Analytical Mechanics: With an Introduction to Dynamical Systems [Hardcover]

Joseph S. Torok (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471332070 | ISBN-13: 978-0471332077 | Publication Date: October 21, 1999 | Edition: 1

A stimulating, modern approach to analytical mechanics

Analytical Mechanics with an Introduction to Dynamical Systems offers a much-needed, up-to-date treatment of analytical dynamics to meet the needs of today's students and professionals. This outstanding resource offers clear and thorough coverage of mechanics and dynamical systems, with an approach that offers a balance between physical fundamentals and mathematical concepts. Exceptionally well written and abundantly illustrated, the book contains over 550 new problems-more than in any other book on the subject-along with user-friendly computational models using MATLAB. Featured topics include:
* An overview of fundamental dynamics, both two- and three-dimensional
* An examination of variational approaches, including Lagrangian theory
* A complete discussion of the dynamics of rotating bodies
* Coverage of the three-dimensional dynamics of rigid bodies
* A detailed treatment of Hamiltonian systems and stability theory

Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical engineering, physics, or applied mathematics, this distinguished text is also an excellent self-study or reference text for the practicing engineer or scientist.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A stimulating, modern approach to analytical mechanics

Analytical Mechanics with an Introduction to Dynamical Systems offers a much-needed, up-to-date treatment of analytical dynamics to meet the needs of today's students and professionals. This outstanding resource offers clear and thorough coverage of mechanics and dynamical systems, with an approach that offers a balance between physical fundamentals and mathematical concepts. Exceptionally well written and abundantly illustrated, the book contains over 550 new problems-more than in any other book on the subject-along with user-friendly computational models using MATLAB. Featured topics include:
* An overview of fundamental dynamics, both two- and three-dimensional
* An examination of variational approaches, including Lagrangian theory
* A complete discussion of the dynamics of rotating bodies
* Coverage of the three-dimensional dynamics of rigid bodies
* A detailed treatment of Hamiltonian systems and stability theory

Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical engineering, physics, or applied mathematics, this distinguished text is also an excellent self-study or reference text for the practicing engineer or scientist.

About the Author

JOSEF S. T?R?K is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience; 1 edition (October 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471332070
• ISBN-13: 978-0471332077
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where did all the examples go?, February 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics: With an Introduction to Dynamical Systems (Hardcover)

This book needed to be proofread by more than the author.

Approximately 30% of all of the information in the figures is missing. Few of the greek characters got printed in the figures for an advanced dynamics book that makes it impossible to read.

Another point of interest to the reader is that the first chapter has ~40 pages, and there are ~40 pages of problems. It just goes to show the author should have put more (some) effort and time into explanations, and less into the pure copying of others dynamics problems. Who needs an advanced dynamics book with more than 200 problems in one chapter alone.

The material presented here would be decent if there were 10 times the number of example problems and the figures showed relevant information. I cannot believe that an author would honestly publish this work without reading through it first.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars beware of title, January 15, 2003

By 

carlos ivan saa (Cal State Northridge, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics: With an Introduction to Dynamical Systems (Hardcover)

Although this book contains the usual advanced topics in classical mechanics, one must be aware of the meaning of its title. It indicates that its contents of classical mechanics are at the advanced level for engineers but not quite at the level and sophistication essential for advanced graduate work in physics; it lacks exposure in Hamiltonian formalism and advanced mathematics (differentiable manifolds, exterior forms, etc.), material which I believe is important to serious physics students

I strongly surmise that engineering students can benefit most from this book. It contains a large body of homework problems, some of them copied from Schaum's Lagrangian Dynamics and other books. This book is somewhat readable, though Prof. Torok's choice of symbols often clouds my analysis.

Too expensive of a hardcover, I am better off with my old Marion or Landau.

5.0 out of 5 stars Analytical Mechanics, March 18, 2010

By 

Jonathan T. Fentzke (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics: With an Introduction to Dynamical Systems (Hardcover)

In my mind this text is intended as a supplementary text containing a wealth of example problems to draw from in an informative and well-written manner. It certainly helps to have the author as your professor, but in that absence I still consider this concise text a useful reference.