01 · Beginner
Physical Quantities, Units, Dimensions, and Scaling
Dimensional consistency and engineering estimation: the free error detector.
Start chapter →Foundations · The second course of the roadmap
Physics for Mechanical Engineers
Calculus-based physics with an engineering destination: every chapter exists because Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Fluids, Vibrations, or Mechatronics needs it.
01
How this course is designed
Open textbook base
Primary sources are OpenStax University Physics Volumes 1 and 2 (Volume 3 for the short optics chapter): legally open, calculus-based, and aligned with standard engineering physics sequences. Students can read every assigned section for free.
Elite benchmarks, engineering bridges
Chapter order and depth are checked against MIT 8.01 (Classical Mechanics) and MIT 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism). Bridge references (Hibbeler, Çengel, Taylor, Rao) connect each chapter to the engineering course it feeds.
Deliberately bounded
No deep quantum mechanics or relativity, no full fluid mechanics or thermodynamics here: chapters 12, 13, and 16 are previews and bridges, kept short on purpose. The full treatments come in their own courses.
02
The 16 chapters
02 · Beginner
Vectors and Coordinate Systems in Physical Problems
Vector language applied to real motion and forces. The bridge into Statics and Dynamics.
Start chapter →03 · Beginner
Kinematics: Motion in 1D, 2D, and 3D
Position, velocity, acceleration, and projectiles: describing motion before explaining it.
Start chapter →04 · Beginner
Newton's Laws and Force Models
Gravity, normal force, friction, tension, drag, and springs: the engineer's force toolbox.
Start chapter →05 · Beginner
Free-Body Diagrams and Equilibrium Preview
Short and intensely practical: the diagram habit that Engineering Statics assumes.
Start chapter →06 · Intermediate
Work, Energy, and Power
Energy bookkeeping: preparation for Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Machines, and Energy Systems.
Start chapter →07 · Intermediate
Momentum, Impulse, and Collisions
What survives a crash, an impact, or a jet: conservation thinking.
Start chapter →08 · Intermediate
Circular Motion and Rotating Systems
Centripetal reality for curves, bearings, and rotating machinery intuition.
Start chapter →09 · Intermediate
Torque, Angular Momentum, and Rigid-Body Rotation
Shafts, motors, gears, gyroscopes, and flywheels: rotation as the engineer lives it.
Start chapter →10 · Intermediate
Oscillations, Mechanical Waves, and Resonance
Springs, pendulums, and the resonance warning: preparation for Mechanical Vibrations.
Start chapter →11 · Intermediate
Thermal Physics: Temperature, Heat, and Material Response
Expansion, heat capacity, and phase change: the bridge to Thermodynamics and Materials.
Start chapter →12 · Intermediate
First Law of Thermodynamics and Energy Balance
Q, W, and internal energy: the physics foundation the full Thermo course builds on.
Start chapter →13 · Intermediate
Fluids: Pressure, Buoyancy, and Flow Intuition
Pressure, Archimedes, continuity, and Bernoulli intuition: a preview, not the full course.
Start chapter →14 · Advanced
Electricity, Circuits, and Magnetism for Mechanical Engineers
Enough E&M for sensors, motors, actuators, and instrumentation.
Start chapter →15 · Advanced
Measurement, Uncertainty, and Experimental Physics
Experimental engineering thinking: error analysis on real instruments.
Start chapter →16 · Advanced · optional
Optics, Light, and Modern Physics Overview
Kept short: lasers, IR thermography, and where modern physics touches engineering.
Start chapter →03
Official book mapping
| Role | Books and courses |
|---|---|
| Primary source | OpenStax University Physics Volume 1 (mechanics, sound, oscillations, waves) · Volume 2 (thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism) · Volume 3 for chapter 16 only |
| Elite benchmark | MIT 8.01 Classical Mechanics · MIT 8.02 Electricity and Magnetism |
| Quality reference | Young and Freedman, University Physics with Modern Physics · Halliday, Resnick and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics · Serway and Jewett |
| Engineering bridges | Hibbeler (Statics, ch. 5) · Çengel and Boles (Thermodynamics, ch. 12) · Çengel and Cimbala (Fluids, ch. 13) · Taylor, An Introduction to Error Analysis (ch. 15) · Rao, Mechanical Vibrations (ch. 10) |
Chapters 1 to 10 are the mechanics core (Vol. 1 + MIT 8.01). Chapters 11 to 12 bridge to thermal engineering (Vol. 2). Chapter 13 previews fluids (Vol. 1). Chapter 14 prepares mechatronics (Vol. 2 + MIT 8.02). Chapters 15 and 16 close with measurement and a short modern-physics overview.