List of equations in classical mechanics

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Template:Short description Classical mechanics is the branch of physics used to describe the motion of macroscopic objects.[1] It is the most familiar of the theories of physics. The concepts it covers, such as mass, acceleration, and force, are commonly used and known.[2] The subject is based upon a three-dimensional Euclidean space with fixed axes, called a frame of reference. The point of concurrency of the three axes is known as the origin of the particular space.[3]

Classical mechanics utilises many equations—as well as other mathematical concepts—which relate various physical quantities to one another. These include differential equations, manifolds, Lie groups, and ergodic theory.[4] This article gives a summary of the most important of these.

This article lists equations from Newtonian mechanics, see analytical mechanics for the more general formulation of classical mechanics (which includes Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics).

Classical mechanics

Mass and inertia

Quantity (common name/s) (Common) symbol/s Defining equation SI units Dimension
Linear, surface, volumetric mass density λ or μ (especially in acoustics, see below) for Linear, σ for surface, ρ for volume. m=λd

m=σdS

m=ρdV

kg mn, n = 1, 2, 3 M Ln
Moment of massTemplate:Anchor[5] m (No common symbol) Point mass:

𝐦=𝐫m

Discrete masses about an axis xi: 𝐦=i=1N𝐫imi

Continuum of mass about an axis xi: 𝐦=ρ(𝐫)xid𝐫

kg m M L
Center of mass rcom

(Symbols vary)

i-th moment of mass 𝐦i=𝐫imi

Discrete masses: 𝐫com=1Mi𝐫imi=1Mi𝐦i

Mass continuum: 𝐫com=1Md𝐦=1M𝐫dm=1M𝐫ρdV

m L
2-Body reduced mass m12, μ Pair of masses = m1 and m2 μ=m1m2m1+m2 kg M
Moment of inertia (MOI) I Discrete Masses:

I=i𝐦i𝐫i=i|𝐫i|2m

Mass continuum: I=|𝐫|2dm=𝐫d𝐦=|𝐫|2ρdV

kg m2 M L2

Derived kinematic quantities

Kinematic quantities of a classical particle: mass m, position r, velocity v, acceleration a.
Quantity (common name/s) (Common) symbol/s Defining equation SI units Dimension
Velocity v 𝐯=d𝐫dt m s−1 L T−1
Acceleration a 𝐚=d𝐯dt=d2𝐫dt2 m s−2 L T−2
Jerk j 𝐣=d𝐚dt=d3𝐫dt3 m s−3 L T−3
Jounce s 𝐬=d𝐣dt=d4𝐫dt4 m s−4 L T−4
Angular velocity ω ω=𝐧^dθdt rad s−1 T−1
Angular Acceleration α α=dωdt=𝐧^d2θdt2 rad s−2 T−2
Angular jerk ζ ζ=dαdt=𝐧^d3θdt3 rad s−3 T−3

Derived dynamic quantities

Angular momenta of a classical object.

Left: intrinsic "spin" angular momentum S is really orbital angular momentum of the object at every point,

right: extrinsic orbital angular momentum L about an axis,

top: the moment of inertia tensor I and angular velocity ω (L is not always parallel to ω)[6]

bottom: momentum p and its radial position r from the axis.

The total angular momentum (spin + orbital) is J.
Quantity (common name/s) (Common) symbol/s Defining equation SI units Dimension
Momentum p 𝐩=m𝐯 kg m s−1 M L T−1
Force F 𝐅=d𝐩/dt N = kg m s−2 M L T−2
Impulse J, Δp, I 𝐉=Δ𝐩=t1t2𝐅dt kg m s−1 M L T−1
Angular momentum about a position point r0, L, J, S 𝐋=(𝐫𝐫0)×𝐩

Most of the time we can set r0 = 0 if particles are orbiting about axes intersecting at a common point.

kg m2 s−1 M L2 T−1
Moment of a force about a position point r0,

Torque

τ, M τ=(𝐫𝐫0)×𝐅=d𝐋dt N m = kg m2 s−2 M L2 T−2
Angular impulse ΔL (no common symbol) Δ𝐋=t1t2τdt kg m2 s−1 M L2 T−1

