The study of equilibrium of rigid bodies is a fundamental subject in the fundamentals and design of structural systems in engineering. This process is taught in a general way with the elaboration of a Free Body Diagram and the application of equilibrium vectorial equations for moments and forces. The process of teaching and learning typically takes end when the student finds a solution that fulfills the equilibrium equations but without any engineering conclusions. The proposed method presented in this paper states that students first solve the theoretical problem as it is typically done but complementing its solution using a set of common machine elements and video-editing software tools to compare the solution given by theory with real solutions given by the mounting of calibrated experiments. The final result allows the student to describe conclusions about important differences between theory and practice generated by friction, assembly processes, thermal changes among other kinds of non-controllable perturbations that are considered as negligible in theory.