Physics I: Classical Mechanics

Overview

Physics I is an introduction to Classical Mechanics. The noun “mechanics” here refers to the motion of objects: we will study how the motion of an object can be understood and predicted in terms of the forces that are acting on the object. The adjective “classical,” in this context, means that we will restrict our study to speeds that are slow compared to the speed of light, so we will not have to take into account the effects of relativity. It also means that we will restrict our study to objects which are generally large, compared to atoms or molecules, so that we will not need to consider the effects of quantum theory. Fortunately, almost any situation we are likely to meet in everyday life satisfies these restrictions, so the results of classical mechanics have a wide variety of applications in science and engineering.

This course has been designed for independent study. It includes all of the materials you will need to understand the concepts covered in this subject. The materials in this course include:

• A complete set of Lecture Videos by renowned MIT Physics Professor Walter Lewin
• A complete set of detailed Course Notes, replacing the need for a traditional course textbook
• A complete set of Class Slides, with overviews and illustrations of the concepts and applications of the subject
• Homework Problems and interactive Concept Tests to gauge your understanding of and progress through the materials
• Homework Help Videos in which Prof. Lewin takes viewers step-by-step through solving homework problems
• Selected links to websites with related materials, including videos, simulations, and animations
• An Online Study Group at OpenStudy where you can connect with other independent learners.

The content has been organized for linear progression through each of the Course Modules, starting with Introduction to Mechanics and concluding with Central Force Motion. It is a self-study course that you can work through at your own pace.

Content Development