What is the study of forces and motion on physical objects known as?

The study of forces and motion on physical objects is known as mechanics. Mechanics encompasses both statics, which deals with objects at rest, and dynamics, which focuses on objects in motion and the forces that affect that motion. This broad field covers the principles of motion and the forces that cause changes in motion, making it foundational to understanding how physical objects behave in various conditions.

Kinematics is a subset of mechanics that specifically deals with the description of motion without considering the forces causing that motion. Dynamics, while related and concerned with motion as influenced by forces, represents only one aspect of the larger field of mechanics. Thermodynamics, on the other hand, deals with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work, which is outside the realm of forces and motion of physical objects. Thus, mechanics is the most comprehensive and correct term for the study in question.