This book covers all topics in mechanics from elementary Newtonian mechanics, the principles of canonical mechanics and rigid body mechanics to relativistic mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. It was among the first textbooks to include dynamical systems and deterministic chaos in due detail. As compared to the previous editions the present fifth edition is updated and revised with more explanations, additional examples and sections on Noether's theorem.
Symmetries and invariance principles, the basic geometric aspects of mechanics as well as elements of continuum mechanics also play an important role. The book will enable the reader to develop general principles from which equations of motion follow, to understand the importance of canonical mechanics and of symmetries as a basis for quantum mechanics, and to get practice in using general theoretical concepts and tools that are essential for all branches of physics.
The book contains more than 120 problems with complete solutions, as well as some practical examples which make moderate use of personal computers. This will be appreciated in particular by students using this textbook to accompany lectures on mechanics. The book ends with some historical notes on scientists who made important contributions to the development of mechanics.
Author(s): Schek, Florian
Series: Graduate Texts in Physics
Edition: 5th
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 568
Front Matter....Pages i-xiv
Elementary Newtonian Mechanics....Pages 1-87
The Principles of Canonical Mechanics....Pages 89-186
The Mechanics of Rigid Bodies....Pages 187-240
Relativistic Mechanics....Pages 241-284
Geometric Aspects of Mechanics....Pages 285-356
Stability and Chaos....Pages 357-419
Continuous Systems....Pages 421-438
Back Matter....Pages 439-555