Classical Mechanics

Classical Mechanics, Second Edition presents a complete account of the classical mechanics of particles and systems for physics students at the advanced undergraduate level. The book evolved from a set of lecture notes for a course on the subject taught by the author at California State University, Stanislaus, for many years. It assumes the reader has been exposed to a course in calculus and a calculus-based general physics course. However, no prior knowledge of differential equations is required. Differential equations and new mathematical methods are developed in the text as the occasion demands.

Chapter 1 – Kinematics: Describing the Motion

Chapter 2 – Newtonian Mechanics

Chapter 3 – Integration of Newton’s Equation of Motion

Chapter 4 – Lagrangian Formulation of Mechanics: Descriptions of Motion in Configuration Space

Chapter 5 – Hamiltonian Formulation of Mechanics: Descriptions of Motion in Phase Spaces

Chapter 6 – Motion Under a Central Force

Chapter 7 – Harmonic Oscillator

Chapter 8 – Coupled Oscillations and Normal Coordinates

Chapter 9 – Nonlinear Oscillations

Chapter 10 – Collisions and Scatterings

Chapter 11 – Motion in Non-Inertial Systems

Chapter 12 – Motion of Rigid Bodies

Chapter 13 – Theory of Special Relativity

Chapter 14 – Newtonian Gravity and Newtonian Cosmology

Chapter 15 – Hamilton- Jacobi Theory of Dynamics

Chapter 16 – Introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formulations for Continuous Systems and Classical Fields

Appendix 1: Vector Analysis and Ordinary Differential Equations

Appendix 2: D’Alembert’s Principle and Lagrange’s Equations

Appendix 3: Derivation of Hamilton’s Principle from D’Alembert’s Principle

Appendix 4: Noether’s Theorem

Appendix 5: Conic Sect ions, Ellipse, Parabola, and Hyperbola

About the Author

Dr. Tai Chow was born and raised in China. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in physics from National Taiwan University, a master’s degree in physics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and a Ph.D. degree in physics from the University of Rochester in New York. Since 1970, Dr. Chow has been in the Department of Physics at California State University, Stanislaus, and served as the department chairman for 18 years. He has published more than 40 articles in physics and astrophysics journals and is the author of four textbooks.