What is classical mechanics?
Q: What is classical mechanics?
A: Classical mechanics is the part of physics that describes how everyday things move and how their motion changes because of forces.
Q: How can classical mechanics be used?
A: Classical mechanics can be used to predict how things like planets and rockets move, as well as predicting how they will move in the future and how they were moving in the past.
Q: When is classical mechanics not accurate?
A: Classical mechanics is not accurate when things are the size of atoms or smaller, or when things move close to the speed of light.
Q: What do we use instead of classical mechanics for small objects?
A: For small objects such as atoms, we use quantum mechanics instead of classical mechanics.
Q: What do we use instead of classical mechanics for fast-moving objects?
A: For fast-moving objects such as those close to the speed of light, we use special relativity instead of classical mechanics.
Q: Is there any overlap between these different forms of physics? A: Yes, there can be some overlap between different forms of physics depending on what type of motion is being studied.
