Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics) [Paperback]

Walter Greiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0387955860 | ISBN-13: 978-0387955865 | Edition: 1

The series of texts on Classical Theoretical Physics is based on the highly successful series of courses given by Walter Greiner at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Intended for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students, the volumes in the series provide not only a complete survey of classical theoretical physics but also an enormous number of worked examples and problems to show students clearly how to apply the abstract principles to realistic problems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews:

"What makes Greiner’s volumes of particular value to the student and professor alike is their completeness … Moreover, Greiner greatly increases the value of his presentation by including something like one hundred completely worked examples in each volume. Nothing is of greater importance to the student than seeing, in detail, how the theoretical concepts and tools under study are applied to actual problems of interest to working physicists … Greiner’s lectures … are internationally noted for their clarity, for their completeness, and for the effort that he has devoted to making physics an integral whole. His enthusiasm for his sciences is contagious and shines through almost every page." D. Allan Bromley, Yale University

"This softcover publication … is based on the author’s courses at the J. W. Goethe University in Frankfurt. … Although the textbook, by its remarkable completeness, seems to be intended for advanced students and aims to be a reference book for graduate students and teachers, it is sufficiently understandable and extensive to be used by beginners as a first introduction to theoretical physics. It does not only provide a survey of classical theoretical mechanics, but also a respectable amount of examples and problems … ." (Georges Kohnen, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)

"This volume of lectures … deals with the first and more elementary part of the important field of classical mechanics. The subject is presented in a manner that is both interesting to the student and easily accessible. The main text is therefore accompanied by many exercises and examples that have been worked out in great detail. This should make the book useful also for students wishing to study the subject on their own. … A worthwhile purchase for graduate students in physics … ." (Current Engineering Practice – online, Vol. 47, 2004)

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (December 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387955860
• ISBN-13: 978-0387955865
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,215,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect course to learn theoretical physics in its entirety, June 17, 2011

By 

Dmitry Vostokov (Monkstown, Co. Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

It was my dream since the school days to learn physics in its entirety. Whereas The Feynman Lectures on Physics: Commemorative Issue, Three Volume Set that I own (I read it at school before university in Russian translation) is a bit light and don't include the developments of the past 40 - 50 years and Course of Theoretical Physics by Landau was a bit heavy for me at those times (although I read Mechanics volume in Russian and a few beginning chapters from other volumes) I finally found what I need: Theoretical Physics course from Walter Greiner. I have now the first 3 volumes (there are many more volumes including Quantum Electrodynamics, Gauge Theory of Weak Interactions, Quantum Chromodynamics) and just started reading the first one: Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics). It explains all necessary mathematics, has all derivations, lots of examples and illustrations, and even talks about dark matter (in the first classical mechanics volume). More important I also ordered the original German edition (Theoretische Physik. Klassische Mechanik I. Dynamik und Dynamik der Punktteilchen - Relativität) and reading both in parallel. This improves my German as well.

Dmitry Vostokov

Literate Scientist blog

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, September 27, 2009

By 

Justin S. Harris "Troponin" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

This is a fantastic book for the motivated physics student.

It is the best "theoretical" approach to Newtonian physics that I have found. At the University level, motivated Physics students are left with the frustration of taking their first few Physics courses with students who are majoring in Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pre-med, etc., etc. This leaves the situation where material is presented "watered down" and entirely non-theoretical in order to allow all students to follow along.

For the motivated Physics major, this can be quite frustrating. The first thing many of them do in that situation is begin a path of self-study to go along with the dry classroom presentation of the material. However, the search for a more mathematically driven "theoretic" approach to mechanics leads almost entirely to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism.

This book presents Newtonian mechanics in all its theoretical "math nerd" glory. All necessary mathematical topics are covered with "physics rigor" that allows you to gain a usable knowledge of the mathematics in a minimal time. It has been the only book I've found that sticks to Newtonian mechanics, yet avoids the point and click "apply equation X here" methods that most introductory University texts give. I used it as a supplement to my assigned physics book for Mechanics and Heat and felt exceedingly more prepared than my fellow students with each succeeding chapter.

If you're a motivated student, I highly suggest picking up this book. The first year or two of a University Physics program can be uncomfortably dry....and you'll hear many times that students don't feel like they're doing "real" physics until their Junior year. This book will allow you the feel of doing "real physics" while sticking to the Newtonian mechanics that you'll use for your courses. By the end of the book, you'll feel comfortable with all the mathematical derivations and applications of Newtonian mechanics, have a solid grasp of harmonic oscillations, have a solid background in solving ordinary differential equations, feel comfortable with matrix algebra applications, and get the enjoyment that comes with doing "real physics" a good year or two before your classmates.

My only complaint is with some of the presentation of relativity. It is still well above average, but I didn't find it to be the asset of a self-study supplement that it was for freshman physics.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent supplementary book, August 17, 2006

By 

QuantumGC (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Mechanics: Point Particles and Relativity (Classical Theoretical Physics) (Paperback)

Simply stated, I don't consider this "the book" on the subject, but it is a most-have. It begins by developing some of the mathematical foundations needed to solve the problems; followed by some Newtonian mechanics (basic concepts: force, energy, motion in 1D-3D, and many examples and applications), and ends with special relativity. The topics are presented in a clear and straight-forward manner, although some of them were too simple and not as thorough as I wished.

This book corresponds to a regular 1st semester in mechanics. It should be complemented with the second book (Classical Mechanics) which deals with non-inertial reference frames, systems of particles, rigid bodies, Lagrange equ. and Hamiltonian Theory.

I give this book 4.5 stars (I'm a tough grader)