Physics Foundations: Motion and Forces teaches you how physical systems move and how you can model them and predict their motion using math.
✦ Foundations: The Obvious—Until You Look Closer
Master the building blocks of motion and physical modeling:
Motion: Position, velocity, and acceleration
Forces: Gravity, friction, and constraint forces
Objects: Point mass and rigid body models
Reference Systems: Inertial and rotating frames; coordinate systems
Dimensions and Units: Physical dimensions and unit consistency
✦ Principles: What They Are and When to Apply Them
Apply the core laws and conservation rules of dynamics:
Newton’s Laws: Force-acceleration and torque-angular acceleration
Work and Energy: Work-Energy Principle and conservation of mechanical energy
Impulse and Momentum: Impulse-Momentum Principle and conservation of linear and angular momentum
✦ Methods: Step-by-Step Problem Solving That Works
Develop a step-by-step approach to solving dynamic problems:
Principle Selection: Choosing the right method
Coordinate Systems: Aligning frames with motion
Free-Body Diagrams: Identifying and resolving forces
Modeling Assumptions: Friction, rolling, restitution
Equations of Motion: Formulating and solving to predict
✦ Examples: Where It All Comes Together
Apply concepts through familiar, real-world systems:
Ball: Free fall, projectile motion, planetary orbits, impact
Swing: Constrained motion and energy conservation
Door: Rotational motion and hinge torque
Wheel: Rolling dynamics with and without slip
Yo-Yo: Coupled rotation and translation under tension
By the end of the course, you will know how to apply the right principles, build models from scratch, and interpret physical behavior with clarity.
