Mechanics textbook: motion, force and energy

Chapters you can read now

Unit 1: describing and measuring motion

Chapters 1 to 3 form one short unit. Chapter 1 reads motion from graphs, Chapter 2 turns camera frames into positions and velocity estimates, and Chapter 3 tests a constant-acceleration model against a recorded fall.

Chapter 1How do we describe a motion?The height of a position graph gives position, its slope gives velocity, and the signed area under the velocity graph gives displacement.Lab: Motion Graph Studio Chapter 2How does a camera measure motion?A camera records only pixels at fixed frames. Calibrate them into positions, estimate velocity from differences or local fits, and find where noise enters.Lab: Motion Measurement & Numerical Differentiation Chapter 3How do we test a constant-acceleration model?Fit release height, initial velocity and gravity to a recorded fall, read the residuals, and tell a precise result from an accurate one.Lab: Free Fall & Measuring Gravity

All chapters in this volume

Chapter 1 · How do we describe a motion?
What can one position–time curve tell us?
Before this chapter: Coordinates and graphs of functions.
Chapter 2 · How does a camera measure motion?
Can pixels tell us velocity directly?
Before this chapter: Chapter 1. Averages and the spread of repeated values are explained here.
Chapter 3 · How do we test a constant-acceleration model?
How does one fall measure the acceleration of gravity?
Before this chapter: Chapters 1 and 2. Fitting and residuals are introduced here; the matrix derivation is an optional section.
Chapter 4 · What changes for a different observer? in preparation
How can one motion have different descriptions?
Before this chapter: Chapters 1–3.
Chapter 5 · Why does a constant-speed turn still accelerate? in preparation
How does velocity change around a bend?
Before this chapter: Chapters 1 and 3, plus a short section on vectors.
Chapter 6 · How do forces change motion? in preparation
Which forces belong on a free-body diagram?
Before this chapter: Chapters 4 and 5.
Chapter 7 · When does a contact slip? in preparation
When is friction strong enough to keep surfaces moving together?
Before this chapter: Chapter 6.
Chapter 8 · How do ropes and pulleys link motions? in preparation
Why can two connected bodies not accelerate independently?
Before this chapter: Chapters 6 and 7.
Chapter 9 · How does a force along a path change kinetic energy? in preparation
Why is the force at the end point not enough?
Before this chapter: Chapter 6 and a short section on integrals.
Chapter 10 · When can we compare only the start and the end? in preparation
How does potential energy simplify a motion problem?
Before this chapter: Chapter 9.
Chapter 11 · What is conserved in a collision? in preparation
Why must momentum and kinetic energy be checked separately?
Before this chapter: Chapters 6 and 9.
Chapter 12 · Why does it matter where a force acts? in preparation
How do we go from balance to rotation?
Before this chapter: Chapters 5, 6, 9 and 11.
Chapter 13 · When does a rotation stay the same? in preparation
Why does pulling in your arms make you spin faster?
Before this chapter: Chapters 11 and 12.
Chapter 14 · How does one law of gravity explain falling and orbits? in preparation
Why can a body keep circling a star or planet?
Before this chapter: Chapters 5, 10 and 13.