Statics

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mechanics \Me*chan"ics\, n. [Cf. F. m['e]canique.]
     That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which treats
     of the action of forces on bodies.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: That part of mechanics which considers the action of


           forces in producing rest or equilibrium is called
           {statics}; that which relates to such action in
           producing motion is called {dynamics}. The term
           mechanics includes the action of forces on all bodies,
           whether solid, liquid, or gaseous. It is sometimes,
           however, and formerly was often, used distinctively of
           solid bodies only: The mechanics of liquid bodies is
           called also {hydrostatics}, or {hydrodynamics},
           according as the laws of rest or of motion are
           considered. The mechanics of gaseous bodies is called
           also {pneumatics}. The mechanics of fluids in motion,
           with special reference to the methods of obtaining from
           them useful results, constitutes {hydraulics}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Animal mechanics} (Physiol.), that portion of physiology
        which has for its object the investigation of the laws of
        equilibrium and motion in the animal body. The most
        important mechanical principle is that of the lever, the
        bones forming the arms of the levers, the contractile
        muscles the power, the joints the fulcra or points of
        support, while the weight of the body or of the individual
        limbs constitutes the weight or resistance.
  
     {Applied mechanics}, the principles of abstract mechanics
        applied to human art; also, the practical application of
        the laws of matter and motion to the construction of
        machines and structures of all kinds.
  
     {orbital mechanics}, the principles governing the motion of
        bodies in orbit around other bodies under gravitational
        influence, such as artificial Earth satellites.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Statics \Stat"ics\ (-[i^]ks), n. [Cf. F. statique, Gr. statikh`
     the art of weighing, fr. statiko`s. See {Static}.]
     That branch of mechanics which treats of the equilibrium of
     forces, or relates to bodies as held at rest by the forces
     acting on them; -- distinguished from {dynamics}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Social statics}, the study of the conditions which concern
        the existence and permanence of the social state.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  statics
       n : the branch of mechanics concerned with forces in equilibrium

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  49 Moby Thesaurus words for "statics":
     Newtonian physics, acoustics, aerophysics, aerostatics,
     applied physics, astrophysics, basic conductor physics, biophysics,
     biostatics, chemical physics, cryogenics, crystallography,
     cytophysics, dynamics, electron physics, electronics,
     electrophysics, electrostatics, geophysics, gyrostatics,
     hydrostatics, macrophysics, mathematical physics, mechanics,
     medicophysics, microphysics, natural philosophy, natural science,
     nuclear physics, optics, philosophy, physic, physical chemistry,
     physical science, physicochemistry, physicomathematics, physics,
     psychophysics, radiation physics, radionics, rheostatics,
     solar physics, solid-state physics, stereophysics, stereostatics,
     theoretical physics, thermodynamics, thermostatics, zoophysics