In Introduction to particle and continuum mechanics, we study the classical physics of both collections of particles and continuous media. Taking Newton’s laws of motion as our axioms, we develop the theory of motion without the need for prior knowledge, with a particular focus on the laws of conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum. The relevant mathematics is provided in an appendix. The text contains various worked examples and a large number of original problems to help the reader develop an intuition for the physics.

In the first part, the focus is on particle physics, with applications to rockets, billiards, fictitious forces, spinning tennis rackets and the solar system. Next to Newtonian mechanics, we also study the Lagrangian formalism, which is particularly useful for systems with constraints, and generalizes to both quantum and relativistic systems. In the second part, we move to continuum systems, studying solid deformations, fluid flows, and the laws of thermodynamics, which give rise, among others, to heat engines, waves, and encounters with viscoelastic materials, with properties in between those of ordinary fluids or solids.

This demonstration book is meant as an explanation and working example of the possibilities of making an online open textbook with the Jupyter books software. Jupyter books are made for the web. They incorporate many of the features we expect from modern websites, such as adaptive layout (readable on phones, tablets, and large computer screens), internal and external referencing, and adaptable formatting (separation of content and layout).
Besides some information on how to work with MarkDown, this book shows examples of different interactive elements, like graphs with sliders, applets, 3D interactive figures, embedded websites and a quiz.

In Mechanics and Relativity, the reader is taken on a tour through time and space. Starting from the basic axioms formulated by Newton and Einstein, the theory of motion at both the everyday and the highly relativistic level is developed without the need of prior knowledge. The relevant mathematics is provided in an appendix. The text contains various worked examples and a large number of original problems to help the reader develop an intuition for the physics. Applications covered in the book span a wide range of physical phenomena, including rocket motion, spinning tennis rackets and high-energy particle collisions.

Physics is the foundation of many important science and engineering disciplines. Understanding its basics is fundamental for advanced studies. In this course, you will have the chance to review the fundamentals either for your own interest, or to ensure you have a smooth start in the first year of your Bachelor’s degree.

The course aims to close the readiness gap between high school and university. It was specifically developed for potential future students: it covers physics topics that are a prerequisite for many engineering programs, but will also show you how these topics are applied in the various follow-up studies (For example in Applied Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering). The course not only covers the content needed for further study but also introduces the different ways in which physics is presented at university level to ensure an easy entry to a new degree program.