Mechanics courses tend to provide engineering students with a precise,
mathematical, but less than engaging experience. Students often view the
traditional approach as a mysterious body of facts and "tricks" that
allow idealized cases to be solved. When confronted with more realistic
systems, they are often at a loss as to how to proceed. To address this
issue, this course empowers students to tackle meaningful problems at an
early stage in their studies.
Engineering Mechanics: Statics, First Edition begins with a
readable overview of the concepts of mechanics. Important equations are
introduced, but the emphasis is on developing a "feel" for forces and
moments, and for how loads are transferred through structures and
machines. From that foundation, the course helps lay a motivational
framework for students to build their skills in solving engineering
problems.