Mechanics

Classical mechanics sits at the root of modern physics and remains current. Many of its techniques now underpin electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, quantum and classical field theory, and both special and general relativity. The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian frameworks, both born in mechanics, are central to those fields. Over the past two or so decades the subject has been reinvigorated by work on nonlinear dynamics, Noether's theorem, and the spread of variational methods into other disciplines such as magnetofluid dynamics.

The author draws on years of teaching in several countries to students from many areas of physics. The book is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in physics, engineering, astronomy and applied mathematics, as well as researchers in these areas. Its approach to the material, the selection and ordering of topics, and its wide range of applications across physics are meant to make it a thorough reference for both groups.

The volume includes more than 100 problems for readers to work through.