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,
• 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.