Introduction to Mechanics: Momentum and Energy
Learn about momentum and energy in this calculus-based physics course.
Course Information
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About this Course
This online physics course is the second in the xSeries in Introduction to Mechanics that covers calculus-based mechanics. In this course, you will learn about the concepts of momentum, impulse, energy, and work, as well as the powerful idea of conservation laws. You will apply these concepts as techniques to solve interesting mechanics problems such as collisions and rockets.
The complete series of modules is based on the MIT subject 8.01: Physics I, which is required of all MIT undergraduates. The four modules are:
- Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics
- Mechanics: Momentum and Energy
- Mechanics: Rotational Dynamics
- Mechanics: Simple Harmonic Motion and Non-Inertial Reference Frames
To understand the material in this course you should have taken Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics. Linked above.
The course image is a fire truck on top of the MIT dome. Image taken by Sarahjane10784 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MIT_firetruck_hack_2006.JPG
What you'll learn
- Momentum and Impulse
- Continuous Mass Flow
- Work and Kinetic Energy
- Potential Energy and Mechanical Energy
- Collisions
Prerequisites
High school physics and calculus, for example:
- Calculus 1A: Differentiation
- Calculus 1B: Integration
- Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series
- Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics
Meet your instructors
Michelle Tomasik
Lecturer in the Department of Physics at MIT
Michelle Tomasik is a Lecturer in the Department of Physics at MIT where she currently works on developing online classes and assists with physics education research and teaching introductory physics. She received her Ph.D. in physics from MIT working on photovoltaics and density functional theory.
