Mechanics (Greek ) is an area of science concerned with the behaviour

of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects
of the bodies on their environment. The scientific discipline has its origins in Ancient
Greecewith the writings of Aristotle and Archimedes[1][2][3] (see History of classical
mechanics and Timeline of classical mechanics). During the early modern period, scientists
such as Khayaam, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton, laid the foundation for what is now known
asclassical mechanics. It is a branch of classical physics that deals with particles that are
either at rest or are moving with velocities significantly less than the speed of light. It can
also be defined as a branch of science which deals with the motion of and forces on
objects.
Contents
[hide]

1Classical versus quantum mechanics

2Relativistic versus Newtonian mechanics

3General relativistic versus quantum

4History
o

4.1Antiquity

4.2Medieval age

4.3Early modern age

4.4Modern age

5Types of mechanical bodies

6Sub-disciplines in mechanics
o

6.1Classical mechanics

6.2Quantum mechanics

7Professional organizations

8See also

9References

10Further reading

11External links

Classical versus quantum mechanics[edit]

Classical mechanics

Second law of motion

History
Timeline
Branches[hide]

Applied

Celestial

Continuum

Dynamics

Kinematics

Kinetics

Statics

Statistical
Fundamentals[show]
Formulations[show]
Core topics[show]
Rotation[show]
Scientists[show]

Quantum mechanics
Schrdinger equation

Introduction

Glossary
History
Background[hide]

Classical mechanics

Old quantum theory

Braket notation

Hamiltonian

Interference

Fundamentals[show]
Experiments[show]
Formulations[show]
Equations[show]
Interpretations[show]
Advanced topics[show]
Scientists[show]

Historically, classical mechanics came first, while quantum mechanics is a comparatively

recent invention. Classical mechanics originated with Isaac Newton's laws of
motion in Principia Mathematica; Quantum Mechanics was discovered in the early 20th
century. Both are commonly held to constitute the most certain knowledge that exists about
physical nature. Classical mechanics has especially often been viewed as a model for other
so-called exact sciences. Essential in this respect is the relentless use of mathematics in
theories, as well as the decisive role played by experiment in generating and testing them.
Quantum mechanics is of a wider scope, as it encompasses classical mechanics as a subdiscipline which applies under certain restricted circumstances. According to
the correspondence principle, there is no contradiction or conflict between the two subjects,
each simply pertains to specific situations. The correspondence principle states that the
behavior of systems described by quantum theories reproduces classical physics in the
limit of large quantum numbers. Quantum mechanics has superseded classical mechanics
at the foundational level and is indispensable for the explanation and prediction of
processes at molecular and (sub)atomic level. However, for macroscopic processes
classical mechanics is able to solve problems which are unmanageably difficult in quantum
mechanics and hence remains useful and well used. Modern descriptions of such behavior
begin with a careful definition of such quantities as displacement (distance moved), time,
velocity, acceleration, mass, and force. Until about 400 years ago, however, motion was
explained from a very different point of view. For example, following the ideas of Greek
philosopher and scientist Aristotle, scientists reasoned that a cannonball falls down
because its natural position is in the Earth; the sun, the moon, and the stars travel in circles
around the earth because it is the nature of heavenly objects to travel in perfect circles.
The father of science Galileo brought together the ideas of other great thinkers of his time
and began to analyze motion in terms of distance traveled from some starting position and
the time that it took. He showed that the speed of falling objects increases steadily during
the time of their fall. This acceleration is the same for heavy objects as for light ones,
provided air friction (air resistance) is discounted. The English mathematician and physicist
Isaac Newton improved this analysis by defining force and mass and relating these to
acceleration. For objects traveling at speeds close to the speed of light, Newtons laws
were superseded by Albert Einsteins theory of relativity. For atomic and subatomic
particles, Newtons laws were superseded by quantum theory. For everyday phenomena,
however, Newtons three laws of motion remain the cornerstone of dynamics, which is the
study of what causes motion.

