2023/2024

The mechanics described here relate exclusively to the mechanics of the point(or Mechanics of Particle). In practice, it concerns material objects whose spatial extension is very small: their deformations and the energy linked to their own rotational movement can also be neglected in comparison with the energies involved. Relativistic mechanics is beyond the scope of this presentation and we will only consider motions whose speed is slower than that of light ("classical" mechanics). However, the fundamental principle of dynamics will be given in the relativistic context, since its expression is very simple based on momentum. and we will deduce from it the classically used relations that are Newton's laws. We will assume that a unique time can be defined at any point in space, and that lengths, masses, times and forces are invariant to a change of reference frame. The aim is to be able to relate the movement of a body to the forces applied to it. To do this, we need to relate the forces (the resultant external force) to the acceleration. This is the fundamental principle of dynamics. Next, we will learn how to relate acceleration to speed and position, mathematical operations known as kinematics.

The competency aimed at by this course is to be able to :

·         Discover the basic concepts of classical mechanics

·         Define the fundamentals of Newtonian physics.