Intermediate Dynamics

A comprehensive but accessible advanced undergraduate treatment of classical mechanics, adaptable to a one or two-semester course.

Patrick Hamill (Author)

9781009098472, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 April 2022

616 pages
25.2 x 19.4 x 3.2 cm, 1.46 kg

'A very well-written text on classical mechanics and a perfect choice for an intermediate-level undergraduate course. The author covers all key topics, including symmetries and conservation laws, and additional advanced topics on chaos, waves, and oscillations. Numerous exercises and computational projects help students to strengthen their understanding of the subject. I am happy to highly recommend this text.' Andrei Afanasev, George Washington University

This advanced undergraduate physics textbook presents an accessible treatment of classical mechanics using plain language and clear examples. While comprehensive, the book can be tailored to a one-semester course. An early introduction of the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms gives students an opportunity to utilize these important techniques in the easily visualized context of classical mechanics. The inclusion of 321 simple in-chapter exercises, 82 worked examples, 550 more challenging end-of-chapter problems, and 65 computational projects reinforce students' understanding of key physical concepts and give instructors freedom to choose from a wide variety of assessment and support materials. This new edition has been reorganized. Numerous sections were rewritten. New problems, a chapter on fluid dynamics, and brief optional studies of advanced topics such as general relativity and orbital mechanics have been incorporated. Online resources include a solutions manual for instructors, lecture slides, and a set of student-oriented video lectures.

Part I. Kinematics and Dynamics: 1. A brief review of introductory concepts
2. Kinematics
3. Newton's laws: determining the motion
4. Lagrangians and Hamiltonians
Part II. Conservation Laws: 5. The conservation of energy
6. Linear momentum
7. Angular momentum
8. Conservation laws and symmetries
Part III. Gravity: 9. The gravitational field
10. Central force motion: the Kepler problem
Part IV. Oscillations and Waves: 11. Harmonic motion
12. The pendulum
13. Waves
14. Small oscillations (optional)
Part V. Rotation: 15. Accelerated reference frames
16. Rotational kinematics
17. Rotational dynamics
Part VI. Special topics: 18. Statics
19. Fluid dynamics and sound waves (optional)
20. The special theory of relativity
21. Classical chaos (optional)
Appendix A. Formulas and constants
Appendix B. Answers to selected problems.

Subject Areas: Mechanical engineering [TGB], Classical mechanics [PHD]