Mechanics Definition and 999 Threads

Mechanics (Greek: μηχανική) is the area of physics concerned with the motions of physical objects, more specifically the relationships among force, matter, and motion. Forces applied to objects result in displacements, or changes of an object's position relative to its environment.
This branch of physics has its origins in Ancient Greece with the writings of Aristotle and Archimedes (see History of classical mechanics and Timeline of classical mechanics). During the early modern period, scientists such as Galileo, Kepler, and Newton laid the foundation for what is now known as classical 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 bodies not in the quantum realm. The field is today less widely understood in terms of quantum theory.

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  1. S Holtom

    B Celestial mechanics: Why is my planet orbiting faster and faster?

    I've tried to make a "naive" implementation of a planet orbiting a gravitational point source, in Processing (basically Java). Gravity is a constant, and adds to the planet's velocity inversely proportional to the square of distance. I start the planet off with a tangential velocity. I get an...
  2. H Ucar

    A Magnetic bound state in classical mechanics

    Seven years ago, I wanted to share and discuss my experiments results there but it was not possible since there was no published peer review paper yet and apparently not fulfilling forum requirements. Now we have such a publication, but still not sure the subject can be discussed here. Anyway...
  3. Physicsphysics

    I Understanding Classical Mechanics: Acceleration

    I'm reading once again through Landau-Lifchitz and I am stuck on the first page! I can't wrap my head around why we only need to define the coordinates and velocities to determine the acceleration? Surely if we only know those two in a single point in time, that's not enough to determine an...
  4. J

    I Black hole singularity vs. quantum mechanics

    I'm wondering about some aspects about black holes (BH) and singularities, but since all my questions have to do mostly with quantum mechanics, I placed this thread in here. OK, let's assume there IS a singularity in the middle of a BH. A) Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) says no two fermions...
  5. T

    What is a recommended textbook for solid mechanics?

    Summary: In need of a textbook on solid mechanics Hello, I was asked to teach a class in FE analysis (this is not the issue) for solid mechanics (and, specifically, plane stress and strain) The issue is that some students will be deficient in solid mechanics (long story, I will have the time...
  6. L

    Moment of inertia of a uniform square plate

    I placed my Oxy coordinate system at the center of the square, the ##x##-axis pointing rightwards and the ##y##-axis pointing upwards. I divided the square into thin vertical strips, each of height ##h=2(\frac{L}{\sqrt{2}}-x)##, base ##dx## and mass ##dm=\sigma h...
  7. D

    I "No objective reality" in quantum mechanics?

    As per title and the TL;DR, I'm curious if there could be some truth in these statements of the headlines I had read recently or are they just sensationalist fluff. Personally, I find these statements very hard to believe. In fact, impossible to believe. But I'm not a QM expert, not even an...
  8. L

    A spring, disk and pulley system

    (a) By setting up a coordinate system with the x-axis pointing to the right and the y-axis pointing downward we have ##\begin{cases}-kx_{eq}+T_1+F_{s}=0\\ -RF_{s}+rT_1=0\\ r_p (T_2-T_1)=0\\ -T_2+mg=0\end{cases}\Rightarrow x_{eq}=\frac{mg}{k}\left(1+\frac{r}{R}\right)## which coincides with the...
  9. A. Neumaier

    A Exploring the Limits of Quantum Mechanics: David Wallace's Manuscript (2022)

    David Wallace, The sky is blue, and other reasons quantum mechanics is not underdetermined by evidence, Manuscript (2022). arXiv:2205.00568. From the Abstract: ''I argue that there as yet no empirically successful generalization of'' [Bohmian Mechanics and dynamical-collapse theories like the...
  10. S

    A How does Bohmian Mechanics actually replicate QM?

