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Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
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Searching... | 30000010193704 | QC173.65 F67 2009 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
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Summary
Summary
A new title in the Manchester Physics Series, this introductory text emphasises physical principles behind classical mechanics and relativity. It assumes little in the way of prior knowledge, introducing relevant mathematics and carefully developing it within a physics context. Designed to provide a logical development of the subject, the book is divided into four sections, introductory material on dynamics, and special relativity, which is then followed by more advanced coverage of dynamics and special relativity. Each chapter includes problems ranging in difficulty from simple to challenging with solutions for solving problems. Includes solutions for solving problems Numerous worked examples included throughout the book Mathematics is carefully explained and developed within a physics environment Sensitive to topics that can appear daunting or confusing
Author Notes
Dr Jeff Forshaw , Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
Dr Gavin Smith , Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
Reviews 1
Choice Review
Dynamics and Relativity is a very readable, pedagogically effective undergraduate resource that prepares students well for more advanced graduate-level classical mechanics courses. Forshaw and Smith (both, Univ. of Manchester, UK) carefully treat conventional classical mechanics topics with interesting examples, and provide helpful guidance through some of the more difficult derivations and concepts. Modern applications and the general physical implications of the equations and results appear throughout the text. The authors introduce vector notation on p. 5 and use this notation consistently and very effectively in the book. The careful consideration of frames of reference and coordinate systems and the distinction between inertial and accelerating reference frames are made early on and ease the development of special relativity that is the subject of the last third of the book. The book is less detailed than standard mechanics works such as H. Goldstein's Classical Mechanics (3rd ed., 2002) and K. Symon's Mechanics (3rd ed., 1971). The former provides preparation for quantum mechanics, while the latter contains extensive examples, problems, and detailed calculations and would be a useful companion to the current work. The authors' systematic and thoughtful approach is effective for a first course. Minimal references and footnotes. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. M. Coplan Institute for Physical Science and Technology
Table of Contents
Editors' Preface to the Manchester Physics Series | p. xi |
Author's Preface | p. xiii |
I Introductory Dynamics | p. 1 |
1 Space, Time and Motion | p. 3 |
1.1 Defining Space and Time | p. 3 |
1.1.1 Space and the classical particle | p. 4 |
1.1.2 Unit vectors | p. 6 |
1.1.3 Addition and subtraction of vectors | p. 6 |
1.1.4 Multiplication of vectors | p. 7 |
1.1.5 Time | p. 8 |
1.1.6 Absolute space and space-time | p. 10 |
1.2 Vectors and Co-ordinate Systems | p. 11 |
1.3 Velocity and Acceleration | p. 14 |
1.3.1 Frames of reference | p. 16 |
1.3.2 Relative motion | p. 16 |
1.3.3 Uniform acceleration | p. 18 |
1.3.4 Velocity and acceleration in plane-polar co-ordinates: uniform circular motion | p. 20 |
1.4 Standards and Units | p. 21 |
2 Force, Momentum and Newton's Laws | p. 25 |
2.1 Force and Static Equilibrium | p. 25 |
2.2 Force and Motion | p. 31 |
2.2.1 Newton's Third Law | p. 35 |
2.2.2 Newton's bucket and Mach's principle | p. 39 |
2.3 Applications of Newton's Laws | p. 41 |
2.3.1 Free body diagrams | p. 41 |
