Mechanics – Complete Topic List
A. Introduction to Mechanics
B. Kinematics (Motion Without Force)
In this section, we will begin with an Introduction to Mechanics, the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects and the forces that act on them. We will explore the major branches of mechanics—statics, which studies bodies at rest; kinematics, which describes motion without considering its causes; and dynamics, which examines the forces behind motion. The section will also introduce physical quantities, distinguishing between scalar quantities that have only magnitude and vector quantities that have both magnitude and direction. We will discuss the importance of units and dimensions in expressing physical measurements and apply dimensional analysis to check the consistency of equations and derive relationships. Finally, we will look into different types of measurement errors and understand how they affect the accuracy and reliability of experimental results.
In this section, we will study Kinematics, which describes motion without considering the forces that cause it. We will begin with motion in one dimension, focusing on displacement, velocity, and acceleration, and learn how these quantities describe how an object moves over time. The fundamental equations of motion will be introduced to analyze uniformly accelerated motion. We will also interpret motion through different graphical representations, including position–time, velocity–time, and acceleration–time graphs. The discussion will then extend to motion in two dimensions, where we explore the principles of projectile motion and how objects move under the combined influence of horizontal and vertical components. Finally, we will examine the concept of relative velocity to understand how the motion of one object appears from the perspective of another moving reference frame.
C. Dynamics (Motion With Force)
D. Rotational Mechanics
In this section, we will explore Dynamics, which explains motion by considering the forces that cause it. We begin with Newton’s laws of motion, the foundational principles that describe how and why objects move. Key concepts such as inertia, momentum, and impulse will be discussed to understand the behavior of bodies under different conditions. We will then study friction—including static, kinetic, and rolling friction—and how it influences motion in real life. Circular motion and the role of centripetal force will also be examined to explain how objects move along curved paths. The section continues with the study of work, energy, and power, providing a deeper understanding of how energy is transferred and used. We will analyze the conservation of energy and the conservation of linear momentum, two essential principles governing physical interactions. Finally, we will look into collisions, distinguishing between elastic and inelastic types, to understand how momentum and energy behave during impacts.
In this section, we will focus on Rotational Mechanics, which deals with the motion of bodies that rotate about an axis. We begin by understanding angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration—quantities that describe how fast and how much a body rotates. We will then study torque and couple, the rotational analogs of force, which determine how effectively a force can produce rotation. The concept of moment of inertia will be introduced to explain how the mass distribution of an object affects its rotational motion. We will also examine rotational kinetic energy and explore the idea of angular momentum, a key quantity that governs rotational dynamics. Rolling motion, which combines both translation and rotation, will be discussed to understand real-world movements like wheels and spheres. Finally, we will study the conservation of angular momentum, an important principle that explains phenomena ranging from spinning skaters to planetary motion.
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