    I was recently trying to understand how Bohmian Mechanics could model quantum theory. In an old lecture of Sidney Coleman's called "Quantum Theory with the Gloves off" available here: https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/ho/Coleman.pdf He shows with a "physicist's proof" that QM predicts truly...
  11. Graham87

    Quantum mechanics - finite square well

    In a) I get that T should be largest where V_0 is least wide, because when V_0 is infinitely wide the particle would be fully reflected. But I don't get how height in b) and energy levels height in c) correlates to T and R. Is it because of their k? I get the opposite answer from the correct...
  12. Graham87

    Quantum mechanics - infinite square well problem

    I have solved c), but don’t know how to solve the integral in d. It looks like an integral to get c_n (photo below), but I still can’t figure out what to make of c) in the integral of d). I also thought maybe you can rewrite c) into an initial wave function (photo below) with A,x,a but don’t...
  13. LCSphysicist

    Statistical mechanics and problem with integrals

    So we have a system of N non interacting particles, on a d-dimensional space, the system is in contact with a bath of temperature T. The hamiltonian is $$H = \sum_{l = 1}^{N} (A_{l}|p_{l}|^{s}+B_{l}|q_{l}|^{s})$$. What is the avarage energy? Now, i have some problems with statistical...
  14. A

    Engineering Need Advice on Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics Textbook

    I would like to buy a Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics for Engineer textbook. I have 2 options, they are: 1. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0133521702/?tag=pfamazon01-20 2. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0132788128/?tag=pfamazon01-20 Can someone please tell me which one of above Fluid Mechanics textbook...
  15. tomceka

    How does the accuracy of the clock change when the spring stretches?

    A longer pendulum swings slower. So changing the length l of the pendulum changes the period T, which affects the timekeeping accuracy. But the problem is talking about the body on the spring, not the string. So the second formula cannot be applied here directly and I don't know how to progress...
  16. bigmike94

    I Topics covered in John R Taylor Classical mechanics

    I can’t find the chapter list online, does anyone know what topics are covered in John Taylor’s classical mechanics? Would it be similar to what’s covered in Newtonian mechanics, but obviously more advanced. Cheers in advance 👍
  17. C

    Numerical Methods for Learning Orbital Mechanics

    I'm interested in learning orbital mechanics but I haven't taken a class in numerical methods yet. Do I really need to take a whole class in numerical methods before learning orbital mechanics, or can I get by if I self-learn a smaller portion of the syllabus of a numerical methods class? If so...
  18. ROOT0X57B

    How to Calculate the Braking Momentum on a Wheel?

    [Mentor Note -- thread moved from the technical forums to the schoolwork forums] I have a hollow-cylinder wheel model, braked with brake pads located at a distance d of the wheel's center axis. The brake pads have a contact area S. They are also forced towards the wheel with a pressure p. The...
  19. gremory

    A Power series in quantum mechanics

    Just earlier today i was practicing solving some ODEs with the power series method and when i did it to the infinite square well i noticed that my final answer for ##\psi(x)## wouldn't give me the quantised energies. My solution was $$\psi(x) = \sum^{\infty}_{n=0} k^{2n}(\cos(x) + \sin(x))$$...
  20. Lynch101

    B Statistical Independence in Quantum Mechanics

    Very basic question here, about statistical independence in quantum mechanical experiments. The quote from PD below is what prompted the question. When we talk about "some kind of pre-existing correlation" are talking about a simple correlation in the sense of the correlation of sunglasses and...
  21. bigmike94

    Need to cut back on the time I spend self-studying each Intro Mechanics chapter

    These are all the chapters for introductory mechanics in my textbook. What I have been doing is reading the chapter then following it up with watching a tonne of lectures and worked examples on that topic and attempting to do the problems. I’m on Applying Newton’s laws and I’ve been studying it...
  22. A

    I Rigid body mechanics and coordinate frames

    Hello all, I have some issues understanding the inertial-frame (or global-frame, G-frame) versus the body-frame (B-frame) when it comes to simulating the motion of a rigid body in 2 dimensions (planar body mechanics) in a system of ODEs. I have been self-learning from textbooks on simulating...
  23. newbie1127

    Engineering Moments problem -- One point load is given on a table

    I have tried solving this by splitting the load into two parallel coplaner loads as the Hint below the question suggests but while i was computing the values i realized that, i'll have 4 variables with only 3 equations. two forces and the two distances to forces from their respective axes. i've...
  24. J

