mekaanika

Mekaanika, in scientific contexts, denotes the branch of physics and engineering that studies the motion of bodies and the forces that cause or influence that motion. It covers classical mechanics for macroscopic objects, rigid body motion, and continuum mechanics, which treats solids and fluids as continuous media.

Classical mechanics includes kinematics, describing motion, and dynamics, explaining motion through forces. It relies on principles such as Newton's laws, energy conservation, and momentum conservation. Modern formulations also use Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, which express dynamics in terms of energy functions and generalized coordinates.

Continuum mechanics includes solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and the broader field of rheology. It uses constitutive relations to connect stress and strain, and it describes how materials deform under loads, flow, and respond to external influences. Thermomechanics integrates heat transfer and temperature effects.

Applications and methods: Mekaanika provides the theoretical foundation for engineering analysis and design. Practitioners develop mathematical models and perform simulations using numerical methods such as finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics, complemented by experiments for validation.

History and scope: The study of mechanics evolved from ancient mechanistic reasoning to the Newtonian framework in the 17th century and beyond. It remains central to engineering disciplines, robotics, aerospace, biomechanics, and many areas of science.