units (2)
23:55

Conversion from one system of unit to another.

1-11. General procedure
34:04

General procedure for solving engineering mechanics problems.

2. Resultant of Forces in a Plane
4
10

Force vectors and how to obtain the resultant of two or more forces - using parallelogram and triangle rules.

Chapter lessons

2-1. Force vectors
18:04

Representation of forces using directed line segments.

2-2. Parallelogram rule
37:47

Addition of force vectors using the parallelogram rule.

2-3. Triangle rule
12:35

Addition of force vectors using the triangle rule.

2-4. Several concurrent forces
21:01

Addition of several concurrent forces by successive applications of the parallelogram / triangle rule.

3. Components of a Force in a Plane
2
6

Resolution of a force into its rectangular and non-rectangular components.

Chapter lessons

3-1. Components
30:19

Meaning of components of a force, in general.

3-2. Rectangular components
27:33

Meaning of rectangular components of a force.

4. Resultant by Components in a Plane
1
5

Calculating the resultant of several concurrent forces using their rectangular components.

Chapter lessons

4-1. Procedure
12:33

How to find the resultant of several concurrent forces by resolution of each force into rectangular components.

5. Equilibrium in a Plane
2
13

Equilibrium of particles under the action of planar forces.

Chapter lessons

5-1. Condition
23:16

Condition for equilibrium of a particle in two dimensions.

5-2. Procedure
29:56

Equations and procedure for analysis of equilibrium of a particle in two dimensions.

6. Components of a Force in Space
4
18

Determining the components of forces in three dimensions.

Chapter lessons

6-1. Rectangular components
1:01:51

An illustration of the rectangular components of a force and its direction cosines in three dimensions.

6-2. Magnitude and two angles
16:01

How to obtain the components of a force in three dimensions from its magnitude and two angles defining its orientation.

6-3. Magnitude and two points
23:45

How to obtain the components of a force in three dimensions using its magnitude and coordinates of any two distinct points along its line of action.

6-4. Projections
22:47

Review of the scalar or dot product of two vectors; how to obtain the projection (component) of a force to a given direction.

7. Resultant of Forces in Space
1
4

Vector addition of force vectors in three dimensions.

Chapter lessons

7-1. Procedure
13:25

Procedure for summing force vectors in three dimensions.

8. Equilibrium in Space
1
13

Equilibrium of particles under the action of three-dimensional forces.

Chapter lessons

8-1. Condition
8:53

Condition for equilibrium of a particle in three dimensions.