MECHANICS

Mechanics is one of the main branches of physics which deals

with the study and behavior of physical bodies when subjected
to different types of forces or displacement, and the
subsequent effect of bodies on the environment.

Types of mechanics
There are two main types of mechanics:

 Classical mechanics
 Quantum mechanics

Classical mechanics deals with the study of macroscopic objects while quantum
mechanics deals with the study of microscopic objects.

Types of classical mechanics

Classical mechanics further divided into three types these are:

 Kinematics
 Statics
 Dynamics

1.KINEMATIC: Kinematics is the study of motion of a system of bodies without

directly considering the forces or potential fields affecting the motion. In other
words, kinematics examines how the momentum and energy are shared among
interacting bodies.

Examples of kinematics
 The movement of a car in a straight line (constant velocity motion)
  Somebody skydiving (Free fall)
 An apple that falls from a tree (free falls
 A rocket flying towards space (vertical motion)
 A plane flying (uniform accelerated motion)
 A 3 shot points in basketball (projectile motion)

2. STATICS :in physics, is the subdivision of mechanics that is concerned with the
forces that act on bodies at rest under equilibrium conditions.

The branch of physics that deals with physical systems in equilibrium, in which
no bodies are in motion, and all forces are offset or counterbalanced by other
forces.

Static Force Examples in Everyday Life

 Weight of a Body.
 Car Resting on a Bridge.
 Pushing a Heavy Block.
 A Portrait Hung on the Wall.
 Ship Floating on Water Surface.
 An Object Placed on a High Surface.
 A Person Standing on the Ground.
 Pushing a Wall.

3.DYNAMICS: is the branch of classical mechanics that is concerned with the

study of forces and their effects on motion. Isaac Newton was the first to
formulate the fundamental physical laws that govern dynamics in classical non-
relativistic physics, especially his second law of motion.

PHYSICAL QUANTITY
A physical quantity is a physical property of a material or system that can be
quantified by measurement. A physical quantity can be expressed as a value,
which is the algebraic multiplication of a ' Numerical value ' and a ' Unit '. For
example, the physical quantity of mass can be quantified as ' N kg ', where ' N '
is the numerical value and ' kg ' is the Unit.

A physical quantity possesses atlease two characteristics, these are ;

1. Magnitude
2. Unit

physical quantities are classified in to two classes , these are ;

1. Fundamental quantities and ;

2. Derived quantities

1. FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES : are the basic quantiies that are independent of

others and cannot be defined interms of other quantities or derived from them.
They are the basic quantities upon wihich most (though not all) depend.

FUNDAMENTAL UNITS : are the basic units upon which other units depend.
They are the units of the fundamental quantities.

Examples of fundamental quantities and their units are as in the table below

Fundamental quantities and units

DERIVED QUANTITIES ANG UNITS

Deroved Quantities and Units : are those obtained by some simple combination
of the the fundamental quantities and units . They are thus dependent on the
fundamental quantities and units. Examples of derived quantities, their
derivation and their units are in the table below.
DIMENSION
Dimensions are the powers to which the fundamental quantities are raised to
represent other physical quantities. Dimensional Formula is an expression in
which dimensions of a physical quantity are represented in terms of
fundamental quantities.

USES OF DIMENSION
We make use of dimensional analysis for three prominent reasons:

 To check the consistency of a dimensional equation.

 To derive the relation between physical quantities in physical
phenomena.
 To change units from one system to another.

worked example (1)

Find the dimension in electrical system of the following:

a) Electric charge
b) Electrical potential (voltage)
c) Capacitance (C)

worked example (2)

Find the dimension of the following physical quantities

1. Momentum
2. Impulse
3. Inertia
4. Gravitational constant
5. Density

worked example (3)

A small mass is suspended from a long thread so as to form a simple pendulum.

The period, T of the oscillations depends on the mass M, the length L of the
thread and acceleration due to gravity, g of free-fall at the place concerned.

