动力学 (dòng lì xué) — dynamics; kinetics

Definition

The branch of physics (and engineering) that studies forces and the motion they produce — usually translated 'dynamics' or 'kinetics'. Distinct from 运动学 (kinematics), which describes motion without its causes.

noun
dynamicskinetics

Examples

  • 动力学。
    dòng lì xué Shì wù lǐ xué de yí gè zhòng yào fēn zhī.
    Dynamics is an important branch of physics.
  • 动力学。
    Gōng chéng shī xū yào zhǎng wò dòng lì xué cái néng shè jì wěn dìng de jī xiè jié gòu.
    Engineers need to master dynamics in order to design stable mechanical structures.
  • 动力学。
    Zhè mén kè zhǔ yào jiǎng niú dùn dòng lì xué de jī běn yuán lǐ.
    This course mainly covers the basic principles of Newtonian dynamics.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

动力motive force/power
动dòngmoving力lìforce
偏正Modifier + head
学xuéstudy

动力 means motive force or power, and 学 refers to a field of study; together they name dynamics.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Open 学 →
Appears in
Physics & Chemistry

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