8.01SC | Fall 2016 | Undergraduate

Classical Mechanics

Online Textbook

These notes were updated in 2022 to reflect corrections that readers have noticed.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Classical Mechanics (PDF)

Chapter 2: Units, Dimensional Analysis, Problem Solving, and Estimation (PDF - 4.5 MB)

Chapter 3: Vectors (PDF - 4.4 MB)

Chapter 4: One Dimensional Kinematics (PDF - 3.2 MB)

Chapter 5: Two Dimensional Kinematics (PDF - 2.3 MB)

Chapter 6: Circular Motion (PDF - 2.6 MB)

Chapter 7: Newton’s Laws of Motion (PDF)

Chapter 8: Applications of Newton’s Second Law (PDF - 6 MB)

Chapter 9: Circular Motion Dynamics (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Chapter 10: Momentum, System of Particles, and Conservation of Momentum (PDF - 3 MB)

Chapter 11: Reference Frames (PDF - 1.4 MB)

Chapter 12: Momentum and the Flow of Mass (PDF - 3.3 MB)

Chapter 13: Energy, Kinetic Energy, and Work (PDF - 5.1 MB)

Chapter 14: Potential Energy and Conservation of Energy (PDF - 6.1 MB)

Chapter 15: Collision Theory (PDF - 3.3 MB)

Chapter 16: Two Dimensional Rotational Kinematics (PDF - 2.4 MB)

Chapter 17: Two Dimensional Rotational Dynamics (PDF - 4 MB)

Chapter 18: Static Equilibrium (PDF - 2.2 MB)

Chapter 19: Angular Momentum (PDF - 4.2 MB)

Chapter 20: Rigid Body Kinematics About a Fixed Axis (PDF - 3.1 MB)

Chapter 21: Rigid Body Dynamics About a Fixed Axis (PDF - 4.4 MB)

Chapter 22: Three Dimensional Rotations and Gyroscopes (PDF - 3.5 MB)

Chapter 23: Simple Harmonic Motion (PDF - 5.9 MB)

Chapter 24: Physical Pendulum (PDF - 2.3 MB)

Chapter 25: Celestial Mechanics (PDF - 4.5 MB)

Chapter 26: Elastic Properties of Materials (PDF - 2.6 MB)

Chapter 27: Static Fluids (PDF - 1.8 MB)

Chapter 28: Fluid Dynamics (PDF - 2.5 MB)

Chapter 29: Kinetic Theory of Gases (PDF - 1.8 MB)

Chapter 30: Navier Stokes Equation (PDF - 2.2 MB)

Chapter 31: Non-Inertial Linear and Rotating Reference Frames (PDF - 6 MB)

Physical Constants (PDF)

Astronomical Data (PDF)

Learning Resource Types
Lecture Videos
Problem Sets
Online Textbook