classical mechanics
Pre-quantum motion theory
Classical mechanics is the branch of physics describing the motion of bodies under the influence of forces—how objects move, collide, orbit, and respond to pushes and pulls.
It encompasses Newton's laws, concepts like momentum and energy, and explains everything from falling apples to planetary orbits.
Classical mechanics works extremely well for everyday objects at ordinary speeds but breaks down at atomic scales (where quantum mechanics takes over) and near light speed (where relativity applies).
Famous scientific surname
- laws of motionPrinciples governing physical dynamics
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- massQuantity of matter
acceleration · momentum · force · calculus · determinism · absolute time · inverse square law · principia
Study of movement itself
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- displacementRemoval from usual location
speed · projectile · free fall · parabola · vector · circular motion · rotation · translation
Mass multiplied by velocity
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- impulseSudden urge to act
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- elastic collisionImpact conserving kinetic energy
conservation of momentum · center of mass · recoil · impact · moment of inertia · gyroscope · precession · spin
Three motion axioms
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- normal forcePerpendicular surface contact force
- gravityMutual mass attraction
weight · centripetal · centrifugal · torque · thrust · drag · buoyancy · restoring force
Turning on an axis
- moment of inertiaResistance to angular acceleration
- torqueRotational force measurement
- angular accelerationChange in spinning speed
- rollingTurning over repeatedly
precession · nutation · top · flywheel · pulley · gear · wheel and axle
Mechanics of equilibrium
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- static equilibriumZero net force, no motion
- dynamic equilibriumBalance through opposing changes
center of gravity · fulcrum · lever · tension · compression · truss · beam · cantilever
Power from movement
- potential energyWork available from position
- workEffort toward a goal
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- jouleSI energy quantity
conservation of energy · mechanical energy · dissipation · efficiency
Newton
Famous scientific surname
- laws of motionPrinciples governing physical dynamics
- gravityMutual mass attraction
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
mass · acceleration · momentum · force · calculus · determinism · absolute time · inverse square law · principia · action reaction
kinematics
Study of movement itself
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- trajectoryPath of moving object
displacement · speed · projectile · free fall · parabola · vector · circular motion · rotation · translation · oscillation
linear momentum
Mass multiplied by velocity
- angular momentumRotational motion quantity
- impulseSudden urge to act
- collisionForceful contact between objects
elastic collision · conservation of momentum · center of mass · recoil · impact · moment of inertia · gyroscope · precession · spin
Newton's laws
Three motion axioms
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- normal forcePerpendicular surface contact force
gravity · weight · centripetal · centrifugal · torque · thrust · drag · buoyancy · restoring force · net force
rotation
Turning on an axis
- moment of inertiaResistance to angular acceleration
- torqueRotational force measurement
- angular accelerationChange in spinning speed
rolling · precession · nutation · top · flywheel · pulley · gear · wheel and axle
statics
Mechanics of equilibrium
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- static equilibriumZero net force, no motion
dynamic equilibrium · center of gravity · fulcrum · lever · tension · compression · truss · beam · cantilever · reaction force
kinetic energy
Power from movement
- potential energyWork available from position
- workEffort toward a goal
- powerEnergy transfer rate
joule · conservation of energy · mechanical energy · dissipation · efficiency
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- mechanicsforce, turning, rotation, momentum, velocity
- classical physicsNewton, Newton's laws, Newtonian physics, laws of motion, force
- Early Physicshydrostatics, experimental physics
- mechanismmechanism, clockwork universe, Newtonian mechanics, automata, automatism
- physics theoriesatomic theory, quantum mechanics, relativity, thermodynamics, electrodynamics
classical mechanicsquantum mechanics
Physics at nanoscopic scales
quantum physics · quantum theory · modern physics · particle physics · atomic physics
classical, classic, classics, classicist, classicism, classically, neoclassical, neoclassicism, classicists