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2 Statics of Particles
Statics is a quantitative description of forces
acting on a structure in equilibrium. Hence, we
need a mathematical description of force action
of one body on another, a vector quantity.
Mass, length, volume are scalar quantities and
have only magnitude, while force is vector quantity
and has magnitude and direction.
Example: Ball hit by a bat.
Types of vectors reminder:
Free vector is not attached to any point or a line in
a body.
Sliding vector has unique line of application.

Fixed vector has unique point of application (and,

thereof, line of application).
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In statics forces are sliding vectors. Hence, they

have unique magnitude, direction, and line of
action. However, we can slide the force along its
line of action.
Resultant of Forces
As vector quantities, forces are added as vectors
and the sum is called resultant.
Note: Graphical method doesnt provide a line of
action for the resultant, unless the forces are
applied at the same point. To find line of action of
resultant, draw resultant applied at a point of
intersection of lines of actions for F1 and F2 (3D?)
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Particle Equilibrium (2D)

For the particle to be in equilibrium,
resultant of all forces acting on it should be
equal to zero. In mathematical representation
this condition is called an equilibrium equation.
Equilibrium equation (EE) in vector form:
F=0

For 2D this equation can be written as two scalar

equations to be satisfied simultaneously:
( F x ) i + ( F y ) j=0
F=

F x =0, F y =0

Force components can be found using vector

algebra.
It is critical to account all forces. To do so a Free
Body Diagram is drawn.
Free Body Diagram
Diagram of a particle, with all forces applied to it, is
a Free Body Diagram (FBD). There are three
steps in drawing FBD:
1.Imagine and draw the particle isolated from its
surroundings.
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2.Indicate all forces acting on the particle. Include

active forces, that would otherwise set the
particle in motion, and reactive forces, that are
caused by constraints and supports, so the
particle stays in equilibrium. Encircling the
particle might help with accounting for all forces.
3.Mark known forces with their directions and
magnitudes, use letters for unknown quantities.
If line of action of a force is known, then a
direction is assumed. However, if during solving
magnitude is found to be negative, the direction
of the force will be opposite to the one assumed.
Analysis of Equilibrium
1.Draw FBD to include all acting forces.
2.Apply equations of equilibrium.
In case of 2D there are two equations per
particle. Hence, to solve them, there should be
maximum 2 unknowns per particle.
Possible unknowns:
Force vectors (two components, or
magnitude and angle of direction)
Magnitudes of two forces with known
directions
Orientations of two forces with known
magnitudes
Other parameters (geometric, etc.) 2 max.
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Elimination Technique
To eliminate an unknown force from equation(s) of
equilibrium, one should consider equilibrium of
forces in the direction perpendicular to the
unknown force.
Repeat it for the second unknown force.
In 2D this technique breaks down a system of
equations of equilibrium into a set of independent
equations. This greatly simplifies the computational
complexity and is less likely to produce a
computational error.
Note: Sometimes it is beneficial to eliminate a
known force.
Example 1:
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Notes:
Note 1: Often, it is convenient to eliminate even
known force to reduce the amount of computations
(see step ii).
Note 2: Axes in the force EEs should not
necessarily be perpendicular. Any two non-parallel
axes will do.
Note 3: The advantage of ET would be especially
spectacular if we were asked to evaluate just one
of two unknown tensions. By straightforward
method wed still have to solve for the system of 2
simultaneous equations. By ET wed get it from a
single equation (i) or (ii).
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Example 2:

Example 3:
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Particle in Equilibrium Example 1:

Example 2:
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Example 3:

Example 4:
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Example 5:
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Example 6: