Classical Mechanics

Classical mechanics studies the motion of macroscopic bodies. It is the

backbone of modern physics because it furnishes the basic conceptual
framework of nearly all of physics.
Classical mechanics has since been reformulated in a few different forms: the
Lagrange, the Hamilton, the Poisson brackets, and the Hamilton–Jacobi
formalisms.
Mechanics:
It is defined as the behavior of the particle or body under any forces or effects,
& the subsequent effects of the body on their environment.
OR
It is the area of science concerned with the behavior of physical bodies when
subjected to forces.
Classification:
Mechanics is divided into two (02) categories on the basis of motion.
 Statics (deals with objects at rest)
 Dynamics (deals with objects at motion)
The dynamics is further sub divided as Kinetics & Kinematics.
Kinematics:
It deals with the study of motion without considering its causes.
For example: linear motion & projectile motion.
Kinetics:
It deals with the study of motion by taking forces into consideration.
For example: Combustion & Catalysis.
Sub-Classification:

 Classical Mechanics
It is the foundation of Physics. It describes the motion of macroscopic
objects from projectiles to parts of machinery, Spacecraft Galaxies etc.
At early stage of its development it was referred as ‘’Newtonian Mechanics’’ &
later on it was reformulated as ‘’Lagrangian Mechanics’’ & ‘’Hamiltonian
Mechanics’’
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  Quantum Mechanics
It is the fundament theory which describes the nature of the smallest
scales of energy levels of atoms & subatomic particles.
At early stage of its development it was referred as ‘’Newtonian Mechanics’’ &
later on it was reformulated as ‘’Lagrangian Mechanics’’ & ‘’Hamiltonian
Mechanics’’
Note: Classical Mechanics came 1st, originated with Newton’s Laws of motion
While Quantum Mechanics is a recoat invention.
The Mechanical System:
System of particles or bodies observing some kind of motion or treated at rest.
Particle:
A body with no physical dimensions implying that the entire mass of the
particle is concentrated at one (01) point.
Motion:
Motion is the action of changing location or position.
A free motion of a body is called unconstrained motion & if there is some
restriction on the body is confined to some space, it is called constraint motion.

Degree of freedom:
A moving particle in space requires three (03) independent coordinates to
specify its location in space, & then we can that the particle has three degree of
freedom. But if motion of particle is not free, it is subjected to some constraints
(restrictions), then the degree of freedom is reduced.

Example: A particle moving on table-top has one constraint (in the term of the
equation z=0) so degree of freedom is two 2. Also a particle moving on a Surface
S=f(x ,y ,z)=0 has two 2 degree of freedom because coordinates are not
independent to each other as Z can always be expressed in terms of x & y.

No. of degree of freedom = no. of Coordinates - Constraints

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Degree of freedom (Mechanical system):
If configuration of a system of N particles requires 3N coordinates, & if there are
l independent equations of constraint relating these coordinates, then there are
(3N-l) degree of freedom.

Example: Suppose three particles are connected by rigid rods to form a

triangular body with the particles at corners. The configuration here is specified
by giving the location of three particles by 9 coordinates. But each rigid rod is
represented mathematically by an independent equation of constraint.
So, 3N-l = 3(3)-3 = 9-3 = 6
So system has six 6 degree of freedom. The triangular body is a rigid body so a
rigid body has a six 6 degrees of freedom.

Generalized coordinates:
Any set of coordinates which gives an unambiguous representation
(complete description) of the configuration of the system are called
generalized coordinates. They are denoted by q1, q2, q3, q4, ……………,qn.
These are related to other physical coordinates by,
x1 = x1 (q1, q2, q3, q4, ……………, qn, t)
x2 = x2 (q1, q2, q3, q4, ……………, qn, t)
. .
. .
X3N = x3N (q1, q2, q3, q4, ……………, qn, t)

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