Introduction to Classical Mechanics

This textbook covers all the standard introductory topics in classical mechanics, including Newton’s laws, oscillations, energy, momentum, angular momentum, planetary motion, and special relativity. It also explores more advanced topics, such as normal modes, the Lagrangian method, gyroscopic motion, fictitious forces, 4-vectors, and general relativity. It contains more than 250 problems with detailed solutions so students can easily check their understanding of the topic. There are also over 350 unworked exercises which are ideal for homework assignments. Password protected solutions are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521876223. The vast number of problems alone makes it an ideal supplementary text for all levels of undergraduate physics courses in classical mechanics. Remarks are scattered throughout the text, discussing issues that are often glossed over in other textbooks, and it is thoroughly illustrated with more than 600 figures to help demonstrate key concepts.

Review

“I think all undergraduate physics majors will own a copy of this book within a year. It’s that good.”Professor Krsna Dev, Middlebury College”This textbook serves as an introduction to standard undergraduate classical mechanics topics, including Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, oscillators, rotational dynamics and angular momentum. … The real value of this book, however, lies in the extensive set of problems and worked solutions that many students tend to crave and as such is sure to be warmly welcomed.”Contemporary Physics 

Book Description

Supplementary textbook for all levels of undergraduate physics courses in classical mechanics.

About the Author

David Morin is Lecturer on Physics at Harvard University. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from Harvard in 1996. When not writing physics limericks or thinking of new problems whose answers involve e or the golden ratio, he can be found running along the Charles River or hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.