mechanics

The equation of motion for a pendulum is the differential equation where g is the acceleration due to gravity and ℓ is the length of the pendulum. When this is presented in an introductory physics class, the instructor will immediately say something like “we’re only interested in the case where θ is small, so we can […] The post How nonlinearity affects a pendulum first appeared on John D. Cook .

Perhaps someone would be interested in offering it to their students. There is a disk of radius ##R##. The disk is wound with two inextensible strings, the ends of which are attached to the ceiling. At the moment in time shown in the picture, the strings are taut and the angle between them is... Read more

New model uses 6 differential equations relating to a rotating rigid body for best strike conditions.

There are two questions that can really give some insight into complicated physics concepts. However, I want to do more than just ask the questions.... The post Force and Motion: Creating Two Classic Physics Questions in Real Life with Vernier Cart Fans appeared first on Vernier .

There are many ways to measure motion in your physics classes, from the classic meter stick and stopwatch method to photogates and sensor carts. But... The post Three Mechanics Investigations with the Go Direct Motion Detector appeared first on Vernier .

Physics Is Everywhere British mathematician Roger Penrose once stated, “Sometimes it’s the detours which turn out to be the fruitful ideas.” I am always searching... The post Studying Conservation of Angular Momentum with Vernier Video Analysis appeared first on Vernier .

Organisers of the 19th European Mechanics of Materials Conference (EMMC19) have heralded its success in putting IMDEA Materials Institute on the map in the mechanics of materials field.

Are you ready to take your competitive gaming skills to the next level? Discover how understanding physics principles can revolutionize your gameplay experience. In this guide, we delve into the pivotal role of mechanics, dynamics, and kinetics in competitive gaming. Mechanics in Competitive Gaming Gain insights into the fundamental concepts of mechanics and learn how […] The post The Role of Phy…

The slinky drop is a rather simple experiment. In its most basic form, it requires only a popular toy for children, a stable hand, and a keen eye. For a better view, using a modern smartphone to capture a video of the experiment also helps to capture the falling slinky. Apart from the commonly quoted result, Insight will discuss the evolution of the slinky shape during the drop using only high-sc…

Engaging students in physics can be as simple as getting them moving! The Go Direct® Force Plate, our newest physics sensor, invites students to explore... The post Two Hands-On Motion Investigations with the New Go Direct® Force Plate appeared first on Vernier .

Learn more about stress in mechanics, including its definition as the force per unit area acting on a material, and the types of stress that can occur, such as shear, compressive, tensile, and torsional.

What is a pendulum? A pendulum is an object hanging from a fixed point that swings backwards and forwards when pulled back and released. Imagine sitting on a swing in a park. If someone pulled the swing back and let go the swing would move backwards and forwards and eventually stop without another force to […] The post Easy Painting Pendulum appeared first on Science Experiments for Kids .

Common mistaken argument It is relatively common on Physics Forums to see arguments that are effectively similar to the following: When we jump off the ground, the ground does not move. Because of this, the force from the ground on us does zero total work. Since the force does no work, we cannot gain any...

Introduction We show how one can solve most if not all, introductory-level projectile motion problems in one or maybe two lines. To this end, we forgo convention.  We demote clock time ##t## to a parameter of secondary importance and ditch the independence of motion in the vertical and horizontal directions. Starting from the first principles,...

Introduction A recent homework problem that appeared in the forums was concerned with maximizing the horizontal range of a projectile subject to the launch site being a fixed height above the ground upon which the projectile was eventually impacted. Several interesting methods of solution arose so the idea of this article is to present all...

Introduction In a homework thread a while back a PF member expressed dismay along the lines of “Oh no, not another boring projectile motion problem.” Admittedly, I shared the member’s sentiments at the time.  Yet after some thought, I concluded that it is the unvarying recommended strategy of the genre that makes it boring: (a)...

The new Go Direct® Centripetal Force Apparatus makes it easier than ever to investigate rotational dynamics. Students can investigate the relationships among force, mass, and... The post The Centripetal Force Apparatus Goes Wireless appeared first on Vernier .

My previous Insight, Frames of Reference: A Skateboarder’s View, explored mechanical energy conservation as seen from an inertial frame moving relative to the “fixed” Earth.  Shifting one’s point of view to the moving frame proved to be somewhat controversial as far as mechanical energy conservation was concerned.  Here I will examine shifting into accelerating frames...

Introduction Although rolling wheels are everywhere, when most people are asked “what is the axis of rotation of a wheel that rolls without slipping?”, they will answer “the axle”.  It is an intuitively obvious answer shared by 3/4 or more of the students in an introductory physics class.  It is also the wrong answer.  Here...

Physics books seldom contain an accurate definitions of the angular velocity of a rigid body. I believe that the following construction is as simple as possible and also rigorous. Assume we have a rigid body which is moving in the space Theorem. In each moment there exists a unique (pseudo)vector ##\boldsymbol\omega ## such that for...