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Physics 3.1 Notes

This document provides an introduction to classical mechanics including Newton's laws of motion, work, energy, and power, and conservation laws. Classical mechanics deals with the motion of objects under the influence of forces and was developed by Isaac Newton in the 17th century, laying the foundation for modern physics.

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31 views

Physics 3.1 Notes

This document provides an introduction to classical mechanics including Newton's laws of motion, work, energy, and power, and conservation laws. Classical mechanics deals with the motion of objects under the influence of forces and was developed by Isaac Newton in the 17th century, laying the foundation for modern physics.

Uploaded by

stella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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**Physics 3.

1: Introduction to Classical Mechanics**

**Lecture Notes**

**I. Introduction to Classical Mechanics**

- Classical mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects under the influence
of forces. It provides fundamental principles for understanding the behavior of macroscopic objects.

- Developed by Isaac Newton in the 17th century, classical mechanics laid the foundation for modern
physics.

**II. Newton's Laws of Motion**

1. **Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia):**

- An object remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external
force.

- Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

2. **Newton's Second Law (Law of Acceleration):**

- The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely
proportional to its mass.

- Mathematically, \( F = ma \), where \( F \) is the net force, \( m \) is the mass, and \( a \) is the
acceleration.

3. **Newton's Third Law (Action-Reaction Law):**

- For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

- When one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite
force on the first.

**III. Applications of Newton's Laws**


1. **Projectile Motion:**

- Describes the motion of objects projected into the air, such as a ball thrown or a bullet fired.

- Gravity acts vertically downward, causing the object to follow a parabolic trajectory.

2. **Uniform Circular Motion:**

- Motion of an object moving at a constant speed along a circular path.

- The object experiences a centripetal force directed toward the center of the circle, keeping it in its
circular path.

**IV. Work, Energy, and Power**

1. **Work (W):**

- Work is done when a force causes displacement of an object in the direction of the force.

- Mathematically, \( W = F \cdot d \cdot \cos(\theta) \), where \( F \) is the force, \( d \) is the


displacement, and \( \theta \) is the angle between the force and displacement vectors.

2. **Kinetic Energy (K):**

- The energy possessed by an object due to its motion.

- Mathematically, \( K = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \), where \( m \) is the mass and \( v \) is the velocity.

3. **Potential Energy (U):**

- The energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration.

- Examples include gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy.

4. **Conservation of Mechanical Energy:**

- In the absence of non-conservative forces like friction, the total mechanical energy (kinetic energy +
potential energy) of a system remains constant.
5. **Power (P):**

- The rate at which work is done or energy is transferred.

- Mathematically, \( P = \frac{W}{t} \), where \( W \) is the work done and \( t \) is the time taken.

**V. Conservation Laws**

1. **Conservation of Linear Momentum:**

- The total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act on it.

- Mathematically, \( \Sigma \vec{p}_{\text{initial}} = \Sigma \vec{p}_{\text{final}} \).

2. **Conservation of Angular Momentum:**

- The total angular momentum of a system remains constant if no external torques act on it.

- Mathematically, \( \Sigma \tau_{\text{external}} = 0 \Rightarrow \Sigma L_{\text{initial}} = \Sigma


L_{\text{final}} \).

**VI. Conclusion**

- Classical mechanics provides a powerful framework for understanding the motion of objects and
systems under the influence of forces.

- It forms the basis for more advanced branches of physics, such as quantum mechanics and relativity,
which extend its principles to new realms of understanding.

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