Product Description

Analytical Mechanics 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 prepares the reader thoroughly for further study at graduate level. The authors set out the fundamentals of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics early on 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. Many worked examples are given, 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #176731 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Review
‘This book is a welcome addition to the available choices for a graduate text in modern classical mechanics and I encourage instructors to consider it.’ R. W. Robinett, American Journal of Physics

Customer Reviews

Chosen by Cambridge University's Physics lecturer
I teach 2nd year dynamics in Cambridge and I looked at several textbooks for my course. I chose Hand and Finch because, unlike so many books which simply present the same material as other textbooks in the same standard way, they have come up with a fresh perspective. The book came out of an interactive course at Cornell where the students and teachers participated in detailed discussion, and the excitement rubs off in the book. Lots of interesting examples pop up and the book is a fun read. The level is pretty advanced, going up to graduate standard. The only topic that I think is poorly presented is fictitious forces in rotating frames - this is done in a thorough and correct manner which I find clumsy and probably inaccessible to students. Definitely my favourite dynamics book.

not for a first approach to classical mechanics.
If you are looking for a book suitable to an examination pass,i'd better recommend other authors ,as Goldstein,Morin,Taylor,Greiner ,or for more mathematically inclined, Scheck.
Hand and Finch might be more troublesome.