T = KmxLygz

Where x, y, z are unknown and k = -2^

1. Find the values of x, y and z

2. Hence, derive an expression relating T, M L and g.

worked example (4)

A wave is set up in a stretched string by plucking it. The velocity , V of the wave
depends on the tension , T, in the string, its length , L, and its mass, M.

V = K TxLy My

where x, y z are unknown and K = 1

I. Find the values x,y and z

II. Hence derive an expression relating , V, T, L and M.

worked example (5)

Using the method of dimension, to derive an expression for the velocity of

sound wave (V) through a medium. Assume that the velocity depends on:

I. Modulus of elasticity E of the medium

II. The density of the medium P take the constant K = 1.

POSITION , DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT

The Concept of Position
The position of an object is its location in space. It is usually expressed in
relation to a reference point. To locate an object in space, a co-ordinate system
is needed. It is usually a mathematical construct with co- ordinates.

DISTANCE
In one way or the other humans move from one place to the other, this form of
movement is also applicable to any sort of object. Today we will be discussing
the definition, formula, differences, and examples of distance and displacement.

What is Distance?

Distance is the total movement of an object without any regard to direction. We

can define distance as to how much ground an object has covered despite its
starting or ending point.It is measured in metre and is a scalar quantity.

Distance = speed × time

What is the Distance Formula

As discussed earlier the distance formula is the combination of distance, speed,

and time. Also, we can find any one of them by interchanging the formula if two
figures are known. Besides, this can be understood in a better sense by seeing it
in formula form.

For speed

Speed = distancetime

s = dt

For time

Time = distancespeed

t = ds

For distance

Distance = speed × time

d=s×t

Derivation of all the Formulas

d = refers to the distance traveled by body or object in meters (m)

s = refers to the speed of the object or body in meter per second (m/s)

t = refers to the time consumed by object or body to cover the distance in

seconds (s)

Solved Example on Distance Formula

Example 1

Suppose a dog runs from one end of the street to another end of the street and
the street is 80.0 meters across. Moreover, the takes 16.0 seconds to cross
reach the end of the street. Now, calculate the speed of the dog?
Solution:

As we discussed earlier the distance formula can be interchanged to find the

speed of the body or object.

So, the distance and time is present in the question that is 80.0 m and 16.0 s
respectively. Now, put these values in the question

Speed = distancetime

Speed = dt

S = 80.0m16.0s

S = 5.0 m/s

So, the speed of the dog will be 5 m/s.

Example 2

Now, in another situation, a golf cart driver is driving the golf cart that has a
maximum speed of 27.0 km/h. Furthermore, the driver drives the car for 10.0
minutes. So, calculate the distance covered by the golf cart with its top speed in
10.0 minutes?

Solution:

For solving this problem first of all we need to convert the speed from km/h to
m/s and time from minutes to seconds.

Calculating speed

s = 27.0 km/h

s = 27.0 ×kmh × 1000m1km × 1h60min × 1min60s

So, s = 7.50 m/s

Calculating time
t = 10.0 min

t = 10.0 min × 60s1min

So, t = 600 s

Now, we have the speed and time of the golf cart in m/s and s respectively.
Hence, we put the values in the distance formula to calculate the distance
covered by the cart.

d=s×t

d = (7.50 m/s) (600 s)

d = 7.50 × 600

d = 4500 m

So, the golf cart will cover a distance of 4500 m in 10 minutes at the speed of 27
km/h.

Or we can say that it will cover a distance of 4.5 km in 10 minutes.

DISPLACEMENT

What is a displacement ?

Displacement : is defined as distance travelled in a specified direction.

It is a change in the position of an object . It requires distance and direction to

specify it.

Displacement is a vector quantity which refers to how far out of place an object
is, it is the object’s overall change in the position.

Solved Examples

Q.1: What will be the displacement of a relay race team if they begin at the
school, run 16 km and finish back at the school?
Solution: The displacement of the runners will be 0 km. While they have
covered a distance of 16 km miles, they are not displaced at all. They finish from
where they have started. Therefore, round-trip motions always have a
displacement of zero.

