Vector Mechanics for Engineers : Statics. Ferdinand P. Beer

The main objective of a first course in mechanics should be to develop in the engineering student the ability to analyse any problem in a simple and logical manner and to apply to its solution a few, well-understand, basic principle. This text is designed for the first course in statistics offered in the sophomore year. Vector analysis is introduced early in the text and is used in the presentation and discussion of the fundamental principles of mechanics, vector methods are also used to solve many problem, particularly three dimensional problems where these techniques result in a simpler and more concise solution. The emphasis in this text, however remains on the correct understanding of the principles of the mechanics and on their application to the solution of engineering problems, and vector analysis is presented chiefly as a convenient tool.