Introduction

Physical mechanics (often called classical mechanics) is probably the oldest branch of physics, dating back to at least Newton, and it is still an important part of the world of physics today. Most ``everyday'' processes still can be described adequately with classical mechanics, even though at some deeper level quantum mechanics and general relativity might apply.

From the standpoint of your physics education, this is also a crucial class. This course will probably be the most mathematically intensive physics class that you have taken so far, and the mathematical formalism that is introduced here will show up again in later courses.

In a sense, this course consists of the retelling of physics that you learned in 191. You now have a stronger mathematical background, as well as a basic understanding of classical mechanics, so we can go back over the material in more detail and cover topics that were not within your reach before.