The orbital motions of planets and comets, as depicted here, are governed by the laws of mechanics.
Click on image for full size
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell.
Mechanics
Mechanics is one of the main branches of physics. Mechanics deals with the motion of physical objects. It also deals with the forces that act on
physical objects. How hard do I have to pull a full wagon before it will budge? What happens when an asteroid slams into a planet? How should
we launch a satellite to put it into orbit? These are the sorts
of questions that the study of mechanics can help us answer.
You may have studied mechanics without knowing it. Have you ever studied or built a simple machine like a lever or pulley? Those machines that make our work easier use the laws of mechanics to work.
Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!
Our
online store includes
books on science education, ranging from
evolution,
classroom research, and the
need for science and math literacy!
You might also be interested in:
Satellites and robot spacecraft are important to space exploration. They let us explore space safely. Click on the link below to learn more about these missions. Canada's first space telescope, MOST, was
...more
Let's pretend that you're on the top of a mountain in Arizona and you have a cannon. Let's make it a game; the object of the game is to to fire a cannonball and hit a flag pole that's on the top of another
...more
If you've ever ridden in an airplane, you might have some idea what turbulence is. When an airplane flies through a turbulent place in the atmosphere it will bounce around a bit as the wind outside blows
...more
PAH is the short name for "Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons". Thank goodness this molecule has a short name! These are long strings of carbon atoms which form a ring. (That accounts for the "cyclic" and
...more
Acids are well known as substances capable of dissolving things. If you've ever gotten some battery acid on your clothes and had a hole develop in a couple weeks you'll know what we mean. In this regard,
...moreLike an acid, a base is a substance capable of dissolving things. There are many bases. Here are a few: Ammonia (used as a cleaner), Calcium hydroxide (used in mortar for construction), Magnesium hydroxide
...more
Scientists believe there are two essential ingredients for generating a magnetic field. Those two ingredients are magnetic material currents A bar of iron can be made into a magnet by wrapping it with
...more
Physics also includes the study of heat and temperature. This study is called thermal physics. It helps us understand global warming, the way we get heat from the Sun or why water in the ocean moves. To
...more
