Analytical Mechanics [Paperback]

Louis N. Hand (Author), Janet D. Finch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521575729 | ISBN-13: 978-0521575720 | Publication Date: November 13, 1998

This introductory undergraduate text provides a detailed introduction to the key analytical techniques of classical mechanics, one of the cornerstones of physics. It deals with all the important subjects encountered in an undergraduate course and thoroughly prepares the reader for further study at graduate level. The authors set out the fundamentals of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics early in the book and go on to cover such topics as linear oscillators, planetary orbits, rigid-body motion, small vibrations, nonlinear dynamics, chaos, and special relativity. A special feature is the inclusion of many "e-mail questions," which are intended to facilitate dialogue between the student and instructor. It includes many worked examples, and there are 250 homework exercises to help students gain confidence and proficiency in problem-solving. It is an ideal textbook for undergraduate courses in classical mechanics, and provides a sound foundation for graduate study.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...meets its goal to present the material of analytical mechanics as required in the education of physicists and is recommended for this purpose. The material is presented in a clear way, and it stimulates interest in the subject among others by interjected historical material." Applied Mechanics Review

"Very modern treatment/selection of topics. Unifying approach (ties to quantum mechanics)." Professor Gary Bowman, Northern Arizona University

Book Description

Analytical Mechanics provides a detailed introduction to the key analytical techniques of classical mechanics, one of the cornerstones of physics. It deals with all the important subjects encountered in an undergraduate course and prepares the reader thoroughly for further study at graduate level. The authors set out the fundamentals of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics early on in the book and go on to cover such topics as linear oscillators, planetary orbits, rigid-body motion, small vibrations, nonlinear dynamics, chaos, and special relativity. It is an ideal textbook for undergraduate courses in classical mechanics, and provides a sound foundation for graduate study.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521575729
• ISBN-13: 978-0521575720
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic book, May 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics (Paperback)

This is a fabulous book! It is written at a very advanced level, however, which is why some of the others reviewing this book failed to see its strengths. If you are taking a second course in mechanics, and you are past the stage where you need to have your hand held throughout an entire course, then this book is ideal.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nice book to fill the gap !!, September 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics (Paperback)

This book is excellent to fill the gap between basic physics (such as: Halliday-Resnick, etc.) and advanced classical mechanics (such as: Goldstein or Arnold).

The discussion is clear and expressed in plain English. The problems are both challanging and informative.

In my opinion, this text is better than Symon's "MECHANICS"
and should be in your shelf right next to Goldstein's.

This text can also be used to accompany Marion-Thornton's "CLASSICAL DYNAMICS".

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useless for Self-Study, February 26, 2006

By 

Redmond Geek - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Analytical Mechanics (Paperback)

As the authors point out in their preface, this book was developed as part of a classroom course - one where students would have ongoing email discussions with one another and with a teaching assistant throughout the course. As a result, many important ideas are presented in the form of "email questions", which the book leaves unanswered. Students are supposed to think about them on their own, then verify their answers by emailing the TA. Similarly, none of the chapter exercises have any answers, nor is there a student answer guide available.

While this is an interesting pedagogical approach, it severely limits the value of this book as a general physics text. In fact, outside the exact instructor-based class format used by the authors, the book is relatively useless.

As alternatives, I'd recommend Fowles & Cassiday (at the easy end of the spectrum), or for the more ambitious, just jump into Goldstein. Either of those volumes, plus a good problem book, will teach you far more physics than Hand & Free.