Mechanics: From Newton's Laws to Deterministic Chaos - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0387574751 ISBN 13: 9780387574752

Synopsis

A course in mechanics is of primary importance in any physics teaching program. Scheck's book integrates the various aspects of classical mechanics, relativistic mechanics, and modern topics such as deterministic chaos. Both the physical approach to mechanics and its mathematical foundations are emphasised. With elementary Newtonian mechanics as a starting point, the principles of canonical mechanics in Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations are outlined. Rigid bodies are treated in detail, and the basic concepts of special relativity are given. Particular emphasis is put on the geometrical aspects of mechanics, such as geometrical objects on manifolds. A chapter on stability and chaos concludes the book, introducing topics such as the long-time behavior of dynamical flows, deterministic chaos, and chaotic motion in celestial mechanics.

About this title

Review

From the reviews of the fourth edition: "This is a solid book. By its presentation: 528 thick pages, of excellent print quality, hard bounded with a hard cover. By its content: a rigorous presentation, in a clear and accurate language, of all aspects of mechanics normally seen in the physics graduate programme ... including examples – analytical and numerical -, exercises, solutions and a dictionary-like bibliography of the most famous mechanists. ... A great book; perhaps a companion of any physicist." (Michel Crucifix, Physicalia, Vol. 28 (1), 2006) "In this English translation of the first volume of German treatise on theoretical physics ... the author presents mechanics both as the oldest branch of physics and the basis of modern theoretical physics. ... A large number of exercises, together with their solutions are given for each chapter, and strong mathematical tools are used over the book. Both a modern treatment and a pedagogic character of the presentation allow to recommend the book to students of various levels, as well as to mathematicians and physicists." (Petre P. Teodorescu, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1091 (17), 2006) "This weighty volume, with over 500 pages, is widely recommended in German universities ... . based on an advanced undergraduate, two semester, course for students of applied mathematics and theoretical physics. ... The print font and diagrams are particularly clear. ... there are nearly 100 pages of problems at the end of the book. These are particularly valuable for the student and contain questions and solutions which are arranged according to chapter. ... All university libraries should include a copy of this book ... ." (Dr. C. Isenberg, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 46 (6), 2005)

From the Back Cover

This updated and revised fourth edition covers all topics in mechanics from elementary Newtonian mechanics, canonical and rigid body mechanics to relativistic mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. In particular, symmetries and invariance principles, geometrical structures and continuum mechanics play an important role. This book will enable the reader to develop general principles from which equations of motions may be derived, to understand the importance of symmetries as a basis for quantum mechanics and to get practice in using theoretical tools and concepts that are essential for all branches of physics. The book contains numerous problems with complete solutions, and some practical examples.This will be appreciated in particular by students using the text to accompnay lectures on mechanics. The book ends with some historical remarks on important pioneers in mechanics.

Edition details

• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387574751
• ISBN 13: 9780387574752
• Binding: Paperback