Relativistic versus Newtonian mechanics[edit]

In analogy to the distinction between quantum and classical

mechanics, Einstein's general and special theories of relativity have expanded the scope
of Newton and Galileo's formulation of mechanics. The differences between relativistic and
Newtonian mechanics become significant and even dominant as the velocity of a massive
body approaches the speed of light. For instance, in Newtonian mechanics, Newton's laws
of motion specify that F = ma, whereas in Relativistic mechanics and Lorentz
transformations, which were first discovered by Hendrik Lorentz, F = ma (where is
the Lorentz factor, which is almost equal to 1 for low speeds).

General relativistic versus quantum[edit]

Relativistic corrections are also needed for quantum mechanics, although general relativity
has not been integrated. The two theories remain incompatible, a hurdle which must be
overcome in developing a theory of everything.

History[edit]
Main articles: History of classical mechanics and History of quantum mechanics

Antiquity[edit]
Main article: Aristotelian mechanics
The main theory of mechanics in antiquity was Aristotelian mechanics.[4] A later developer in
this tradition is Hipparchus.[5]

Medieval age[edit]
Main article: Theory of impetus

Arabic Machine Manuscript. Unknown date (at a guess: 16th to 19th centuries).

In the Middle Ages, Aristotle's theories were criticized and modified by a number of figures,
beginning with John Philoponus in the 6th century. A central problem was that of projectile
motion, which was discussed by Hipparchus and Philoponus. This led to the development
of the theory of impetus by 14th-century French priest Jean Buridan, which developed into
the modern theories of inertia, velocity, acceleration and momentum. This work and others
was developed in 14th-century England by the Oxford Calculators such as Thomas
Bradwardine, who studied and formulated various laws regarding falling bodies.
On the question of a body subject to a constant (uniform) force, the 12th-century JewishArab Nathanel (Iraqi, of Baghdad) stated that constant force imparts constant acceleration,
while the main properties are uniformly accelerated motion (as of falling bodies) was
worked out by the 14th-century Oxford Calculators.

Early modern age[edit]

Two central figures in the early modern age are Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. Galileo's
final statement of his mechanics, particularly of falling bodies, is his Two New
Sciences (1638). Newton's 1687 Philosophi Naturalis Principia Mathematica provided a
detailed mathematical account of mechanics, using the newly developed mathematics
of calculus and providing the basis of Newtonian mechanics.[5]
There is some dispute over priority of various ideas: Newton's Principia is certainly the
seminal work and has been tremendously influential, and the systematic mathematics
therein did not and could not have been stated earlier because calculus had not been
developed. However, many of the ideas, particularly as pertain to inertia (impetus) and
falling bodies had been developed and stated by earlier researchers, both the then-recent
Galileo and the less-known medieval predecessors. Precise credit is at times difficult or
contentious because scientific language and standards of proof changed, so whether
medieval statements are equivalent to modern statements or sufficientproof, or
instead similar to modern statements and hypotheses is often debatable.

Modern age[edit]
Two main modern developments in mechanics are general relativity of Einstein,
and quantum mechanics, both developed in the 20th century based in part on earlier 19thcentury ideas. The development in the modern continuum mechanics, particularly in the
areas of elasticity, plasticity, fluid dynamics, electrodynamics and thermodynamics of
deformable media, started in the second half of the 20th century.

Types of mechanical bodies[edit]

The often-used term body needs to stand for a wide assortment of objects, including
particles, projectiles, spacecraft, stars, parts of machinery, parts of solids, parts
of fluids (gases and liquids), etc.
Other distinctions between the various sub-disciplines of mechanics, concern the nature of
the bodies being described. Particles are bodies with little (known) internal structure,
treated as mathematical points in classical mechanics. Rigid bodies have size and shape,
but retain a simplicity close to that of the particle, adding just a few so-called degrees of
freedom, such as orientation in space.
Otherwise, bodies may be semi-rigid, i.e. elastic, or non-rigid, i.e. fluid. These subjects
have both classical and quantum divisions of study.
For instance, the motion of a spacecraft, regarding its orbit and attitude (rotation), is
described by the relativistic theory of classical mechanics, while the analogous movements
of an atomic nucleus are described by quantum mechanics.

