Statics is the study of the causes and effects of stationary forces acting on rigid, stationary objects. A ‘static body' is a body which has no resulting motion from all the applied forces on it and is therefore stationary or in equilibrium.
Three basic equations must hold true if the system is to remain static. These are called the three basic equations of statics:
- The sum of all vertical forces (Fv) in the system must be zero.
- The sum of all horizontal forces (Fh) in the system must be zero.
- The sum of all bending forces - also called moments (M) - in the system must be zero.