Students learn about weight by building a spring scale and observing how it responds to objects with different masses.

Students learn about weight and drag forces by making paper helicopters and measuring how adding more weight affects the time it takes for the helicopters to fall to the ground.

Students gain first-hand experience on how friction affects motion. They build a hovercraft using air from a balloon to levitate a craft made from a compact disc (CD), learning that a bed of air under an object significantly reduces the friction as it slides over a surface.

Students learn more about forces by examining the force of gravitational attraction. They observe how objects fall and measure the force of gravitational attraction upon objects.

Students explore the theme of conflict in literature. They learn the difference between internal and external conflict and various types of conflicts, including self against self, self against other, and self against nature or machine. Stories are used to discuss methods of managing and resolving conflict and interpersonal friction. Note: The literacy activities for the Mechanics unit are based on physical themes that have broad application to our experience in the world — concepts of rhythm, balance, spin, gravity, levity, inertia, momentum, friction, stress and tension.

(Work in progress!)
Attempted imitations of the 17 projects of LEGO set #9630 (Simple Mechanisms), plus its expansion motor set #9615, but using parts instead from the newer LEGO WeDo sets #9580 and #9585.
WeDo sets may be found in an increasing number of classrooms; they are intended to be introductory robotics sets but include lots of basic mechanism parts and projects.
Good preparation or extension activities for those who have WeDo sets (or perhaps an assortment of "Technic" parts).

Using spaghetti and marshmallows, students experiment with different structures to determine which ones are able to handle the greatest amount of load. Their experiments help them to further understand the effects that compression and tension forces have with respect to the strength of structures. Spaghetti cannot hold much tension or compression; therefore, it breaks very easily. Marshmallows handle compression well, but do not hold up to tension.

This course covers the mathematical techniques necessary for understanding of materials science and engineering topics such as energetics, materials structure and symmetry, materials response to applied fields, mechanics and physics of solids and soft materials. The class uses examples from the materials science and engineering core courses (3.012 and 3.014) to introduce mathematical concepts and materials-related problem solving skills. Topics include linear algebra and orthonormal basis, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, quadratic forms, tensor operations, symmetry operations, calculus of several variables, introduction to complex analysis, ordinary and partial differential equations, theory of distributions, and fourier analysis.
Users may find additional or updated materials at Professor Carter’s 3.016 course Web site.

The ETBI Supports for Apprentices Group is composed of staff who support apprentices with literacy, numeracy, study skills and IT. The group is creating a series of maths workbooks for craft apprenticeships. The first series comprises:

Maths for Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices
Maths for Commis Chef Apprentices
Maths for Electrical Apprentices
Maths for Metal Fabrication Apprentices
Maths for Motor Mechanics
Maths for Plumbing Apprentices

The workbooks cover basic maths concepts and introduce more complex topics relevant to specific apprenticeships

Open textbook in statics and dynamics for engineering undergraduates. Covers particles and rigid bodies (extended bodies), structures (trusses), simple machines, kinematics, and kinetics, as well as introductory vibrations. Includes text, videos, images, and worked examples (written and video).

The main objective of 1.054/1.541 is to provide students with a rational basis of the design of reinforced concrete members and structures through advanced understanding of material and structural behavior. This course is offered to undergraduate (1.054) and graduate students (1.541). Topics covered include: Strength and Deformation of Concrete under Various States of Stress; Failure Criteria; Concrete Plasticity; Fracture Mechanics Concepts; Fundamental Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Structural Systems and their Members; Basis for Design and Code Constraints; High-performance Concrete Materials and their use in Innovative Design Solutions; Slabs: Yield Line Theory; Behavior Models and Nonlinear Analysis; and Complex Systems: Bridge Structures, Concrete Shells, and Containments.
Professor Oral Buyukozturk thanks Tzu-Yang Yu, a graduate student at MIT, for his valuable assistance in preparing course documents.

This site provides a free physics textbook that tells the story of how it became possible, after 2500 years of exploration, to answer such questions. The book is written for the curious: it is entertaining, surprising and challenging on every page. With little mathematics, starting from observations of everyday life, the text explores the most fascinating parts of mechanics, thermodynamics, special and general relativity, electrodynamics, quantum theory and modern attempts at unification. The essence of these fields is summarized in the most simple terms. For example, the text presents modern physics as consequence of the notions of minimum entropy, maximum speed, maximum force, minimum change of charge and minimum action.

Madeline Noonan meets with all of her students individually during writer's workshop. In each conference, she specifically identifies strengths and two goals. Students continue to revise and rewrite throughout the workshop process and build confidence in their writing at the same time.

Newtonian Mechanics whereby fundamental concepts (momentum, energy, force, motion) are introduced on the first day and developed in parallel. Access entire curriculum: comprehensive lecture videos with questions, textbook (calculus based, algebra based, and conceptual), exams, syllabus, past student evaluations.

Newtonian Mechanics whereby fundamental concepts (momentum, energy, force, motion) are introduced on the first day and developed in parallel. Access entire curriculum: comprehensive lecture videos with questions, textbook (calculus based, algebra based, and conceptual), exams, syllabus, past student evaluations.

Full Curriculum, Newtonian Mechanics whereby fundamental concepts (momentum, energy, force, motion) are introduced on the first day and developed in parallel. Access entire curriculum: comprehensive lecture videos with questions, textbook (calculus based, algebra based, and conceptual), exams, syllabus, past student evaluations.

Newtonian Mechanics Full Curriculum whereby fundamental concepts (momentum, energy, force, motion) are introduced on the first day and developed in parallel. Access entire curriculum: comprehensive lecture videos with questions, textbook (calculus based, algebra based, and conceptual), exams, syllabus, past student evaluations.

Students explore the concepts of center of mass and static equilibrium by seeing how non-symmetrical objects balance. Using a paper cut-out shape of a parrot sitting on a wire coat hanger, they learn that their parrot exists in stable equilibrium — it returns to its balancing point after being disturbed. The weight of its tail makes the parrot balance upright. Give the parrot a push, and she knocks off balance, but swings back and forth until coming to rest in balance again.

Physics I is a first-year physics course which introduces students to classical mechanics. This course has a hands-on focus, and approaches mechanics through take-home experiments. Topics include: kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, universal gravitation, statics, conservation laws, energy, work, momentum, and special relativity.

This video lesson explores Newton's Third Law of Motion through examination of several real world examples of this law in action, including that of a donkey cart - a site common in the streets of Pakistan. Students will understand that forces act on objects even if the objects appear to be static and that certain conditions - gravity in particular - affect how two objects interact. The time needed to complete this lesson is approximately 50-60 minutes, and students should be familiar with basic mechanics such as Newton's laws, levers, etc. The materials required are a couple of spring balances, a meter rule, tape, pencil, two desks, and some lab weights (few grams each). The types of in-class activities for between the video breaks include active discussions and participation by students in activities related to the Third Law.