Basic terms
In mechanics, which is the branch of physics that deals with the motion and behavior of physical objects, there are several basic terms that are commonly used. Here are some of them:
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It determines the object’s resistance to changes in its motion.
Motion refers to a change in position of an object with respect to its surroundings.
Velocity is the rate at which an object changes its position. It is a vector quantity that specifies both speed and direction.
Speed is the rate at which an object moves without considering its direction. It is a scalar quantity.
Acceleration is the rate at which an object’s velocity changes over time. It is a vector quantity and can be positive (speeding up), negative (slowing down), or zero (constant velocity).
Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. It is related to the object’s mass.
These are fundamental principles that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting upon it. They were formulated by Sir Isaac Newton.
Friction is the force that opposes the motion of objects in contact with each other. It can either be static friction (when the objects are not sliding) or kinetic friction (when the objects are sliding).
Energy is the capacity to do work. It exists in various forms such as kinetic energy (energy of motion) and potential energy (energy stored in an object due to its position or state).
These are just a few basic terms used in mechanics. The field of mechanics is vast and encompasses many more concepts and principles.