Mechanics is the study of the interactions between physical bodies and their consequent motion.
In this topic, we will:
- Define the quantities used to describe motion (displacement, velocity, acceleration).
- Derive a set of equations that give the relationship between the displacement, velocity, acceleration and time when the acceleration is constant.
- Solve problems involving constant acceleration in 1 and 2-dimensions.
- Understand the effects of forces.
- Relate unbalanced forces to motion.
- Consider energy and the capabilities that this gives to bodies.
- Define power and efficiency.
- Learn about types of collision in terms of conservation of momentum.
Forces
In an attempt to simplify we can consider all bodies to be a like a small ball with forces acting at the centre. Alternatively we could just consider the case of a small ball and ignore all other possibilities.
Kinematics
Before we can model motion we need to define the quantities that we are going to use, once that has been done we can investigate how they are related.
Work and energy
To predict the outcome of the collision between two ball we need more than just the conservation of momentum, we neeed to consider energy as well.