Sub-disciplines in mechanics[edit]
The following are two lists of various subjects that are studied in mechanics.
Note that there is also the "theory of fields" which constitutes a separate discipline in
physics, formally treated as distinct from mechanics, whether classical fields or quantum
fields. But in actual practice, subjects belonging to mechanics and fields are closely
interwoven. Thus, for instance, forces that act on particles are frequently derived from fields
(electromagnetic or gravitational), and particles generate fields by acting as sources. In
fact, in quantum mechanics, particles themselves are fields, as described theoretically by
the wave function.

Classical mechanics[edit]

Prof. Walter Lewin explainsNewton's law of gravitation in MIT course 8.01[6]

The following are described as forming classical mechanics:

Newtonian mechanics, the original theory of motion (kinematics) and forces

(dynamics).

Analytical mechanics is a reformulation of Newtonian mechanics with an emphasis

on system energy, rather than on forces. There are two main branches of analytical
mechanics:

Hamiltonian mechanics, a theoretical formalism, based on the principle of

conservation of energy.

Lagrangian mechanics, another theoretical formalism, based on the

principle of the least action.

Classical statistical mechanics generalizes ordinary classical mechanics to consider

systems in an unknown state; often used to derive thermodynamic properties.

Celestial mechanics, the motion of bodies in space: planets, comets,

stars, galaxies, etc.

Astrodynamics, spacecraft navigation, etc.

Solid mechanics, elasticity, the properties of deformable bodies.

Fracture mechanics

Acoustics, sound ( = density variation propagation) in solids, fluids and gases.

Statics, semi-rigid bodies in mechanical equilibrium

Fluid mechanics, the motion of fluids

Soil mechanics, mechanical behavior of soils

Continuum mechanics, mechanics of continua (both solid and fluid)

Hydraulics, mechanical properties of liquids

Fluid statics, liquids in equilibrium

Applied mechanics, or Engineering mechanics

Biomechanics, solids, fluids, etc. in biology

Biophysics, physical processes in living organisms

Relativistic or Einsteinian mechanics, universal gravitation.

Quantum mechanics[edit]
The following are categorized as being part of quantum mechanics:

Schrdinger wave mechanics, used to describe the motion of the wavefunction of a

single particle.

Matrix mechanics is an alternative formulation that allows considering systems with

a finite-dimensional state space.

Quantum statistical mechanics generalizes ordinary quantum mechanics to

consider systems in an unknown state; often used to derive thermodynamic properties.

Particle physics, the motion, structure, and reactions of particles

Nuclear physics, the motion, structure, and reactions of nuclei

Condensed matter physics, quantum gases, solids, liquids, etc.

Professional organizations[edit]

Applied Mechanics Division, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Fluid Dynamics Division, American Physical Society

Society for Experimental Mechanics

Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the United Kingdom's qualifying body for

Mechanical Engineers and has been the home of Mechanical Engineers for over 150
years.
International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

See also[edit]

Applied mechanics

Dynamics

Engineering

Index of engineering science and mechanics articles

Kinematics

Kinetics

Non-autonomous mechanics

Statics

Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ Dugas, Rene. A History of Classical Mechanics. New York, NY: Dover
Publications Inc, 1988, pg 19.

2.

Jump up^ Rana, N.C., and Joag, P.S. Classical Mechanics. West Petal Nagar, New
Delhi. Tata McGraw-Hill, 1991, pg 6.

3.

Jump up^ Renn, J., Damerow, P., and McLaughlin, P. Aristotle, Archimedes, Euclid,
and the Origin of Mechanics: The Perspective of Historical Epistemology. Berlin: Max
Planck Institute for the History of Science, 2010, pg 1-2.

4.

Jump up^ "A history of mechanics". Ren Dugas (1988). p.19. ISBN 0-486-656322

5.

^ Jump up to:a b "A Tiny Taste of the History of Mechanics". The University of Texas
at Austin.

6.

Jump up^ Walter Lewin (October 4, 1999). Work, Energy, and Universal
Gravitation. MIT Course 8.01: Classical Mechanics, Lecture 11. (ogg) (videotape).
Cambridge, MA US: MIT OCW. Event occurs at 1:21-10:10. Retrieved December 23, 2010.