MEX-003 · Introduction to mechanics Sample material

History of mechanics

The development of mechanics from Aristotle and Archimedes through the scholars of the East, Galileo and Newton to Einstein; how the main ideas changed and how the foundation of modern science was formed.

Estimated time: 2 h 50 min 4 activities

Learning objective

Know the main stages of the history of mechanics and their representatives.
Understand the fundamental difference between the views of Aristotle and of Galileo and Newton.
Assess the contribution of Central Asian scholars (Ibn Sina, al-Biruni, al-Khazini, Ulugh Beg) to mechanics and astronomy.
Explain the relationship of classical mechanics to relativity and quantum mechanics.

Expected outcomes

Can arrange the main discoveries in chronological order.
Applies Archimedes' laws of the lever and of floating bodies and Galileo's law of uniformly accelerated motion in problems.
Explains how the concepts of 'inertia' and 'force' changed historically.
Justifies with examples the role of experiment and mathematics in the progress of science.

Interactive modelHistory of science: key discoveries

Activities

Lecture
Lecture · 1 h 15 min · required
Problem solving: “History of mechanics”
Practice · 1 h 15 min · required
History of mechanics
Self-study · 6 h 15 min · optional
Final test
Test · 20 min · required · pass ≥ 70%

Completion conditions

  • Lecture
  • Problem solving: “History of mechanics”
  • Final test — at least 70%