Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems [Hardcover]

Jerry B. Marion (Author), Stephen T. Thornton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0030973023 | ISBN-13: 978-0030973024 | Publication Date: January 17, 1995 | Edition: 4th

This best-selling classical mechanics text, written for the advanced undergraduate course, provides a complete account of the classical mechanics of particles, systems of particles, and rigid bodies. The author makes extensive use of vector calculus to explore topics and also includes the Langrangian formulation of mechanics. Modern notation and terminology are used throughout in support of the text's objective: to facilitate the transition to the quantum theory of physics. Features: * Many numerical calculation examples and end-of-chapter problems clearly demonstrate how to set-up and work out problems, and enhance mathematics training for physics majors. * To reinforce previously learned material, the author has based the text on Newtonian mechanics. * Ongoing emphasis is placed on mathematics with the introduction of new mathematical techniques whenever possible and ample opportunities to practice these techniques. * Chaos, a topic not generally available in comparable texts, is introduced in Chapter 4. * The author focuses on connections to modern physics keeping in mind student needs for learning quantum mechanics and relativity. New to this edition: * New Chapter 4 provides new chaos materials and expands on the nonlinear material in the third edition. * This edition features additional numerical calculation examples, a revision based largely on comments from instructors and students who used the previous edition. The use of abundant numerical calculation examples distinguishes this text from others currently available.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 638 pages
• Publisher: Holt Rinehart & Winston; 4th edition (January 17, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0030973023
• ISBN-13: 978-0030973024
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Nuclear Physics > Particle Physics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dynamics newbies will need a supplementary text..., January 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems (Hardcover)

Pros:
The Hamiltonian and Lagrangian sections were well-explained.
Good intro to mathematical formalism/style used in higher level courses. Notation a little clunky though. No use whining about the Math; just get used to it if you want your degree and graduate school.
Problems were interesting & challenging, but will kill newbies... more on that below.

Cons:
The other sections were so-so. Very often I could not see the forest for the trees. Initiates need some kind of context/background to fit the various topics together and with what they already know.
It's not readily obvious that intuition is just as important as analysis in Dynamics problem-solving--no advice given in this respect. Caused me to use up too much time trying to crack a problem when my approach was unsuitable in the first place.
Examples did not help in solving the problems; often felt like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool before I could swim.
Try Schaum's Outlines, Landau, Goldstein as well. Feynmann's Lectures give some background.

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No fuss over mathematical formalism here!, June 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems (Hardcover)

Why is everyone complaining about the mathematical formalism in this text? While perhaps such formalism requires a certain level of mathematical maturity on the part of the reader, it does *not* detract from pedagogy. In my opinion, it is better to become used to such formalism in the context of classical dynamics, where intuition can be of great help, than later on, and please, calculus and linear algebra is all that's required! It's not *that* formal!

I'd also like to say that the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian sections present one of the more lucid explanations that I have seen.

Finally, no, the author does not give you an example problem and then ask you to do the same problem with different numbers at the end of the chapter--he assumes you could do that. If you can't read a book that doesn't have such trivial problems for you to work, perhaps you should go elsewhere. The problems in this book are often challenging, and require you to extrapolate from the previous chapters. I find such problems more interesting than ones that require you to only look back in the chapter, grab two equations, eliminate one variable, and then plug in numbers. I'm not sure why everyone has jumped on the "the problems aren't worded well" bandwagon either, as I have encountered very little ambiguity throughout this book. If you want to master classical dynamics, this isn't the only book you'll want to work through, but it certainly should be on your list.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If I already knew the material it wouldn't be so bad., October 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems (Hardcover)

I'm taking physics 105 at UC Berkeley and we're using Marion and Thornton in my class. I like using the book as a reference, but I think that each chapter does a poor job of explaining how to solve the problems that appear in the end of each chapter. There are also very few simple problems in the book that allow one to become used to using new methods (like hamiltonian mechanics, and the use of lagrangians) before using them to solve difficult problems. I would reccommend another mechanics book such as "Mechanics" by Landau and Lifschitz or "Mechanics" by Symon. Unless you have an excellent instructor, Marion and Thronton is not very much fun to use.