Analytical Mechanics

by Louis N. Hand, Janet D. Finch

This introductory undergraduate text provides a detailed introduction to the key analytical techniques of classical mechanics, one of the cornerstones of physics. It deals with all the important subjects encountered in an undergraduate course and thoroughly prepares the reader for further study at graduate level. The authors set out the fundamentals of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics early in the book and go on to cover such topics as linear oscillators, planetary orbits, rigid-body motion, small vibrations, nonlinear dynamics, chaos, and special relativity. A special feature is the inclusion of many "e-mail questions," which are intended to facilitate dialogue between the student and instructor. It includes many worked examples, and there are 250 homework exercises to help students gain confidence and proficiency in problem-solving. It is an ideal textbook for undergraduate courses in classical mechanics, and provides a sound foundation for graduate study.

Genres: Physics, Textbooks, Science

592 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 1998

Reviews

[Yash Patley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book for those who has taken High School Physics cource, understand Newtonian mechanics, and have studied Multivariate Calculus at College level.

The book provides detailed explanation of some of the very basic concepts in Classical mechanics like generalised coordinates, holonomic and non-holonomic constraints, and Langrangian dynamics in the very first chapter. The chapter on Variational Principle and Hamiltonian Dynamics is fantastic.

However, there aren't much examples to look forward to and some of the problems would make you go nuts about them, but that's what Physics is all about, problem solving.

In a nutshell, a fantastic book, if you want to understand classical mechanics from its depths. This book, unlike Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, is not that advanced, but its best for an undergraduate course in Classical Mechanics. Plus, all those who prefer self-study and do not go after online lectures, I recomend them this book.

To the point, great problem excercises, a bit detailed in notations and indices, and covers almost everything in classical mechanics.

[Qx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked it up, started reading it, shed tears at the end of it by the sheer amount of joy and pain felt. 10/10 made my second year in Physics worthwhile.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty unusable textbook that obscures everything behind its veiled notation and formalism. Plenty of words to go with it, but they aren't particularly intuitive. Almost no examples. Really not a very good text.

[Tue Le · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had to use this book for an advanced course on classical mechanics. I did not like this book very much. Those textbooks by John Taylor or Herbert Goldstein would have been better.