what area of physics studies motion and its causes?

dynamics. Another term more often used these days is kinematics, but that had a different meaning when I went to college.

The area of physics that studies motion and its causes is known as classical mechanics or Newtonian mechanics. It is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects and the forces acting upon them.

To understand classical mechanics, you can start by learning about the laws of motion formulated by Sir Isaac Newton. These laws provide the foundation for understanding how objects move and the factors that influence their motion.

The three laws of motion are:

1. Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia): An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.

2. Newton's Second Law of Motion: The force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration. This law is often summarized by the equation F = ma, where F represents force, m represents mass, and a represents acceleration.

3. Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that any force exerted on an object will result in an equal and opposite force exerted back on the object.

By understanding these laws and their implications, you can investigate and analyze the motion of objects, calculate forces, velocities, accelerations, and ultimately understand the causes behind various types of motion.

It's worth noting that classical mechanics is a fundamental branch of physics, and it has paved the way for more advanced areas of study such as quantum mechanics and relativity.