To prepare for class, I suggest you follow the activities described below, for the appropriate chapter and before the scheduled date of the appropriate quiz.
1. Read the Chapter Objectives (below);
2. Read the assigned chapter sections carefully, concentrating on concepts (not example problems);
3. Read the Quiz Topics (below);
4. Go back to the chapter and make sure you understand the concepts identified by the Quiz Topics list;
5. Read the Class Topics (note: Quiz topics may also be discussed in class).

NOTE:  1. To prepare for quizzes, follow the step outlined above. For Exams, you should know all the material identified in this document, plus the solution to problems covered in class or homework. Exams will focus on problems. 2. Chapter 3 is the biggest chapter in the book. Give yourself extra time to read it and prepare for the Quiz.

Chapter 1: Introduction (entire chapter)

Chapter Objectives:
* Introduction to Mechanics and, specifically, Statics
Quiz Topics:
* No Quiz
Class Topics:
* Parallelogram Law for the Addition of Farces
* Principle of Transmissibility
* Newton’s First Law
* Newton’s Second Law
* Newton’s Third Law
* Newton’s Law of Gravitation
* Systems of Units
* Units Conversion
* Numerical Accuracy
 

 Chapter 2: Statics of Particles (sections 1-15)

Chapter Objectives:
* Understand the effect of forces on particles.
* Manipulate vectors.
Quiz Topics:
* What is a resultant?
* What is a vector?
* What is a scaler?
* Know the various methods for adding vectors: the parallelogram law, the triangle rule/polygon rule, summing rectangular components…
* What does it mean that the addition of vectors is commutative?
* What does it mean that the addition of vectors is associative?
* What does it mean to resolve a force into its components? Rectangular components?
* What is a unit vector?
* When is a particle in equilibrium?
Class Topics:
* Addition of vectors.
* Resolving forces into components.
* Adding forces by summing rectangular components.
* Using unit vectors.
* Equilibrium.

Chapter 3: Rigid Bodies, Equivalent Systems of Forces (sections 1-20)

Chapter Objectives:
* Understand the effect of forces on rigid bodies.
* Simplify systems of forces.
* Understand moments and couples.
Quiz Topics:
* What is a rigid body?
* What are external forces? Internal forces?
* What is the principle of transmissibility?
* What is the vector product of two vectors?
* What is the right-hand rule?
* What does it mean that vector products are distributive?
* What is a moment? A couple?
* What does Varignon’s Theorem tell us?
* What is the scalar product of two vectors?
* What is a mixed triple product?
* Are couples (moments) additive?
* What is a force-couple system?
* What is a moment resultant?
* When are two systems of forces equivalent?
* What does it mean when two systems are equipollent?
* What kinds of force systems can be reduced to one equivalent resultant (no couple needed)?
Class Topics:
* Vector products.
* Moments.
* Scalar products.
* Mixed triple products.
* Couples.
* Reduction of force systems to resultants and/or resultant couples.
 

 Chapter 4: Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies (sections 1-9)

Chapter Objectives:
* Understand equilibrium in two and three dimensions
* Use the equilibrium concept to determine unknown forces.
Quiz Topics:
* When is a rigid body in equilibrium?
* What is a free-body diagram?
* Understand the reactions (forces and moments) for the supports and connections shown in Figure 4.1.
* What sets of equations can be used to solve equilibrium problems in two dimensions?
* What does it mean for a rigid body to be completely constrained? Statically determinate? Statically indeterminate? Partially constrained? Improperly constrained?
* What is a two-force body? When is one in equilibrium?
* What is a three-force body? When is one in equilibrium?
* What sets of equations can be used to solve equilibrium problems in three dimensions?
* Understand the reactions (forces and moments) for the supports and connections shown in Figure 4.10.
Class Topics:
* Free-body diagrams.
* Supports and connections.
* Solving two-dimensional problems for unknown forces or moments.
* Solving three-dimensional problems for unknown forces or moments.

Chapter 5: Distributed Forces: Centroids and Centers of Gravity (sections 1-6,8,10-12)

Chapter Objectives:
* Centroids and first moments for two and three-dimensional bodies
Quiz Topics:
* What is a centroid?
* What does equation 5.2 mean?
* How is the centroid of an area determined? A line?
* When is a centroid of an area also the center of gravity?
* What is a first moment?
* What is symmetry and how is it related to centroids?
* What is an axis of symmetry? Center of symmetry?
* Does an entity with a center of symmetry always have to have an axis of symmetry?
* How can a centroid be determined by dividing a body into various common shapes?
* How are centroids determined by integration?
* What is a surface of revolution? Body of revolution?
* What is a distributed load?
* How can a distributed load be replaced by a concentrated load? What are the limitations?
Class Topics:
* Determining centroids and centers of gravity in two and three-dimensions.
* Estimating areas and volumes by revolution.
* Working with distributed loads.
 

Chapter 6: Analysis of Structures (sections 1-5,7,9-11)

Chapter Objectives:
* Learn how to solve for forces in structures under equilibrium: trusses, frames, and machines.
Quiz Topics:
* What is a truss? A rigid truss? A simple truss?
* What is the method of joints? How does it work?
* What four special loading conditions are described in Section 6.5?
* What is a zero-force member? Are they useless?
* What is the method of sections? How does it work?
* What is a compound truss?
* When is a truss overrigid? A member redundant?
* How are the variables m, n, and r used in this chapter?
* How should we consider frames that cease to be rigid when separated from their supports?
Class Topics:
* Solving problems involving trusses.
* Solving problems involving frames and machines.
 

Chapter 7: Forces in Beams and Cables (sections 1,3-5)

Chapter Objectives:
* Analysis of Beams and Cables
Quiz Topics:
* No Quiz
Class Topics:
* Definition of Beams and Cables
* Axial forces: Tension and Compression
* Shear and Bending
* Types of Loads and Supports
* Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams
 

Chapter 9: Distributed Forces: Moments of Inertia (sections 1-7,11-15)

Chapter Objectives:
* Learn how to determine the moment of inertia
* Learn how to use the moment of inertia
Quiz Topics:
* What is the moment of inertia? The second moment?
* What integral is used determine the moment of inertia?
* What is the polar moment of inertia?
* What is the radius of gyration of an area?
* What is the parallel-axis theorem?
* How are moments of inertia computed for composite areas?
* What is the moment of inertia of a mass? Of thin plates?
* How is the parallel-axis theorem applied to mass?
Class Topics:
* Moments of Inertial of Areas
* Moments of Inertia of Masses