General energy definitions

Template:Main article

Quantity (common name/s) (Common) symbol/s Defining equation SI units Dimension
Mechanical work due to a Resultant Force W W=C𝐅d𝐫 J = N m = kg m2 s−2 M L2 T−2
Work done ON mechanical system, Work done BY WON, WBY ΔWON=ΔWBY J = N m = kg m2 s−2 M L2 T−2
Potential energy φ, Φ, U, V, Ep ΔW=ΔV J = N m = kg m2 s−2 M L2 T−2
Mechanical power P P=dEdt W = J s−1 M L2 T−3

Every conservative force has a potential energy. By following two principles one can consistently assign a non-relative value to U:

  • Wherever the force is zero, its potential energy is defined to be zero as well.
  • Whenever the force does work, potential energy is lost.

Generalized mechanics

Template:Main article

Quantity (common name/s) (Common) symbol/s Defining equation SI units Dimension
Generalized coordinates q, Q varies with choice varies with choice
Generalized velocities q˙,Q˙ q˙dq/dt varies with choice varies with choice
Generalized momenta p, P p=L/q˙ varies with choice varies with choice
Lagrangian L L(𝐪,𝐪˙,t)=T(𝐪˙)V(𝐪,𝐪˙,t)

where 𝐪=𝐪(t) and p = p(t) are vectors of the generalized coords and momenta, as functions of time

J M L2 T−2
Hamiltonian H H(𝐩,𝐪,t)=𝐩𝐪˙L(𝐪,𝐪˙,t) J M L2 T−2
Action, Hamilton's principal function S, 𝒮 𝒮=t1t2L(𝐪,𝐪˙,t)dt J s M L2 T−1

Kinematics

In the following rotational definitions, the angle can be any angle about the specified axis of rotation. It is customary to use θ, but this does not have to be the polar angle used in polar coordinate systems. The unit axial vector

𝐧^=𝐞^r×𝐞^θ

defines the axis of rotation, 𝐞^r = unit vector in direction of Template:Math, 𝐞^θ = unit vector tangential to the angle.

Translation Rotation
Velocity Average:

𝐯average=Δ𝐫Δt Instantaneous:

𝐯=d𝐫dt

Angular velocityω=𝐧^dθdtRotating rigid body:𝐯=ω×𝐫
Acceleration Average:

𝐚average=Δ𝐯Δt

Instantaneous:

𝐚=d𝐯dt=d2𝐫dt2

Angular acceleration

α=dωdt=𝐧^d2θdt2

Rotating rigid body:

𝐚=α×𝐫+ω×𝐯

Jerk Average:

𝐣average=Δ𝐚Δt

Instantaneous:

𝐣=d𝐚dt=d2𝐯dt2=d3𝐫dt3

Angular jerk

ζ=dαdt=𝐧^d2ωdt2=𝐧^d3θdt3

Rotating rigid body:

𝐣=ζ×𝐫+α×𝐚

Dynamics

Translation Rotation
Momentum Momentum is the "amount of translation"

𝐩=m𝐯

For a rotating rigid body:

𝐩=ω×𝐦

Angular momentum

Angular momentum is the "amount of rotation":

𝐋=𝐫×𝐩=𝐈ω

and the cross-product is a pseudovector i.e. if r and p are reversed in direction (negative), L is not.

In general I is an order-2 tensor, see above for its components. The dot · indicates tensor contraction.

Force and Newton's 2nd law Resultant force acts on a system at the center of mass, equal to the rate of change of momentum:

𝐅=d𝐩dt=d(m𝐯)dt=m𝐚+𝐯dmdt

For a number of particles, the equation of motion for one particle i is:[7]

d𝐩idt=𝐅E+ij𝐅ij

where pi = momentum of particle i, Fij = force on particle i by particle j, and FE = resultant external force (due to any agent not part of system). Particle i does not exert a force on itself.