Q.2: A man travels 250 km to North but then back-tracks to South for 105 km,
to pick up a friend. What is his total displacement?

Answer: Starting position,

si = 0.

His final position sf is the distance traveled North minus the distance traveled
South.

Calculating displacement,

s=sf–si

d = (250 km in North – 105 km in south) – 0

d = 145 km towards North.

Therefore the displacement will be 145 km towards North.

MOTION

Motion involves a change of position of a body with time . it also involves how
things move and what makes them to move . Kinematics is the description of
how objects move without regard to forces causing their motion, and dynamics
deals with why object move as they do.

There are four types of motion as mentioned below ;

1. Random motion
2. Transilational motion
3. Rotational motion
4. Oscillatory ( or vibratory) motion
1. Random motion : objects move irregularly or at random or haphazardly or
disorderly with no preferred direction or orientation. As a result of such random
movement , the particles collide with one Another . An example of such motion
is the Brownian motion - an irregular motion of particles of various kinds
suspended in water , or of smoke particles suspended in air , or the motion of
gas particles.

2. Transilational motion : when rigid objects move from one point in space to
another without rotating , the motion is said to be translational. Each part of an
object undersgoing pure translational motion follows the same path.

Translational motion definition

Translational motion is the motion in which all points of a moving body move
uniformly in the same line or direction. If an object is executing translational
motion then there is no change in its orientation relative to a fixed point. For
example, a train moving in its track, a man walking on the road, birds flying in
the sky, etc.

What is translational motion?

When a body is shifted or moved from one point to another point, then the
body said to be experienced translational motion. It is the motion in which all
points of a moving body move uniformly in the same line or direction. If an
object is executing translational motion then there is no change in its
orientation relative to a fixed point

So,

If the object moves such that all the particles in the object move parallel to each
other then the motion is called pure translational motion.

In this type of motion, all points of the body have velocities and accelerations
that are the same in magnitude and direction at every instant of time. All points
describe identical trajectories. By this, we mean that trajectories would
coincident when they are placed one above the other. Basically, the orientation
of the body remains fixed relative to a fixed axis.

Also from the definition of translatory motion for an object to execute

Translational motion, there is no change in its orientation relative to a fixed
point and all points of a moving body move uniformly in the same line or
direction. This is not the case when rotational motion is involved. In the case of
rotational motion,

the object turns about an axis and change of orientation takes place. One
example of rotational motion is the rotation of earth along its own axis.

Also in case of rotational motion object travels an increase of angle with the
change or increase in time. For a rotating body, if the increment in angle is
small, we can consider the curve to be an arc on a circle at any point in time.
The arc length depends on increment in angle and the radius of rotation, which
is the distance between the object’s center of mass and the axis of rotation. So,
points at different distances from the axis of rotation have different arc lengths
for the same angle of rotation.

In rotational motion, we describe motion in terms of angular velocity, angular

acceleration, etc.
Types of translational motion

Translational motion can be two types.

Rectilinear motion

Curvilinear motion

1. Rectilinear motion

The body is moving in a straight line. Example. A ball falling from the cliff, A
bullet fired from the gun It could be both uniform and non-uniform motion.

In the figure shown below, a cart is moving from point A to point B. It is moving
along a straight line (along the x-axis) with some velocity Now,this

Case,

motion is Rectilinear motion because the cart is moving in a straight line and

the motion is translatory motion or translational motion because all the

particles (or parts) in the cart move parallel to each other. Furthermore,

there is no change in the orientation of the car

Transnational motion (type rectilinear)

Please note that we are considering the net linear motion of cart frompoint A to
point B

. We are not considering the motion its wheels are making in order to reach
from point A to point B

. Wheels of cart exhibit rolling motion which includes both translational and
rotational motion.

What is the difference between linear and translational motion?

