Page 2 - mechanics

Chapter – 1 Introduction

1.1 What is Mechanics?
Mechanics is an applied science concerned with the study

of force, deformation, motion, and the relations between them.
So, mechanics is a physical science, since it deals with the
study of physical phenomena. The purpose of mechanics is to
explain and predict physical phenomena and thus to lay the
foundations for engineering applications.

Elementary mechanics is traditionally partitioned into three
courses named (1) statics, (2) dynamics, and (3) strength of
materials.
(1) Statics: is mechanics with the idealization that the
acceleration of mass is negligible in the ordinary sense. Statics
is useful, for example, for the analysis of structures, slow
machines or the light parts of fast machines, and the stability of
boats. Statics deals with rigid bodies.
(2) Dynamics: concerns motion objects associated with the no
negligible acceleration and it can be classified into two main
parts (i) Kinematics and (ii) Kinetics.
(i) Kinematics in this part, we study the description of motion
only and the causes of motion (forces) are not considered.
(ii) Kinetics in this part, we study the description of motion
under the forces that causes the motion.

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