Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Newtonian Mechanics

A complete vocabulary flashcard set covering foundational definitions, Newton's laws, systems of units and dimensions, and key historical figures in engineering mechanics.

Simon Stevinus

A Flemish mathematician and engineer (1548-1620) who was the first to demonstrate the resolution of forces, establishing the foundation of modern statics.

Physics

The science that relates the properties of matter and energy, excluding biological and chemical effects; it includes mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and nuclear physics.

Engineering

The application of mathematical and physical sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology) to the design and manufacture of items that benefit humanity.

Engineering Design

According to ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.

Mechanics

The branch of physics that considers the action of forces on bodies or fluids that are at rest or in motion.

Statics

The branch of mechanics that deals with bodies or fluids at rest.

Dynamics

The branch of mechanics that deals with bodies or fluids in motion.

Engineering Mechanics

The branch of engineering that applies the principles of mechanics to mechanical design (any design that must take into account the effect of forces).

Problem Analysis Steps

The standard four-part problem-solving framework consisting of: 1. GIVEN, 2. FIND, 3. SOLUTION, and 4. VALIDATE.

Principia (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)

The celebrated work published in 1687 by Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) presenting his laws of motion, forming the foundation of classical mechanics.

Relativistic Mechanics

A branch of mechanics born at the beginning of the twentieth century that addresses phenomena on a cosmic scale, removing the concepts of a fixed inertial reference frame and absolute time.

Quantum Mechanics

A probabilistic branch of mechanics concerned with particles on the atomic or subatomic scale, replacing determinism and continuity with discrete steps called quanta.

Newton's First Law of Particle Motion

States that if a particle is at rest (or moving with constant velocity in a straight line), it will remain at rest (or continue to move with constant velocity in a straight line) unless acted upon by a force.

Newton's Second Law of Particle Motion

States that a particle acted upon by a force will accelerate in the direction of the force, with an acceleration magnitude proportional to the force magnitude and inversely proportional to the mass of the particle.

Newton's Third Law of Particle Motion

States that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; interaction forces between two particles are equal in magnitude and oppositely directed along the same line of action.

Inertial Reference Frame

Any rigid coordinate system in which Newton's laws of particle motion relative to that frame are valid with an acceptable degree of accuracy; also known as a Newtonian or Galilean reference frame.

Units

The standards of measurement used to quantify physical quantities (such as kilogram and meter per second).

Dimension

The type of measurement being performed regardless of the specific units used (such as mass and length/time).

Absolute System

A measurement system whose base dimensions are mass, length, and time, denoted as $\text{[MLT]}$ (for example, the SI system).

Gravitational System

A system of measurement whose base dimensions are force, length, and time, denoted as $\text{[FLT]}$.

Dimensional Homogeneity

The physical requirement that every term in an equation must have the exact same dimension for the equation to be physically meaningful.

Scalar

A physical quantity that possesses magnitude only.

Vector

A physical quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction.

Simon Stevinus (1548-1620)

Flemish mathematician and engineer who was the first to demonstrate the resolution of forces, establishing the foundation of modern statics.

Physics

The science that relates the properties of matter and energy, excluding biological and chemical effects.

Engineering

The application of the mathematical and physical sciences (physics, chemistry, and biology) to the design and manufacture of items that benefit humanity.

Engineering Design

According to ABET, the process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.

Mechanics

The branch of physics that considers the action of forces on bodies or fluids that are at rest or in motion.

Statics

The primary branch of mechanics that deals with bodies at rest.

Dynamics

The primary branch of mechanics that deals with bodies in motion.

Problem Solution Framework

A four-part structure recommended for engineering problem analysis consisting of GIVEN, FIND, SOLUTION, and VALIDATE.

Principia (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy)

The celebrated 1687 book published by Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) presenting his laws of motion, serving as the foundation of classical mechanics.

Relativistic Mechanics

A branch of mechanics addressing cosmic-scale phenomena (velocities approaching the speed of light, strong gravitational fields) that removes the Newtonian concepts of a fixed inertial reference frame and absolute time.

Quantum Mechanics

A branch of mechanics concerned with particles on the atomic or subatomic scale that removes determinism and continuity, operating on probabilistic outcomes and discrete quanta.

Newton's First Law of Particle Motion

The law stating that if a particle is at rest (or moving with constant velocity in a straight line), it will remain at rest (or continue to move with constant velocity in a straight line) unless acted upon by a force.

Newton's Second Law of Particle Motion

The law stating that a particle acted upon by a force will accelerate in the direction of the force, with an acceleration magnitude proportional to the force magnitude and inversely proportional to the mass of the particle.

Newton's Third Law of Particle Motion

The law stating that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; the forces of interaction between two particles are equal in magnitude and oppositely directed along the same line of action.

Inertial Reference Frame

Also known as a Newtonian or Galilean reference frame, any rigid coordinate system in which Newton's laws of particle motion relative to that frame are valid with an acceptable degree of accuracy.

Units

The standards of measurement for physical quantities, such as kilogram ($\text{kg}$), meter ($\text{m}$), or second ($\text{s}$).

Dimension

The type of physical measurement regardless of the units used, such as mass ($[M]$), length ($[L]$), or time ($[T]$).

Gravitational System

A measurement system defined by the base dimensions of force, length, and time ($[FLT]$).

Absolute System

A measurement system defined by the base dimensions of mass, length, and time ($[MLT]$), such as the SI system.

Dimensional Homogeneity

The requirement that each term of an equation representing physical phenomena must have the exact same dimension.