Introduction
Classical mechanics is a model of the physics of forces acting
upon bodies. It is often referred to as "Newtonian mechanics" after
Newton and his laws of motion. Classical mechanics is subdivided
into statics (which models objects at rest), kinematics (which models
objects in motion), and dynamics (which models objects subjected
to forces). See also mechanics.
Classical mechanics produces very accurate results within the
domain of everyday experience. It is superseded by relativistic
mechanics for systems moving at large velocities near the speed
of light, quantum mechanics for systems at small distance scales,
and relativistic quantum field theory for systems with both properties.
Nevertheless, classical mechanics is still very useful, because
it is much simpler and easier to apply than these other theories,
and it has a very large range of approximate validity. Classical
mechanics can be used to describe the motion of human-sized objects
(such as tops and baseballs), many astronomical objects (such as
planets and galaxies), and certain microscopic objects (such as
organic molecules.)
Although classical mechanics is roughly compatible with other
"classical" theories such as classical electrodynamics and thermodynamics,
there are inconsistencies discovered in the late 19th century that
can only be resolved by more modern physics. In particular, classical
nonrelativistic electrodynamics predicts that the speed of light
is a constant relative to an aether medium, a prediction that is
difficult to reconcile with classical mechanics and which led to
the development of special relativity. When combined with classical
thermodynamics, classical mechanics leads to the Gibbs paradox in
which entropy is not a well-defined quantity and to the ultraviolet
catastrophe in which a black body is predicted to emit infinite
amounts of energy. The effort at resolving these problems led to
the development of quantum mechanics.
History
The Greeks, and Aristotle in particular, were the first to propose
that there are abstract principles governing nature.
One of the first scientists who suggested abstract laws was Galileo
Galilei who may have performed the famous experiment of dropping
two cannon balls from the tower of Pisa. (The theory and the practice
showed that they both hit the ground at the same time.) Though the
reality of this experiment is disputed, he did carry out quantitative
experiments by rolling balls on an inclined plane; his correct theory
of accelerated motion was apparently derived from the results of
the experiments.
Sir Isaac Newton was the first to propose the three laws of motion
(the law of inertia, his second law mentioned above, and the law
of action and reaction), and to prove that these laws govern both
everyday objects and celestial objects.
Newton also developed the calculus which is necessary to perform
the mathematical calculations involved in classical mechanics.
What about this site?
This site tells about scientists, who developed the classical
mechanics by their discoveries in different areas o science (physics,
mechanics, mathematics, astronomy e.t.c) since antique times and
during centuries.
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Archimedes
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Greek mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physicist and
engineer. |
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Aristotle
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Greek philosopher. He wrote many books about physics, poetry,
zoology, government, and biology. |
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Nicolaus
Copernicus |
Polish astronomer, mathematician and economist. |
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Leonardo
da Vinci |
Italian Renaissance architect, musician, inventor, engineer,
sculptor and painter. |
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Leonhard Euler
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The greatest mathematician of the eighteenth century |
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Galileo Galilei
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Tuscan astronomer, philosopher, and physicist. |
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Edmond Halley
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English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist,
and physicist. |
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Johann Carl
Friedrich Gauss |
German mathematician and physicist. |
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Johannes Kepler
|
German astronomer, mathematician and astrologer. |
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Joseph Louis
Lagrange |
Italian mathematician and astronomer. |
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Gottfried
Wilhelm von Leibniz |
German mathematician and physicist. |
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Isaac Newton
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English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher |
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