Re: Statics - You need to take this class
Statics and dynamics are typically a two course sequence, though some schools (MIT comes to mind) cram elements of both into one.
The mathematics of statics is really straightforward. The math in the class is essentially (in vector notation): Force_A + Force_B = Force_C + Force_D applied over and over again. A little algebra re-arranges this into equations of the structure: F_a + F_b - F_c - F_d = 0. All the requisite equation of this type are then solved as a linear system. The trick is in learning where and how to apply the forces and/or couple moments, how to deal with moments inside beams, how to deal with statically indeterminate systems, and a few other bits. Even then, every lesson builds on the last, and the result is very logical to follow.
Dynamics involves solving differential equations (both ODE and PDE), and therefore is much more involved.
A technique to solve for the values of forces due to dynamic loads is to first calculate what the peak value, and direction, of the dynamic load force will be, and then apply that to an imaginary static system ("frozen" if you will) where a subset of the forces are the calculated dynamic loadings, rather than the (constant) force of gravity.
