Mechanics Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Mechanics?

Mechanics is the branch of science that deals with the behavior of physical bodies when subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effects of the bodies on their environment. It encompasses a wide range of topics, from classical dynamics of particles and rigid bodies to continuum mechanics, as well as material science and engineering mechanics. In classical mechanics, particles are considered to be point masses without volume or internal structure and move in response to forces applied by external agents. The motion of such particles is described using Newton’s Laws of Motion which govern linear momentum, angular momentum, energy and force. Rigid body motions are also studied using conservation laws such as conservation of linear momentum and angular momentum. These laws help us understand how these physical systems behave under different conditions such as acceleration due to gravity or collisions with other objects. Continuum mechanics applies math principles from calculus to study fluid motion in more complex systems including ideal fluids (inviscid) as well as viscous (realistic) fluids. This area focuses on understanding the behavior of fluids in a wide range of conditions including laminar flow (uniform velocity), turbulent flow (fluctuations), advection-diffusion processes for mass transfer through heat exchange, etc. In addition, this field also studies elasticity solutions for solids which helps engineers design materials that can bear heavy loads without deformation or failure. Engineering Mechanics applies both classical mechanics principles as well as continuum mechanics principles in practical applications such as designing machines like cars or airplanes where safety requirements must be met along with performance goals like speed or efficiency levels. Mechanics helps engineers evaluate various designs in terms of strength, stiffness and durability while considering factors like weight limitations due to gravitational pull or material restrictions related to cost effectiveness etc. Thus engineering mechanics is an important field that allows engineers create better designs for modern day machines while ensuring safety standards are met at all times.