Predicting Motion

Predicting Motion presents the core ideas of Newtonian mechanics, starting from Newton's laws and the idea that changes in motion are predictable given the forces that cause them. Richly illustrated with questions and answers for self-assessment, it carefully introduces concepts, such as kinetics and potential energy, linear momentum, torque (the rotational analogue of force), and angular momentum, and explains their role in predicting motion. Although no prior knowledge of this topic is required, the book focuses on the significance of differential equations in making such predictions. It also provides an up-to-date treatment of mechanics with accounts of relativistic collisions and the implications of chaos theory for the future of the solar system and for galaxies that contain black holes.