The study of rigid bodies dates back to the early days of classical mechanics, a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects. The concept of a rigid body is essential because it simplifies the complex interactions of particles in a solid object by considering the object as a whole. The idea of … Read more
The study of collisions dates back to the times when early philosophers and scientists began to understand the nature of motion and forces. However, the most significant advancements came with the work of Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century. His formulation of the three laws of motion laid the foundation for classical mechanics, including … Read more
The idea of power as we understand it in physics today has roots that go back to ancient civilizations. However, it wasn’t until the scientific developments during the Renaissance that the concept began to take a more defined shape. The ancient Greeks had notions of power related to simple machines, but these ideas were not … Read more
Ancient philosophers, such as Thales of Miletus around 550 BCE, had inklings about the conservation of some underlying substance from which everything is made. However, their theories didn’t directly align with our modern understanding of energy. For example, Thales believed this fundamental substance was water. Empedocles (490–430 BCE) proposed a universal system composed of four … Read more
The concept of energy conservation is not new; it has been pondered upon since ancient times. The earliest inklings of this idea can be traced back to philosophers like Thales of Miletus and Empedocles, who lived around 550 BCE and 490–430 BCE, respectively. They explored the fundamental principles of what we now understand as the … Read more
The story of potential energy begins with the ancient Greeks, particularly with Aristotle’s concept of “potentiality.” Aristotle observed that objects have the potential to change states, such as a rock on a hill that can roll down. Fast forward to the 17th century, and we see the concept of potential energy taking a more scientific … Read more
The concept of the Work-Energy Theorem has been recognized for centuries, but it was not always stated in its current form. It evolved from Newton’s second law applied to particles and extended to rigid bodies. The Work-Energy Theorem is a fundamental principle in physics that has been recognized for centuries. However, it wasn’t always stated … Read more
The idea of work as a form of energy transfer dates back to ancient times, but it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that the concept began to take a more scientific form. Aspects of the concept of work done appear as early as 60 AD in the writings of Hero of Alexandria. He … Read more
The story begins with the early astronomers who noticed the circular paths of stars and planets in the sky. They believed that celestial bodies moved in perfect circles, which was the accepted truth for many centuries. The Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed that the Earth was stationary and everything in the heavens revolved around it in … Read more
The concept of force has been a part of human curiosity for centuries. The modern understanding of forces in mechanics largely stems from the work of Sir Isaac Newton, who, in the 17th century, formulated the three laws of motion that describe how objects interact with forces. These laws laid the foundation for classical mechanics, … Read more