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## **Physics Notes: Fundamentals of Mechanics**
### **Page 1: Introduction to Mechanics**
Mechanics is the branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects and the
forces that cause this motion. It is divided into two main parts:
1. **Kinematics** – the study of motion without considering its causes.
2. **Dynamics** – the study of the forces and torques that cause motion.
Key physical quantities in mechanics include:
* **Scalar quantities**: Have only magnitude (e.g., speed, distance, mass).
* **Vector quantities**: Have both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity,
displacement, force).
The standard unit system used is SI (International System of Units), where:
* Length: meter (m)
* Mass: kilogram (kg)
* Time: second (s)
### **Page 2: Motion in One Dimension**
**Displacement** is the change in position and is a vector.
**Distance** is the total length traveled, a scalar.
**Velocity** = Displacement / Time
**Speed** = Distance / Time
**Acceleration** is the rate of change of velocity.
**Equations of motion** (for constant acceleration):
1. $v = u + at$
2. $s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$
3. $v^2 = u^2 + 2as$
Where:
* $u$ = initial velocity
* $v$ = final velocity
* $a$ = acceleration
* $s$ = displacement
* $t$ = time
### **Page 3: Motion in Two and Three Dimensions**
When motion occurs in a plane, we deal with vectors.
**Projectile motion**: Motion under constant gravity in two dimensions.
Key equations:
* Horizontal distance: $x = u_x t$
* Vertical distance: $y = u_y t - \frac{1}{2}gt^2$
* Time of flight: $T = \frac{2u \sin \theta}{g}$
* Maximum height: $H = \frac{u^2 \sin^2 \theta}{2g}$
* Range: $R = \frac{u^2 \sin 2\theta}{g}$
Where $u$ is initial velocity, $\theta$ is the angle of projection.
### **Page 4: Newton’s Laws of Motion**
**Newton’s First Law (Inertia)**: A body remains at rest or in uniform motion
unless acted upon by a force.
**Newton’s Second Law**:
$F = ma$
Where:
* $F$ = net force
* $m$ = mass
* $a$ = acceleration
**Newton’s Third Law**:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
The unit of force is the **Newton (N)**: $1N = 1kg \cdot m/s^2$
**Free-body diagrams** are helpful for analyzing forces acting on a body.
### **Page 5: Work, Energy, and Power**
**Work**: $W = Fd \cos \theta$
* $F$ = force
* $d$ = displacement
* $\theta$ = angle between force and displacement
**Kinetic Energy**: $KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$
**Potential Energy**: $PE = mgh$
**Work-Energy Theorem**: Net work done = change in kinetic energy.
**Power**: $P = \frac{W}{t}$ (rate of doing work)
Unit of power: Watt (W)
1 Watt = 1 Joule/second
### **Page 6: Conservation of Energy**
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
**Mechanical energy** = Kinetic energy + Potential energy
In an ideal system (no friction):
Total mechanical energy remains constant.
Real-life systems lose energy due to friction (converted to heat or sound).
### **Page 7: Momentum and Collisions**
**Linear Momentum**: $p = mv$
**Impulse**: Change in momentum = $F \cdot t$
**Conservation of Momentum**:
In a closed system with no external forces, total momentum before and after a
collision is constant.
**Types of collisions**:
1. **Elastic** – both momentum and kinetic energy conserved.
2. **Inelastic** – only momentum conserved; kinetic energy is not.
3. **Perfectly inelastic** – objects stick together after collision.
### **Page 8: Circular Motion**
**Uniform circular motion**: Motion in a circle at constant speed.
**Centripetal acceleration**: $a = \frac{v^2}{r}$
**Centripetal force**: $F = \frac{mv^2}{r}$
Where:
* $v$ = speed
* $r$ = radius
* $m$ = mass
Objects in circular motion constantly accelerate toward the center, even if their
speed stays the same.
### **Page 9: Gravitation**
**Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation**:
$F = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$
Where:
* $G$ = gravitational constant $(6.674 \times 10^{-11} N\cdot m^2/kg^2)$
* $m_1, m_2$ = masses
* $r$ = distance between centers
**Gravitational field strength (g)**:
$g = \frac{GM}{r^2}$
This explains planetary motion and orbits. The orbits of planets are elliptical
(Kepler’s Laws).
### **Page 10: Summary and Key Formulas**
#### **Key Concepts Recap**:
* Motion: Scalars vs. Vectors
* Newton’s Laws
* Work, Energy, and Power
* Momentum and Collisions
* Circular and Gravitational Motion
#### **Important Formulas**:
* $v = u + at$
* $s = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$
* $F = ma$
* $W = Fd \cos \theta$
* $KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$
* $PE = mgh$
* $p = mv$
* $F_{gravity} = G \frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$
Understanding these principles is the foundation for studying advanced topics in
physics like thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.
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