Torque

Torque τ is also called moment of a force, because it is the rotational analogue to force:[8]

τ=d𝐋dt=𝐫×𝐅=d(𝐈ω)dt

For rigid bodies, Newton's 2nd law for rotation takes the same form as for translation:

τ=d𝐋dt=d(𝐈ω)dt=d𝐈dtω+𝐈α

Likewise, for a number of particles, the equation of motion for one particle i is:[9]

d𝐋idt=τE+ijτij

Yank Yank is rate of change of force:

𝐘=d𝐅dt=d2𝐩dt2=d2(m𝐯)dt2=m𝐣+𝟐𝐚dmdt+𝐯d2mdt2

For constant mass, it becomes; 𝐘=m𝐣

Rotatum

Rotatum Ρ is also called moment of a Yank, because it is the rotational analogue to yank:

P=dτdt=𝐫×𝐘=d(𝐈α)dt

Impulse Impulse is the change in momentum:

Δ𝐩=𝐅dt

For constant force F:

Δ𝐩=𝐅Δt

Twirl/angular impulse is the change in angular momentum:

Δ𝐋=τdt

For constant torque τ:

Δ𝐋=τΔt

Precession

The precession angular speed of a spinning top is given by:

Ω=wrIω

where w is the weight of the spinning flywheel.

Energy

The mechanical work done by an external agent on a system is equal to the change in kinetic energy of the system:

General work-energy theorem (translation and rotation)

The work done W by an external agent which exerts a force F (at r) and torque τ on an object along a curved path C is:

W=ΔT=C(𝐅d𝐫+τ𝐧dθ)

where θ is the angle of rotation about an axis defined by a unit vector n.

Kinetic energy

The change in kinetic energy for an object initially traveling at speed v0 and later at speed v is: ΔEk=W=12m(v2v02)

Elastic potential energy

For a stretched spring fixed at one end obeying Hooke's law, the elastic potential energy is

ΔEp=12k(r2r1)2

where r2 and r1 are collinear coordinates of the free end of the spring, in the direction of the extension/compression, and k is the spring constant.

Euler's equations for rigid body dynamics

Template:Main article

Euler also worked out analogous laws of motion to those of Newton, see Euler's laws of motion. These extend the scope of Newton's laws to rigid bodies, but are essentially the same as above. A new equation Euler formulated is:[10]

𝐈α+ω×(𝐈ω)=τ

where I is the moment of inertia tensor.

General planar motion

Template:See also

The previous equations for planar motion can be used here: corollaries of momentum, angular momentum etc. can immediately follow by applying the above definitions. For any object moving in any path in a plane,

𝐫=𝐫(t)=r𝐫^

the following general results apply to the particle.

Kinematics Dynamics
Position

𝐫=𝐫(r,θ,t)=r𝐫^

Velocity

𝐯=𝐫^drdt+rωθ^

Momentum

𝐩=m(𝐫^drdt+rωθ^)

Angular momenta 𝐋=m𝐫×(𝐫^drdt+rωθ^)

Acceleration

𝐚=(d2rdt2rω2)𝐫^+(rα+2ωdrdt)θ^

The centripetal force is

𝐅=mω2R𝐫^=ω2𝐦

where again m is the mass moment, and the Coriolis force is

𝐅c=2ωmdrdtθ^=2ωmvθ^

The Coriolis acceleration and force can also be written:

𝐅c=m𝐚c=2mω×𝒗

Central force motion

For a massive body moving in a central potential due to another object, which depends only on the radial separation between the centers of masses of the two objects, the equation of motion is:

d2dθ2(1𝐫)+1𝐫=μ𝐫2𝐥2𝐅(𝐫)

Equations of motion (constant acceleration)

These equations can be used only when acceleration is constant. If acceleration is not constant then the general calculus equations above must be used, found by integrating the definitions of position, velocity and acceleration (see above).

Linear motion Angular motion
𝐯𝐯𝟎=𝐚t ωω0=αt
𝐱𝐱𝟎=12(𝐯𝟎+𝐯)t θθ0=12(ω0+ω)t
𝐱𝐱𝟎=𝐯0t+12𝐚t2 θθ0=ω0t+12αt2
𝐱nth=𝐯0+𝐚(n12) θnth=ω0+α(n12)
v2v02=2𝐚(𝐱𝐱𝟎) ω2ω02=2α(θθ0)

Template:See also

Galilean frame transforms

For classical (Galileo-Newtonian) mechanics, the transformation law from one inertial or accelerating (including rotation) frame (reference frame traveling at constant velocity - including zero) to another is the Galilean transform.

