Mechanics

ISBN-13: 9780471927372 / Angielski / Miękka / 1991 / 342 str.

Peter Smith; Whitney Smith; P. Smith

Opis

The modern theoretical study of mechanics has a long history dating from the early part of the 17th century. The first major contribution to particle dynamics was made by Galileo with his elementary theory of the motion of a projectile. The fundamental importance of Galileo's approach lay in his attempt to relate theory and experimental evidence; at the time this was a new concept of scientific method. Prior to this breakthrough scientific theories of mechanics were put forward wholly on this basis of reason and the authoritative statement.

Spis treści

Vectors.

Kinematics: Geometry of Motion.

Principles of Mechanics.

Applications in Particle Dynamics.

Work and Energy.

Variable Mass Problems: Rocket Motion.

Mechanical Oscillations: Linear Theory.

Orbits.

Non–Linear Dynamics.

Rotating Frames of Reference.

Appendix.

Answers and Comments on the Exercises.

Further Reading.

Index.

Blurb

Mechanics Second Edition P. Smith Department of Mathematics University of Keele, UK and R.C. Smith Open University, UK A revised and updated edition of the authors’ highly successful earlier book, this introductory text on Mechanics is designed to give a thorough grounding in particle dynamics and elementary rigid body dynamics. Aimed at first degree students in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering, the book is largely self–contained, including the necessary vector calculus, as well as background differential equations and numerical methods. Topics covered include kinematics, the principles of mechanics, work and energy, rocket dynamics, linear vibration theory, orbits, non–linear dynamics, and rotating frames. The theory and explanation are backed up by more than 360 examples and problems, with many worked through in full in the text. In this new edition, the chapter on vibrations has been completely revised and divided into two, and the original chapter on linear theory has been extended to include normal modes of multiple systems. A completely new chapter on non–linear dynamics has been added to illustrate such phenomena as limit cycles, period doubling and chaos in dynamical systems. Chapters on applications of particle dynamics and differential equations have also been re–organized. The text now includes many computer–generated diagrams.