Mechanics is the branch of physics that studies the motion of particles or large bodies. Currently, mechanics can be divided into two main branches: classical and quantum mechanics. The two branches take different mathematical approaches reflecting the different philosophies, though some of the tools overlap. Further, each type of mechanics can be done using more than one mathematical route to get to the same answer. In mechanics, the "answer" comes in the solution of the equations of motion, which describe the motion of the particle with respect to time.

Classical mechanics uses traditional calculus in either of its formulations. It assumes that the behavior of particles is deterministic. The method of solution usually taught in elementary physics is the solution of the force equation. Using Newton's F = dp/dt, where F is the vector sum of the forces on the particle and p is the momentum vector, a...