    Fluid mechanics concept help please -- Pressure versus depth

    v
  25. Pipsqueakalchemist

    Mechanics of machine force analysis with analytical method

    So I was looking at this example problem in my textbook and I don’t understand how they got -168.1 degrees. The part I’m confused with is the first part of the 2nd picture, there’s a coma in the inverse tan, I don’t know what that means.
  26. P

    A Position basis in Quantum Mechanics

    Can I conceive a countable position basis in Quantum Mechanics? How can I talk about the position basis in the separable Hilbert space?
  27. D

    A classical mechanics problem involve rotating

    I came up with these: (especially not sure if second is right)
  28. N

    A-level Maths Mechanics: Prevent Block from Sliding Down Inclined Plane

    The best I could do was draw a forces diagram. I know that friction would be working up when the block is on the point of slipping down the plane and friction will be acting down the slope against the direction of motion when the block is on the point of slipping up the slope. (not even sure if...
  29. A

    A An ab initio Hilbert space formulation of Lagrangian mechanics

    I want to share my recent results on the foundation of classical mechanics. Te abstract readWe construct an operational formulation of classical mechanics without presupposing previous results from analytical mechanics. In doing so, several concepts from analytical mechanics will be rediscovered...
  30. mohamed_a

    I Classical analogy approach to quantum mechanics

    I have read about several approcahes to bypass some classical restrictions to quantum facts such as the electron being in a torus-like shape to avoid ,the greater than speed of light, rotation paradox . Could you recommend websites , sources or books that give good classical analogy to quantum...
  31. G

    What mistake did I make in finding the reaction at hinge A?

    A very simple (I thought!) question: I'm just looking at the first part, finding the reaction at the hinge A. Here is my annotated diagram, with the reaction and A resolved into it's X and Y components, the force at E labelled as Fe and the length of ED labelled as L. Considering the body...
  32. K

    I Particle on a sphere problem in quantum mechanics and its solution

    To solve a particle on a sphere problem in quantum mechanics we get the below equation :##\left[\frac{1}{\sin \theta} \frac{d}{d \theta}\left(\sin \theta \frac{d}{d \theta}\right)-\frac{m^{2}}{\sin ^{2} \theta}\right] \Theta(\theta)=-A \Theta(\theta) ## To solve this differential equation, we...
  33. Franklie001

    Engineering Fluid mechanics question and the Bernoulli Equation

    Good afternoon, I am struggling to find the solution at Q2 and Q3. For Q2 the absolute pressure at point 1 is at the bottom of the tank, so do i need to use the formula P=Patm+qgh ? If using this formula I've got a bigger number than 100Pa. Same issue for Q3, isn't the pressure at point 2...
  34. N

    A Derivation of Statistical Mechanics

    Moderator's note: Spin-off from previous thread due to topic change. Because it doesn't work. Bohmian time evolution doesn't involve the coarse graining steps that are used in his calculation. A delta distribution remains a delta distribution at all times and does not decay into ##|\Psi|^2##.
  35. Salmone

    I Inner products with spherical harmonics in quantum mechanics

    Let ##|l,m\rangle## be a simultaneous eigenstate of operators ##L^2## and ##L_z## and we want to calculate ##\langle l,m|cos(\theta)|l,m'\rangle## where ##\theta## is the angle ##[0,\pi]##. It is true that in general ##\langle l,m|cos(\theta)|l,m'\rangle=0## ##(1)## for the same ##l## even if...
  36. F

    Pulling down on the string connected to a whirling block on a table

    At the time of release, the equation of motion of blocks A and B T-m_ag = m_aa and T=m_b\omega^2R respectively, where T is the tension in the string. Solving for the acceleration a then gives a=\frac{m_b\omega^2R - m_ag}{m_a}. Not sure what I did wrong or what incorrect assumptions I made...
  37. L

    Pulley system to balance the weight of a person

    Since we are dealing with an ideal rope, we have that ##T_1=T_2=T_3=F and T_2+T_3=2F=(m+m_p)g\Leftrightarrow F=\frac{m+m_p}{2}g.## ##T_4=3F+(m+m_p+M_p)g=\frac{3}{2}(m+m_p)g+(m+m_p+M_p)g=(\frac{5}{2}m+\frac{5}{2}m_p+M_p)g## and ##T_5=mg-2F.## Is this correct? If not, I woould appreciate a brief...
  38. M

    Mechanics of Materials — Torsional Stress on a Spinning Shaft

    Summary:: Torsional stress on freely spinning shaft? Hey guys, I’m having some confusion with a certain section of the “Torsion” chapter in my mechanics of materials book: “power transmission”. Please see the problem below. This is very easy to SOLVE (basically plug and chug with the...
  39. S

    Quantum 'Quantum mechanics the theoretical minimum' book

    I want to know about the book 'quantum mechanics: the theoretical minimum' book by Leonard Susskind. Is it a book worth buying
  40. T

    I Kleppner Classical mechanics: Question about stability (p.217)

    I have a question understanding the reasoning in the book. The book says in one dimension F=-dU/dr(p.185). From this, the system is stable at distance a when U'(a)=0 and U''(a)>0 where U is differentiated with respect to r.(p.217) My question arises from the instance of a pendulum where a...
  41. N

    Mechanics of materials - shear flow in built up members

    Hello! I am new to mechanics of materials and I am very confused about the problem below. So the shear formula is: tau = VQ/It From the book (Hibbeler) I understand that Q is "y'A', where A' is the cross-sectional area of the segment that is connected to the beam at the juncture where the...
  42. thedubdude

    B Special Relativity violation via Quantum Mechanics?

    We know that both momentum and position can not be known precisely simultaneously. The more precisely momentum is known means position is more uncertain. In fact, as I understand quantum mechanics, position probability never extends to 0% anywhere in the universe (except at infinity) for any...
  43. S

    Classical Textbooks of celestial mechanics

    Hi I'm reading classical mechanics by Taylor and there is a section about Kepler orbits that i find very interesting so i'd like to see more of classical mechanics with space applications. I appreciate rigouros mathematical books, thanks
  44. MidgetDwarf

    Classical Symon Mechanics 2nd or 3rd edition?

    Hi, was wondering if anyone is familiar with Symon Mechanics 2nd and 3rd edition. Is there a significant difference between these editions? Ie., content, quality of printing, major corrections?
  45. F

    I How to define expectation value in relativistic quantum mechanics?

    In non relativistic quantum mechanics, the expectation value of an operator ##\hat{O}## in state ##\psi## is defined as $$<\psi |\hat{O}|\psi>=\int\psi^* \hat{O} \psi dx$$. Since the scalar product in relativistic quantum has been altered into $$|\psi|^2=i\int\left(\psi^*\frac{\partial...
  46. L

    A satellite in orbit in a system with one planet and two moons

    1) Considering the forces on one of the moons, I have: ##\frac{GMm}{(10R)^2}+\frac{Gm^2}{(20R)^2}=m\frac{v^2}{10R}\Leftrightarrow v=\sqrt{\frac{G}{10R}(M+\frac{m}{4})}.## 2) Considering the initial situation in which the satellite is at rest on the surface of the planet...
  47. L

    Disk with rod attached rotating about the center of the disk

    1) Since the rod is uniform, with mass m and length l, it has a linear mass density of ##\lambda=\frac{m}{l}##, so ##I_{rod_O}=\int_{x=r}^{x=r+l}x^2 \lambda dx=\frac{\lambda}{3}[(r+l)^3-r^3]=\frac{\lambda r^3}{3}[(1+\frac{l}{r})^3-1]=\frac{1}{3}mr^2[3+\frac{3l}{r}+\frac{l^2}{r^2}].##...
  48. entropy1

    I Quantum Mechanics without time?

    Is there a view in quantummechanics, of quantummechanics, without time as a concept?
  49. M

    I Informational Interpretation of quantum mechanics?

    I heard something today about the "informational interpretation" of quantum mechanics and a phrase used was "it from bit." Is there actually such a thing? What does it mean, and how is it distinguished from other interpretations like MWI or Copenhagen?
  50. EishaR

    Physics 101 mechanics help -- Bullet fired by a rifle barrel

    a) a= dv/dt = 2(5*10^5)t+2.8*10^5 2(5*10^5)(0)+2.8*10^5=2.8*10^5m/s^2
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