Target Audience. This text is designed for the first course in Statics offered in the sophomore year. Overview - The main objective of a first course in mechanics should be to develop in the engineering student the ability to analyze any problem in a simple and logical manner and to apply to its solution a few, well-understood, basic principles. This text is designed to help the instructor achieve this goal. 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 problems, 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 mechanics and on their application to the solution of engineering problems, and vector analysis is presented chiefly as a convenient tool. In order to achieve the goal of being able to analyze mechanics problems, the text employs the following pedagogical strategy: practical applications are introduced early; new concepts are introduced simply; and fundamental principles are placed in simple contexts. Students are given extensive practice through: sample problems, special sections entitled Solving Problems on Your Own, extensive homework problem sets, review problems at the end of each chapter, and computer problems designed to be solved with computational software. Resources Supporting This Textbook - Instructor's and Solutions Manual features typeset, one-per-page solutions to the end of chapter problems. It also features a number of tables designed to assist instructors in creating a schedule of assignments for their course. The various topics covered in the text have been listed in Table I and a suggested number of periods to be spent on each topic has been indicated. Table II prepares a brief description of all groups of problems. Sample lesson schedules are shown in Tables III, IV, and V, together with various alternative lists of assigned homework problems. Hands-on Mechanics is a website designed for instructors who are interested in incorporating three-dimensional, hands-on teaching aids into their lectures. Developed through a partnership between the McGraw-Hill Engineering Team and the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, this website not only provides detailed instructions for how to build 3-D teaching tools using materials found in any lab or local hardware store, but also provides a community where educators can share ideas, trade best practices, and submit their own original demonstrations for posting on the site.

Ferdinand P. Beer. Nacido en Francia y estudio en Francia y Suiza, Ferd recibio un MS grado de la Sorbona y un Sc.D. licenciado en mecanica teorica de la Universidad de Ginebra. El vino a los Estados Unidos despues de servir en el ejercito frances durante la primera parte de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y enseno durante cuatro anos en la universidad de Williams en el programa de artes mixtas y de ingenieria Williams-MIT. Despues de su servicio en el Williams College, Ferd unio a la facultad de la Universidad de Lehigh, donde enseno durante treinta y siete anos. Ocupo diversos cargos, entre ellos la Universidad de profesor distinguido y director del Departamento de Ingenieria Mecanica y Mecanica, y en 1995 fue galardonado con Ferd honorario de Doctor en Ingenieria por la Universidad de Lehigh grado. Nacido en Filadelfia, Russ tiene un B.S. licenciatura en ingenieria civil de la Universidad de Delaware y un Sc.D. titulo en el campo de la ingenieria estructural en el Instituto de Tecnologia de Massachusetts (MIT). Enseno en la Universidad de Lehigh y Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) antes de unirse a la facultad de la Universidad de Connecticut, donde ocupo el cargo de Presidente del Departamento de Ingenieria Civil y enseno durante veintiseis anos. En 1991 Russ recibio el Premio Ingeniero Sobresaliente Civil de la Seccion de Connecticut de la Sociedad Americana de Ingenieros Civiles. David tiene un B.S. licenciatura en ingenieria oceanica y una M.S. licenciatura en ingenieria civil del Instituto de Tecnologia de Florida, y un doctorado licenciatura en ingenieria civil de la Universidad de Connecticut. Fue empleado por General Dynamics Corporation, division electrica del barco durante cinco anos, en la que presto apoyo a la construccion de submarinos y llevo a cabo el diseno de ingenieria y el analisis asociado con casco de presion y otras estructuras. Ademas, llevo a cabo la investigacion en el area de reduccion de ruido y la transmision de vibraciones en los submarinos. Luego enseno en la universidad de Lafayette por un ano antes de unirse a la facultad de ingenieria civil en la Academia de la Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos, donde ha estado desde 1990, David es actualmente miembro del Comite de la Asociacion Americana de tren de Ingenieria y Mantenimiento de via 15 (Estructuras de Acero), y la Sociedad Americana de Ingenieros Civiles Comite sobre explosiva, descargas electricas e Efectos vibratorios. El tambien ha trabajado con la Administracion Federal de Ferrocarriles en su programa de entrenamiento de inspeccion de puentes. Intereses profesionales incluyen la ingenieria de puentes, ingenieria ferroviaria, altas torres, los forenses estructurales, y el diseno resistente a explosiones. El es un ingeniero profesional con licencia en Connecticut y Pennsylvania.