Classical Mechanics - An undergraduate text

Описание

Preface
Information for readers
What is this book about and who is it for?
This is a book on classical mechanics for university undergraduates. It aims to cover
all the material normally taught in classical mechanics courses from Newton’s laws to
Hamilton’s equations. If you are attending such a course, you will be unlucky not to
find the course material in this book.
What prerequisites are needed to read this book?
It is expected that the reader will have attended an elementary calculus course and an
elementary course on differential equations (ODEs). A previous course in mechanics
is helpful but not essential. This book is self-contained in the sense that it starts from
the beginning and assumes no prior knowledge of mechanics. However, in a general
text such as this, the early material is presented at a brisker pace than in books that are
specifically aimed at the beginner.
What is the style of the book?
The book is written in a crisp, no nonsense style; in short, there is no waffle! The object
is to get the reader to the important points as quickly and easily as possible, consistent
with good understanding.
Are there plenty of examples with full solutions?
Yes there are. Every new concept and technique is reinforced by fully worked examples. The author’s advice is that the reader should think how he or she would do each
worked example before reading the solution; much more will be learned this way!
Are there plenty of problems with answers?
Yes there are. At the end of each chapter there is a large collection of problems. For
convenience, these are arranged by topic and trickier problems are marked with a star.
Answers are provided to all of the problems. A feature of the book is the inclusion
of computer assisted problems. These are interesting physical problems that cannot be
solved analytically, but can be solved easily with computer assistance.
Where can I find more information?
More information about this book can be found on the book’s homepage
All feedback from readers is welcomed. Please e-mail your comments, corrections and
good ideas by clicking on the comments button on the book’s homepage.

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