Classical Mechanics
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Book Overview
John Taylor has brought to his most recent book, Classical Mechanics, all of the clarity and insight that made his Introduction to Error Analysis a best-selling text. Classical Mechanics is intended for students who have studied some mechanics in an introductory physics course, such as "freshman physics." With unusual clarity, the book covers most of the topics normally found in books at this level, including conservation laws, oscillations, Lagrangian mechanics, two-body problems, non-inertial frames, rigid bodies, normal modes, chaos theory, Hamiltonian mechanics, and continuum mechanics. A particular highlight is the chapter on chaos, which focuses on a few simple systems, to give a truly comprehensible introduction to the concepts that we hear so much about. At the end of each chapter is a large selection of interesting problems for the student, 744 in all, classified by topic and approximate difficulty, and ranging for simple exercises to challenging computer projects. A Student Solutions Manual is also available.Adopted by more than 450 colleges and universities in the US and Canada and translated into six languages, Taylor's Classical Mechanics is a thorough and very readable introduction to a subject that is four hundred years old but as exciting today as ever. The author manages to convey that excitement as well as deep understanding and insight.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:189138922X
ISBN13:9781891389221
Release Date:January 2005
Publisher:University Science Books
Length:786 Pages
Weight:3.51 lbs.
Dimensions:1.7" x 7.3" x 10.2"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
The most effective text I've ever used
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I am an undergraduate at Rutgers who used this in my 300-level Mechanics courses last year. This has been, by far, the most helpful book for any course yet. Dr. Taylor does an amazing job of depicting how complex mechanical problems are solved, and still gives an immense repetoire of challenging exercises for the reader. He provides great assistance in solving complex differential equations, so little pre-requiste work is needed in this regard. This text is friendly to read, unlike any other text I have used-so much so that it can be read recreationally. Dr. Taylor also provides a gross amount of material, so instructors will find ample material to use for an entire year or more. To help allieviate this dillema, he also provides helpful assistance by marking essential and optional areas. No doubts that instructors and students will be pleased with their experience.
Very good for self-study
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I strongly recommend this book, it is well written, clear, without typographical errors, with many excercises which you can really do after having studied the text. Some people say it is verbose: sometimes it is true, BUT when you study alone it is a lot better to have more rather than less explanations. I wish there was a similar book on quantum mechanics. The binding is good and this adds to the good feeling of studying it. This book should become soon a bestseller. I suggest only to add the answers of the even-numbered problems, sometimes it may help.
Great book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
This book is well written and is easy to learn from whether taking a Classical Mechanics class or learning it on your own. Unlike some books that expect you to know Differential Equations, this one sets it up for you along the way. It also has 11 chapters for a mechanics class and six bonus chapters that can be used as supplementary material. I would recommend this book for future students.
An excellent text
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
This textbook is comprehensive, clearly written, well-paced, and thoughtful. Taylor clearly is an experienced professor and understands well how to convey material to students. Whether this text is required for your intermediate/advanced undergraduate classical mechanics course or you are someone who wishes to brush up on mechanics, this is the book.
Clear, thorough, and enjoyable
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
"Classical mechanics" is a brilliant book, certainly one of the very best at this level. The author doesn't save space when a thorough introduction to a topic or problem is needed. Very often an intuitive explanation is given first, followed by a formal exposition, and then comes the real gem - a qualitative discussion of the mathematical results which brings physics again in the picture with full force. The chapters on oscillations are outstanding, same as the exposition of generalized coordinates and generalized forces. Of course, not every detail in derivations has to be given, and it is the choice of what to include and what to skip that makes the flow of exposition logical and coherent. This book is a joy to read, it is excellent for self-study.
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