
What Is Mechanics
Learn what mechanics studies, how it splits into statics, dynamics and other branches, and why statics comes first.

Learn what mechanics studies, how it splits into statics, dynamics and other branches, and why statics comes first.

The basic quantities of statics and its three models (particle, rigid body and concentrated force), with when to use each.

The six principles statics rests on, from the parallelogram law to Newton’s laws and gravity, and how each is used in problems.

How force, mass and length units fit together through F = ma, how to convert between SI and U.S. units, and how to write SI correctly.

A five-step method for statics problems, with the checks that catch mistakes: units, significant figures and a sanity check.

Convert any unit with ratios equal to 1: step-by-step examples from length to temperature, and full conversion tables for 12 engineering quantities.