Connecting the dots between fundamental classical mechanics and microscopic particle dynamics

Students may not be motivated to study classical mechanics if they view it solely as a pre-requisite to more advanced courses, with no direct applications in research. In this paper, the self-assembly of small particles is used as an example to help students connect classical mechanics to the physics of self-organization at the microscopic scale. The three-part tutorial starts by guiding students in applying Newton's second law to derive the equation of motion of a microscopic particle in a fluid and to understand its overdamped dynamics at the microscale. Then, students apply their knowledge of potential energy, force, velocity, and displacement to derive the equations of motion for two interacting particles. Finally, students learn how to develop a simple computational model to solve the equations and visualize the motion and assembly of multiple particles. Examples from self-assembly experiments can be presented to students to demonstrate how different interparticle interaction energies can give rise to different self-assembled structures and phases. The exercises can be used in physics courses at different levels and modified based on students' prior knowledge.