Tag: Newton's Second Law

  • Rocket Propulsion

    Introduction Rocket propulsion refers to the means by which rockets generate thrust to move forward. It is the fundamental principle that enables space travel. The principle that underpins rocket propulsion is Newton’s Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Basic Physics of Rocket Propulsion In rocket propulsion, a…

  • Yarkovsky Effect

    Introduction The Yarkovsky Effect is the force acting on a rotating body in space caused by the anisotropic emission of thermal photons (which carry momentum). This effect is named after the engineer Ivan Osipovich Yarkovsky, who first proposed the idea. This effect plays a significant role in the dynamics of small celestial bodies, such as…

  • Chapter 9: Newton’s Laws of Motion

    9.1 Introduction to Newton’s Laws of Motion Newton’s Laws of Motion are the fundamental laws of Physics I. He originally wrote these laws in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, more commonly known today as the Principia. The three laws can be stated in words as: or mathematically as: 9.2 Newton’s First Law The First Law is…

  • Newton’s Second Law

    The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Newton’s Second Law of Motion is one of the fundamental principles of physics. It states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional…