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

Scheck, Florian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 354052715X ISBN 13: 9783540527152

Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K, 1990

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 book covers all topics in mechanics from elementary Newtonian mechanics, the principles of canonical mechanics and rigid body mechanics to relativistic mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. It was among the first textbooks to include dynamical systems and deterministic chaos in due detail. As compared to the previous editions the present 6th edition is updated and revised with more explanations, additional examples and problems with solutions, together with new sections on applications in science.
 
Symmetries and invariance principles, the basic geometric aspects of mechanics as well as elements of continuum mechanics also play an important role. The book will enable the reader to develop general principles from which equations of motion follow, to understand the importance of canonical mechanics and of symmetries as a basis for quantum mechanics, and to get practice in using general theoretical concepts and tools that are essential for all branches of physics.
 
The book contains more than 150 problems with complete solutions, as well as some practical examples which make moderate use of personal computers. This will be appreciated in particular by students using this textbook to accompany lectures on mechanics. The book ends with some historical notes on scientists who made important contributions to the development of mechanics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 354052715X
• ISBN 13: 9783540527152
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 445