Role within programme and connections to other courses. The emphasis of this course will be on how what we know of Newtonian mechanics is carried over into a continuum. This approach helps to emphasise that the tools and knowledge we have already developed can be used to great effect in new situations. In addition to the portability of physical concepts, we will also be able to see some generally useful mathematical tools in a new context (vector calculus in velocity fields being a key example). Content. Volume and surface forces, stress and strain, Hooke’s Law, equation of motion for an elastic solid, longitudinal and transverse waves in a solid, fluid properties, fluid motion. Usually alternates with Plasma Physics.