Answer:- Linear motion (or rectilinear motion) means moving in a straight line.
Translatory motion or translational motion occurs when all points in a body
move the same distance in the same amount of time. The translatory motion
does not always require that the object move in a straight line. We can use the
term translational motion when the object is moving in 2- or 3-dimensional
bodies. As stated earlier linear motion is a type of translational motion and is
strictly a one-dimensional motion along a straight line.

2. Curvilinear motion

This is the motion when the body in a curved path. It is also motion in two-three
dimensions. So pure translational motion does not always have to be in a
straight line. This scenario is viable if an object moves in a curved path without
changing its orientation.

Example. Projectile motion

Transnatiory motion (type curvilinear)

Ball moving in a parabolic path.

Here from the figure, you can see that the ball in question is launched from
point O and it reaches point C traveling through points A andB

. This type of motion is called projectile motion. Projectile motion is curvilinear

in nature. Here ball is moving in a curved path instead of a straight line in order
to move from point O to point C.

Please note that if this ball starts to spin as in the case of a cricket ball then
motion here would no longer be translational because now the ball is executing
a complex kind of motion where it is moving from one point to another
(translation) along with a spin along its own axis (rotation)

Now if the motion of the body is such that particles do not move parallel to each
other, then it is said to general motion the motion we generally encounter in
our day-to-day life. This motion can be thought of as translational motion of the
center of the body and rotational motion of the body around the center of
mass.

For example in the example given below, we mark an observation point (red dot
in this case) at position O

. Now if we try to rotate this wheel on the floor by 450

then the wheel covers a linear distance equal to the length of arc A

and it also has rotated along its axis by 45O.

Such kind of example can be seen when a cyclist moves forward in his bicycle
where the wheels of the bicycle have both translational and rotational motion.
Here particles are not moving parallel to each other they are moving forward
along with the change in their axis.

translational motion

Translatory motion examples

Few examples of translational motion or translatory motion are

Man walking

Car or bus moving.

Boat sailing in the sea.

Cat walking.

A stone falling straight towards the surface of the earth

A coin moving over a carom board.

ROTATIONAL MOTION
ROTATIONAL MOTION:

When an object rotates or spins about its axis, it is said to be exhibiting rotatory
motion. Some examples of rotary or rotatory motion include the motion of a
spinning top, rotation of the earth and other planets, movement of hands of a
clock, etc.
Rotational motion Examples

We see rotational motion examples in our daily life. Some of the examples of rotational
motion are

Rotation of earth about its own axis create the cycle of day and night.

Motion of wheel, gears, motors, etc is rotational motion.

Motion of the blades of the helicopter is also rotatory motion.

A door, swiveling on its hinges as you open or close it.

A spinning top, motion of a Ferris Wheal in an amusement park.

Oscillatory ( or vibratory ) motion
What is Oscillatory Motion?

When any object moves over a point repetitively then this type of motion of the
object is the Oscillatory Motion. In the complete vacuum, the ideal condition
can be approached as air will not be there to stop the object in oscillatory
motion friction.

In the mechanical world, the vibration of strings and movement of spring are
also come under oscillatory motion and are same as mechanical vibration. The
oscillatory motion should not be confused with periodic motion. Objects in the
periodic motions repeat its motion after a fixed duration or period of time
whereas, in the oscillatory motion, the objects repeat their movement over a
fixed position.

Types of Oscillatory Motion

There are two types of oscillatory motions, namely, Linear Oscillatory Motion
and Circular Oscillatory Motion.

In linear motion, the object moves left and right or up and down. Some
examples of this type of linear motion are as below:

The vibration of strings of the musical instruments,

Movement of the fluid in a U-tube column and

Floating of ships or big vessels in the sea.

In the circular motion, though the object moves left to right but in circular form.
Some examples of this type of motion are as below:

The motion of the solid sphere in a half hollow sphere

The motion of the pendulum in watch

A stringed object suspended on a nail

Motion of swing

The motion of a wheel.

SPEED, VELOCITY AND ACCELERATION

SPEED
in describing the motion of a body, we note both the distance and time it takes
to cover that distance. The rate at which a body covers a distance is called the
speed of the body. Thus

Speed = distance