Newtonian mechanics
Pre-relativistic motion theory
Newtonian mechanics is the branch of physics describing motion and forces according to principles formulated by Isaac Newton in the 17th century.
Objects at rest stay at rest, objects in motion stay in motion, force equals mass times acceleration, and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
These laws accurately predict everyday phenomena—falling objects, planetary orbits, colliding billiard balls—but break down at very high speeds or very small scales, where relativity and quantum mechanics take over.
Newtonian mechanics is sufficient for most engineering applications.
- rigid body dynamicsMechanics of non-deforming solids
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- massQuantity of matter
- center of massAverage position of distributed weight
- forceStrength or compulsion
inertia · friction · kinematics · pendulum · conservation laws · physics · angular momentum · statics · acceleration · three body problem · motion · frame of reference · torque · determinism · clockwork universe · falling · equations · projectile
Newtonian mechanicsquantum mechanics
Physics at nanoscopic scales
quantum physics · general relativity · special relativity · quantum theory · particle physics
Newtonian mechanicsmodern physics
Science of subatomic and relativistic phenomena
Newtonian mechanicsCopenhagen interpretation
Standard quantum measurement theory
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