Basic quantities used in engineering mechanics

Basic quantities used in engineering mechanics

In engineering mechanics length, mass, time and force are basic quantities

1. Length

In engineering mechanics length is needed to locate the position of a particle and to describe the size of physical system. Some important length conversions factors

1cm = 10 mm 1 m = 100 cm 1 m = 1000 mm

1 m = 3.2808’ (feet) 1 m = 39.37 Inch 1 Mile = 1.609 km

2. Mass

Mass is the property of matter by which we can compare the action of one body with that of another. This property manifests itself as gravitational attraction between two bodies and provides a quantitative measure of the resistance of matter to a change in velocity. Some important mass conversion factors are given below

1 Kg = 2.204 lbm

3. Time

Time is the measure of the succession of events and is a basis quantity in dynamic. Time is not directly involved in the analysis of statics problems but it has importance in dynamics.