Classical Mechanics

by Ron Kurtus (updated 9 January 2023)

Classical Mechanics (or Newtonian Mechanics) is a field of Mechanics in Physics, consisting of the study of the motion of objects under normal conditions. The field can be divided into Kinematics, Dynamics, and Statics.

Questions you may have include:

What is Kinematics?
What is Dynamics?
What is Statics?

This lesson will answer those questions. Useful tool: Units Conversion

Kinematics

Classical Kinematics is the study of the motion of objects or groups of objects without considering the forces that cause the motion. It is primarily the study of position and speed, including linear and rotational motion.

The simplest application of kinematics is for particle motion, both translational and rotational. The next level of complexity comes from the introduction of rigid bodies, which are collections of particles having time invariant distances between themselves.

Dynamics

Classical Dynamics is concerned with the relationship between the motion of bodies and its causes, namely the forces acting on the bodies and the properties of those bodies (particularly mass and moment of inertia).

Statics

Statics is the branch of mechanics concerned with the analysis of loads. such as force, torque, and moment on physical systems that are in static equilibrium, which is where the relative positions of subsystems do not vary over time. When in static equilibrium, the system is either at rest, or its center of mass moves at constant velocity.

Summary

Classical Mechanics is the study of the motion of objects under normal conditions. Kinematics concerns motion without considering forces causing the motion. Dynamics concerns motion and forces. Statics concerns analysis of forces and loads in a static situation.

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