Series
Classical Mechanics I Studied
10 posts
- #1
Vectors and Polar Coordinates [Classical Mechanics I Studied #1]
A casual walkthrough of university-level vector concepts — cross products, the BAC-CAB rule, and coordinate transformation matrices — with encouragement to derive it yourself!
· 6 min read - #2
Work-Energy Theorem and Conservative Forces [Classical Mechanics I Studied #2]
Deriving the Work-Energy Theorem and potential energy straight from F=ma using the chain rule — turns out it's shockingly simple and kinda blew my mind!!!
· 4 min read - #3
Oscillations and Damped Harmonic Motion [Classical Mechanics I Studied #3]
Springs are literally everywhere — turns out any potential looks like a spring up close, and that's why oscillations are SO important in physics!!
· 4 min read - #5
2D and 3D Isotropic Harmonic Oscillators and Lissajous Figures [Classical Mechanics I Studied #5]
We're already at chapter 4 — diving into isotropic harmonic oscillators in 2D and 3D, where separating x and y equations leads to super cool Lissajous figures!
· 4 min read - #6
Inertial and Non-Inertial Frames and the Galilean Transformation [Classical Mechanics I Studied #6]
Struggling through chapter 5 of General Mechanics I, we dig into what inertial and non-inertial frames actually mean and why Newton's 1st law is sneakier than it looks.
· 8 min read - #7
Rotating Reference Frames: Coriolis, Transverse, and Centrifugal Forces [Classical Mechanics I Studied #7]
We figure out what happens when your coordinate system won't stop spinning — hello Coriolis, centrifugal, and transverse forces!
· 8 min read - #8
Kepler's Laws: Ellipse Law, Equal-Area Law, and Harmonic Law (Part 1) [Classical Mechanics I Studied #8]
Newton slickly combined Galileo's earthly motion with Kepler's celestial laws into universal gravitation, and yes — you really can treat a planet as a point mass!!
· 7 min read - #9
Kepler's Laws: Ellipse Law, Equal-Area Law, and Harmonic Law (Part 2) [Classical Mechanics I Studied #9]
We derive the polar-coordinate equation of an ellipse from scratch to confirm, in proper 'Ahhhh~~~~' fashion, that the orbit equation from last time really is an ellipse.
· 3 min read - #10
The Orbit Equation via Energy Methods [Classical Mechanics I Studied #10]
We rederive the orbit equation using energy conservation — kinetic plus potential — then sneak in angular momentum and the u=1/r substitution to nail the same result.
· 5 min read - #14
Momentum of a System of Particles [Classical Mechanics I Studied #14]
We walk through how a system's total momentum equals m·v_cm, and why zero external force means momentum stays constant — aka conservation of linear momentum!
· 2 min read