Mechanics

[1.0] Newton's Three Laws Of Motion

The most fundamental concepts in physics were derived by the great English scientist Isaac Newton in the 17th century, in the form of what are now known as Newton's three laws of motion. These three simple principles underlie all modern physics. This chapter provides an introduction to these laws.

• [1.1] COORDINATE SYSTEMS, DISPLACEMENT, VELOCITY, & ACCELERATION
  
• [1.2] GALILEAN RELATIVITY / NEWTON'S THREE LAWS OF MOTION
  
• [1.3] THE FIRST & SECOND LAW / WORK & ENERGY
  
• [1.4] THE THIRD LAW / MOMENTUM IN ACTION
  
• [1.5] ELEMENTARY MECHANICS AND MACHINES / DRAG & FRICTION
  
• [1.6] A BROADER VIEW: FORCES AND FIELDS
  
• [1.7] FOOTNOTE: EXPONENTIAL NOTATION & METRIC PREFIXES
  

[2.0] Rotational Motion

The previous chapter focused mostly on motion in a straight line. The same principles apply to rotational motion, but end up being reinterpreted in some unusual ways. This chapter provides a short study of the physics of rotational motion.

• [2.1] ROTATIONAL MOTION / ANGULAR VELOCITY
  
• [2.2] FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES / CENTER OF MASS
  
• [2.3] TORQUE, MOMENT OF INERTIA, & THE SECOND LAW OF MOTION
  
• [2.4] MOMENT OF INERTIA IN DETAIL
  
• [2.5] THIRD LAW OF MOTION / WORK & ENERGY
  
• [2.6] CENTRIPEDAL & CENTRIFUGAL FORCE
  
• [2.7] CONSERVATION OF ANGULAR MOMENTUM
  

[3.0] Gravity & Orbital Mechanics

The most elegant and simple way to observe the action of gravity is to show how it defines the movements of objects in space. In fact, it was studies of the orbits of the planets that led Isaac Newton to devise his formula for gravity in the first place. This chapter gives a short introduction to "orbital mechanics".

• [3.1] ELEMENTARY ORBITAL MECHANICS
  
• [3.2] SATELLITE ORBITS
  
• [3.3] INTERPLANETARY SPACECRAFT TRANSFER ORBITS
  
• [3.4] GRAVITY ASSIST TRAJECTORIES
  
• [3.5] GRAVITY AND PLANETS / TIDES
  
• [3.6] GRAVITY IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM / LIBRATION POINTS / STELLAR MASSES
  
• [3.7] LIBRATION POINTS, HALO ORBITS, & MANIFOLDS
  
• [3.8] FOOTNOTE: LARRY NIVEN'S INTEGRAL TREES
  

From Vectorsite.net.