Vector Mechanics for Engineers, Dynamics [Hardcover]

Ferdinand P. Beer (Author), Jr., E. Russell Johnston (Author), William E. Clausen (Author), George H. Staab (Author), Ferdinand Beer (Author), William Clausen (Author), George Staab (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0072930799 | ISBN-13: 978-0072930795 | Edition: 7

For the past forty years Beer and Johnston have been the uncontested leaders in the teaching of undergraduate engineering mechanics. Over the years their textbooks have introduced significant theoretical and pedagogical innovations in statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials education. At the same time, their careful presentation of content, unmatched levels of accuracy, and attention to detail have made their texts the standard for excellence. The new Seventh Edition of Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics continues this tradition.

Editorial Reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 7 edition (July 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072930799
• ISBN-13: 978-0072930795
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #949,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics/Windows (Hardcover)

This book is horrible. The concepts are loosely introduced, you see variables all over the place without understanding what they mean. The explanations are also very weak. The author seems to be all over the place. For someone taking a first year dynamics course, this book may not enable you to understand the key principles. The examples are are very poor and do not prepare you to the end of chapter problems. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very solid and important text, May 14, 2000

By 

Engineer (Chattanooga, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics, 6th Edition New Media Version Wit H Sealed Software; (Hardcover)

Very few books provide solid material like this one (Meriam's is an excellent one too). In fact I have become interested in mechanics after I was Introduced to this text for the 1st time in 1984. Recently, I started to collect and work all the editions of this book. This text requires a skilful instructor that can present the material in a way worthy of this text. please do not hate this text if you really want unsurpass knowledge in mechanics, because there are many "engineering mechanics" texts around you that teach nothing.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too difficult, March 18, 2003

By 

Elim Garak (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Dynamics (Hardcover)

Without doubt, this is the worst textbook I ever had the misfortune to read.

I used it for a rushed 1st year dynamics course, and found the book utterly useless. The concepts are scattered and are introduced using complicated mathematics, some of which is beyond 1st year level. Even simply trying to read through the verbal explanations is near impossible for beginner students, simply because of the depth of knowledge required to do so.

The problems, while plentiful, are simply too difficult. Original thinking is one thing, these problems require something else entirely. I realise, of course, that textbooks must be challenging in order to maintain academic standards, but this book goes too far, to the point where students end up discouraged from the subject simply because the concepts are so difficult.

While I maintain the greatest respect for Mr Beer, as I am sure that he is a brilliant engineer (his book is testament to that), the text is simply too in-depth. For future editions, I recommend that he go through the book and greatly simplify both the language and the problems.

Until this book is simplified, I recommend the Hibbler Dyanmucs text to any other students out there.