Newtonian Mechanics is a term used to describe the classical mechanics formulated by Sir Isaac Newton. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as ˈnjuːtəniən məˈkænɪks. The stress falls on the second syllable of Newtonian and the first syllable of Mechanics, respectively. The letter "t" in Newtonian is pronounced as "t" while in Mechanics, it is pronounced as "k." This spelling is a representation of the pronunciation from the original Latin word "mechanica," which was borrowed into English in the late 16th century.
Newtonian mechanics, also known as classical mechanics or Newtonian physics, is a branch of physics that encompasses the fundamental principles and laws governing the motion of objects. It is based on the groundbreaking work of Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century, and it is particularly applicable to objects moving at speeds much slower than the speed of light.
Newtonian mechanics revolves around three essential laws, also known as Newton's laws of motion. The first law, the law of inertia, states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. The second law, often referred to as F=ma (force equals mass times acceleration), demonstrates the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. According to this law, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The third law of motion, the law of action and reaction, states that for every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force.
Newtonian mechanics provides a mathematical framework for predicting and explaining the motion of objects under the influence of forces. It allows for the analysis of various physical phenomena such as motion of particles, projectiles, and celestial bodies. While it is an incredibly powerful framework for describing macroscopic objects, Newtonian mechanics does not accurately describe the behavior of extremely small particles at atomic and subatomic levels or objects moving at speeds close to that of light. These scenarios require the incorporation of additional principles from quantum mechanics and relativity.
The word "Newtonian" refers to the physicist Sir Isaac Newton, who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation in his book "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica" published in 1687. Newton developed a comprehensive mathematical description of the motion of objects under the influence of forces, which became known as "Newtonian Mechanics". The term "mechanics" traditionally refers to the study of the motion and forces acting on physical objects. So, the etymology of the phrase "Newtonian Mechanics" is derived from the name of Sir Isaac Newton and the field of mechanics he revolutionized with his theories.