Description
Book SynopsisThe book introduces classical mechanics. It does so in an informal style with numerous fresh, modern and inter-disciplinary applications assuming no prior knowledge of the necessary mathematics. The book provides a comprehensive and self-contained treatment of the subject matter up to the forefront of research in multiple areas.
Table of ContentsPart I: Newtonian Mechanics 1: Introduction 2: Newton's Three Laws 3: Energy and Work 4: Introductory Rotational Dynamics 5: The Harmonic Oscillator 6: Wave Mechanics & Elements of Mathematical Physics Part II: Langrangian Mechanics 7: Introduction 8: Coordinates & Constraints 9: The Stationary Action Principle 10: Constrained Langrangian Mechanics 11: Point Transformations in Langrangian Mechanics 12: The Jacobi Energy Function 13: Symmetries & Langrangian-Hamiltonian-Jacobi Theory 14: Near-Equilibrium Oscillations 15: Virtual Work & d'Alembert's Principle Part III: Canonical Mechanics 16: Introduction 17: The Hamiltonian & Phase Space 18: Hamiltonian's equations & Routhian Reduction 19: Poisson Brackets & Angular momentum 20: Canonical & Gauge Transformations 21: Hamilton-Jacobi Theory 22: Liouville's Theorem & Classical Statistical Mechanics 23: Constrained Hamiltonian Dynamics 24: Autonomous Geometrical Mehcanics 25: The Structure of Phase Space 26: Near-Integrable Systems Part IV: Classical Field Theory 27: Introduction 28: Langrangian Field Theory 29: Hamiltonian Field Theory 30: Clssical Electromagnetism 31: Neother's Theorem for Fields 32: Classical Path-Integrals Part V: Preliminary Mathematics 33: The (Not so?) Basics 34: Matrices 35: Partial Differentiation 36: Legendre Transformations 37: Vector Calculus 38: Differential equations 39: Calculus of Variations Part VI: Advanced Mathematics 40: Linear Algebra 41: Differential Geometry Part VII: Exam Style Questions Appendix A: Noether's Theorem Explored Appendix B: The Action Principle Explored Appendix C: Useful Relations Appendxi D: Poisson & Nambu Brackets Explored Appendix: Canonical Transformations Explored Appendix F: Action-Angle Variables Explored Appendix G: Statistical Mechanics Explored Appendix H: Biographies
