statics

In civil engineering one of the classes you take in college is called “statics“.

In statics you learn to visualize 3-dimensional objects from the real world as simplified, idealized models of lines and symbols called free body diagrams. Simplification of complex real-world objects to facilitate analysis is used throughout engineering practice.

The real object is infinitely complex. No matter how much you break it down, you could always go further. Dividing a complex object into manageable-size pieces is the basis of finite element analysis, a more advanced structural engineering technique—but one which still relies upon idealization and simplification.

If you get bogged down in the details, you never get to an answer. You never build anything.

Instead, you need to identify the critical elements. Figure out what matters and what you can safely ignore.

Idealizing and simplifying applies to all aspects of life. When the real thing seems too complicated, too overwhelming, remember the first step from statics: draw a free body diagram.