Classical mechanics is, in simple terms, the
branch of physics that investigates the motion
of objects in our everyday life.
One can divide this into three subfields:
first, we have kinematics, which is the description
of how objects move.
Quantities like position, velocity and acceleration
are important here.
A typical question would be: if a car has
an acceleration of 2 meters per second squared,
how long does it take to reach 100 meters?
Here we only ask to describe the situation
at any given time in terms of position, velocity
and so on.
Next, we have dynamics.
Here, we study interactions and ask ourselves
why do objects move the way they do?
What makes an apple fall from a tree?
We have to consider forces and torque and
how they cause an object to move.
Newton's three laws will be important as they
give us a mathematical way to see the influence
of forces on quantities like position and
velocity.
Finally, we have statics, where nothing moves
and we study forces in equilibrium.
Here, objects might get bent or deformed,
but they don't move.
Let me repeat: classical mechanics studies
the motion of objects.
And we can actually distinguish three kinds
of motion: translational, rotational and vibrational.
Translational motion is for example a block
sliding on an inclined surface, whereas the
wheels on a car are in rotational motion.
Vibrational motion can be realized by two
masses that are connected by a spring or considering
a tiny molecule where two atoms are connected
via their molecular bond.
But that's pretty much it for this video and
our short introduction to classical mechanics,
thanks for watching!
