Mechanics deals with motion and the forces that produce motion.

Drag is friction that opposes movement through a fluid like liquid or air. The amount of drag depends on the shape and speed of the object with slower objects experiencing less drag than faster objects and more aerodynamic objects experiencing less drag than those with a large leading surface area.

According to Boyle's Law, pressure and volume are inversely proportional:

\( \frac{P_1}{P_2} \) = \( \frac{V_2}{V_1} \)

In this problem, V₂ = 30 ft.³, V₁ = 45 ft.³ and P₁ = 9.0 psi. Solving for P₂:

P₂ = \( \frac{P_1}{\frac{V_2}{V_1}} \) = \( \frac{9.0 psi}{\frac{30 ft.^3}{45 ft.^3}} \) = 13.5 psi

Potential energy is the energy of an object by virtue of its position relative to other objects. It is energy that has the potential to be converted into kinetic energy.

A first-class lever is used to increase force or distance while changing the direction of the force. The lever pivots on a fulcrum and, when a force is applied to the lever at one side of the fulcrum, the other end moves in the opposite direction. The position of the fulcrum also defines the mechanical advantage of the lever. If the fulcrum is closer to the force being applied, the load can be moved a greater distance at the expense of requiring a greater input force. If the fulcrum is closer to the load, less force is required but the force must be applied over a longer distance. An example of a first-class lever is a seesaw / teeter-totter.