Unprimed quantities refer to position, velocity and acceleration in one frame F; primed quantities refer to position, velocity and acceleration in another frame F' moving at translational velocity V or angular velocity Ω relative to F. Conversely F moves at velocity (—V or —Ω) relative to F'. The situation is similar for relative accelerations.

Motion of entities Inertial frames Accelerating frames
Translation

V = Constant relative velocity between two inertial frames F and F'.
A = (Variable) relative acceleration between two accelerating frames F and F'.

Relative position

𝐫=𝐫+𝐕t

Relative velocity 𝐯=𝐯+𝐕

Equivalent accelerations 𝐚=𝐚

Relative accelerations

𝐚=𝐚+𝐀

Apparent/fictitious forces 𝐅=𝐅𝐅app

Rotation

Ω = Constant relative angular velocity between two frames F and F'.
Λ = (Variable) relative angular acceleration between two accelerating frames F and F'.

Relative angular position

θ=θ+Ωt Relative velocity ω=ω+Ω

Equivalent accelerations α=α

Relative accelerations

α=α+Λ

Apparent/fictitious torques τ=ττapp

Transformation of any vector T to a rotating frame

d𝐓dt=d𝐓dtΩ×𝐓

Mechanical oscillators

SHM, DHM, SHO, and DHO refer to simple harmonic motion, damped harmonic motion, simple harmonic oscillator and damped harmonic oscillator respectively.

Equations of motion
Physical situation Nomenclature Translational equations Angular equations
SHM Template:Plainlist
  • x = Transverse displacement
  • θ = Angular displacement
  • A = Transverse amplitude
  • Θ = Angular amplitude

Template:Endplainlist

d2xdt2=ω2x

Solution: x=Asin(ωt+ϕ)

d2θdt2=ω2θ

Solution: θ=Θsin(ωt+ϕ)

Unforced DHM Template:Plainlist
  • b = damping constant
  • κ = torsion constant

Template:Endplainlist

d2xdt2+bdxdt+ω2x=0

Solution (see below for ω'): x=Aebt/2mcos(ω)

Resonant frequency: ωres=ω2(b4m)2

Damping rate: γ=b/m

Expected lifetime of excitation: τ=1/γ

d2θdt2+bdθdt+ω2θ=0

Solution: θ=Θeκt/2mcos(ω)

Resonant frequency: ωres=ω2(κ4m)2

Damping rate: γ=κ/m

Expected lifetime of excitation: τ=1/γ

Angular frequencies
Physical situation Nomenclature Equations
Linear undamped unforced SHO Template:Plainlist
  • k = spring constant
  • m = mass of oscillating bob

Template:Endplainlist

ω=km
Linear unforced DHO Template:Plainlist
  • k = spring constant
  • b = Damping coefficient

Template:Endplainlist

ω=km(b2m)2
Low amplitude angular SHO Template:Plainlist
  • I = Moment of inertia about oscillating axis
  • κ = torsion constant

Template:Endplainlist

ω=κI
Low amplitude simple pendulum Template:Plainlist
  • L = Length of pendulum
  • g = Gravitational acceleration
  • Θ = Angular amplitude

Template:Endplainlist

Approximate value

ω=gL

Exact value can be shown to be: ω=gL[1+k=1n=1k(2n1)n=1m(2n)sin2nΘ]

Energy in mechanical oscillations
Physical situation Nomenclature Equations
SHM energy Template:Plainlist
  • T = kinetic energy
  • U = potential energy
  • E = total energy

Template:Endplainlist

Potential energy

U=m2(x)2=m(ωA)22cos2(ωt+ϕ) Maximum value at x = A: Umax=m2(ωA)2

Kinetic energy T=ω2m2(dxdt)2=m(ωA)22sin2(ωt+ϕ)

Total energy E=T+U

DHM energy E=m(ωA)22ebt/m

See also

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Notes

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References

Template:Classical mechanics derived SI units

  1. Template:Harvnb
  2. Template:Harvnb
  3. Template:Harvnb
  4. Template:Harvnb
  5. Template:Cite web
  6. Template:Cite book
  7. "Relativity, J.R. Forshaw 2009"
  8. "Mechanics, D. Kleppner 2010"
  9. "Relativity, J.R. Forshaw 2009"
  10. "Relativity, J.R. Forshaw 2009"