Introduction to Mechanics

Mahendra Verma

ISBN: 9788173719813 | Year: 2016 | Paperback | Pages: 624 | Language : English

Book Size: 180 x 240 mm | Territorial Rights: World

Price: 1095.00

Introduction to Mechanics, Second Edition offers a modern introduction to Newtonian dynamics and the basics of special relativity. The present edition covers almost all the topics specified in the mechanics syllabus of most Indian universities. It preserves the emphasis laid on the fundamental principles of mechanics and introduction of modern topics (as in the earlier edition), such as symmetries, nonlinear dynamics and presentation of Newton's laws as a differential equation. The programming language Python is used to solve a large number of differential equations numerically and for many plots.

For computer programs, class PPTs, figures and discussions, please visit the author’s webpage. Link to author’s webpage: http://home.iitk.ac.in/~mkv/Mechanics-book/Welcome.html

Mahendra Verma obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He joined the Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur in 1994. He is a non-linear dynamist whose chief interest lies in theoretical and computational studies of turbulence and nonlinear physics. Currently he is working on magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, dynamo and convective turbulence. Dr Verma is also interested in atmospheric and computational physics. He is a recipient of the Swarnajayanti fellowship.

Preface to the Second Edition 
Preface to the First Edition  
Notation
1 History of mechanics 
2 Newton’s laws of motion 
3 Forces
4 Kinematics vs dynamics
5 Motion in one dimension
6 Numerical solution of newton’s equations 
7 Phase space description of mechanical systems 
8 Symmetry properties of newton’s equation 
9 Two-dimensional motion; central force problem 
10 Three-dimensional motion 
11 Energy 
12 Motion in a noninertial reference frame 
13 Conservation of linear momentum and centre of mass 
14 Collisions 
15 Rotation dynamics: definitions 
16 Rigid body dynamics 
17 Nonlinear dynamics and chaos 
18 Statics 
19 Mechanics of solids 
20 Mechanics of fluids 
21 Special theory of relativity: kinematics 
22 Relativistic dynamics 
Epilogue  
Appendix A: Present paradigm of physics and science 
Appendix B: Dimensional analysis and estimation 
Appendix C: Python programming language  
Appendix D: Matlab, Scilab and Octave
Appendix E: Tensors and moment of inertia tensor 
Appendix F: Vector operations on vector and scalar fields
Appendix G: Important astronomical data 
Appendix H: Important physical constants
Appendix I: Hyperbolic functions
Appendix J: Torque-free precession revisited  
Answers to selected exercises 
Selected references 
Index


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