Category: Mechanics (Motion & Forces)

Introduction Collisions are everywhere in nature and technology — from billiard balls striking each other, to car crashes, to particles colliding inside accelerators. Every time two bodies collide, forces act for a short interval, causing changes in motion. Physics classifies collisions broadly into elastic and inelastic collisions. Both conserve momentum, but they differ in whether…

Introduction When you sit in a car that suddenly takes a sharp turn, you might feel as though a mysterious force is pushing you outward, pressing you against the door. Similarly, when you ride a merry-go-round, you sense a strange pull trying to fling you away from the center. Where does this “force” come from?…

1. Introduction When you watch a rocket launch into space, it almost feels like magic. A huge vehicle weighing thousands of tons rises against gravity, leaving Earth behind. But behind this spectacle lies a very simple yet powerful principle of physics: conservation of linear momentum. Linear momentum is the “quantity of motion” of an object,…

Introduction In physics and engineering, the concept of equilibrium of forces is fundamental. Whether it is a hanging signboard, a ladder leaning against a wall, or a bridge structure — all remain stable only because the forces acting on them are in equilibrium. One of the most useful tools for analyzing such equilibrium problems, especially…

Introduction Imagine sitting in a roller coaster car at the very top of its track. Your heart is racing, and you’re filled with anticipation. The car begins its thrilling descent, rushing downward with increasing speed, then shooting upward into another hill. You might not realize it at the moment, but you are experiencing one of…

1. Introduction Physics studies motion and the forces that cause it. Two of the most powerful tools in mechanics are the concepts of momentum and impulse. When objects collide—whether cars on the road, billiard balls on a table, or subatomic particles in an accelerator—the laws of momentum and impulse help us predict the outcome. In…

Introduction In our daily lives, we constantly use the terms work, power, and energy. For example: At first glance, all these words appear interchangeable. However, in physics, each has a precise meaning with specific definitions, formulas, and units. To understand motion, machines, and even natural phenomena, it is important to clearly distinguish between them. This…

1. Introduction Motion is everywhere around us. From the rotation of the Earth around its axis, to the revolution of planets around the Sun, to a car turning on a curved road—all these are examples of circular motion. Unlike straight-line motion, circular motion introduces new forces and concepts that are crucial to understand. The two…

Introduction When you drive along a highway or a racetrack, you may notice that at curves the road surface is not flat. Instead, it is slightly tilted or inclined. This intentional design is called banking of roads. But why are roads tilted in curves? The answer lies in physics — specifically in the concepts of…

Introduction One of the most exciting topics in physics is projectile motion, where an object is launched into the air and follows a curved path under the influence of gravity. From a football kicked across a field to a rocket launched into the sky, projectiles are everywhere in our daily lives. Projectile motion is a…