2.3.2 Three worked examples | p. 42 |
2.3.3 Normal forces and friction | p. 46 |
2.3.4 Momentum conservation | p. 49 |
2.3.5 Impulse | p. 51 |
2.3.6 Motion in fluids | p. 51 |
3 Energy | p. 55 |
3.1 Work, Power and Kinetic Energy | p. 56 |
3.2 Potential Energy | p. 61 |
3.2.1 The stability of mechanical systems | p. 64 |
3.2.2 The harmonic oscillator | p. 65 |
3.2.3 Motion about a point of stable equilibrium | p. 67 |
3.3 Collisions | p. 68 |
3.3.1 Zero-momentum frames | p. 68 |
3.3.2 Elastic and inelastic collisions | p. 71 |
3.4 Energy Conservation in Complex Systems | p. 75 |
4 Angular Momentum | p. 81 |
4.1 Angular Momentum of a Particle | p. 81 |
4.2 Conservation of Angular Momentum in Systems of Particles | p. 83 |
4.3 Angular Momentum and Rotation About a Fixed Axis | p. 86 |
4.3.1 The parallel-axis theorem | p. 94 |
4.4 Sliding and Rolling | p. 95 |
4.5 Angular Impulse and the Centre of Percussion | p. 97 |
4.6 Kinetic Energy of Rotation | p. 99 |
II Introductory Special Relativity | p. 103 |
5 The Need for a New Theory of Space and Time | p. 105 |
5.1 Space and Time Revisited | p. 105 |
5.2 Experimental Evidence | p. 108 |
5.2.1 The Michelson-Morley experiment | p. 108 |
5.2.2 Stellar aberration | p. 110 |
5.3 Einstein's Postulates | p. 113 |
6 Relativistic Kinematics | p. 115 |
6.1 Time Dilation, Length Contraction and Simultaneity | p. 115 |
6.1.1 Time dilation and the Doppler effect | p. 116 |
6.1.2 Length contraction | p. 121 |
6.1.3 Simultaneity | p. 123 |
6.2 Lorentz Transformations | p. 124 |
6.3 Velocity Transformations | p. 129 |
6.3.1 Addition of velocities | p. 129 |
6.3.2 Stellar aberration revisited | p. 130 |
7 Relativistic Energy and Momentum | p. 135 |
7.1 Momentum and Energy | p. 135 |
7.1.1 The equivalence of mass and energy | p. 142 |
7.1.2 The hint of an underlying symmetry | p. 144 |
7.2 Applications in Particle Physics | p. 145 |
7.2.1 When is relativity important? | p. 146 |
7.2.2 Two useful relations and massless particles | p. 149 |
7.2.3 Compton scattering | p. 152 |
III Advanced Dynamics | p. 157 |
8 Non-Inertial Frames | p. 159 |
8.1 Linearly Accelerating Frames | p. 159 |
8.2 Rotating Frames | p. 161 |
8.2.1 Motion on the earth | p. 165 |
9 Gravitation | p. 173 |
9.1 Newton's Law of Gravity | p. 174 |
9.2 The Gravitational Potential | p. 177 |
9.3 Reduced Mass | p. 182 |
9.4 Motion in a Central Force | p. 184 |
9.5 Orbits | p. 186 |
10 Rigid Body Motion | p. 197 |
10.1 The Angular Momentum of a Rigid Body | p. 198 |
10.2 The Moment of Inertia Tensor | p. 200 |
10.2.1 Calculating the moment of inertia tensor | p. 203 |
10.3 Principal Axes | p. 207 |
10.4 Fixed-axis Rotation in the Lab Frame | p. 212 |
10.5 Euler's Equations | p. 214 |
10.6 The Free Rotation of a Symmetric Top | p. 216 |
10.6.1 The body-fixed frame | p. 216 |
10.6.2 The lab frame | p. 218 |
10.6.3 The wobbling earth | p. 223 |
10.7 The Stability of Free Rotation | p. 224 |
10.8 Gyroscopes | p. 226 |
10.8.1 Gyroscopic precession | p. 226 |
10.8.2 Nutation of a gyroscope | p. 232 |
IV Advanced Special Relativity | p. 237 |
11 The Symmetries of Space and Time | p. 239 |
11.1 Symmetry in Physics | p. 239 |
11.1.1 Rotations and translations | p. 240 |
11.1.2 Translational symmetry | p. 245 |
11.1.3 Galilean symmetry | p. 246 |
11.2 Lorentz Symmetry | p. 247 |
12 Four-Vectors and Lorentz Invariants | p. 253 |
12.1 The Velocity Four-vector | p. 254 |
12.2 The Wave Four-vector | p. 255 |
12.3 The Energy-momentum Four-vector | p. 258 |
12.3.1 Further examples in relativistic kinematics | p. 259 |
12.4 Electric and Magnetic Fields | p. 262 |
13 Space-Time Diagrams and Causality | p. 267 |
13.1 Relativity Preserves Causality | p. 270 |
13.2 An Alternative Approach | p. 272 |
14 Acceleration and General Relativity | p. 279 |
14.1 Acceleration in Special Relativity | p. 279 |
14.1.1 Twins paradox | p. 280 |
14.1.2 Accelerating frames of reference | p. 282 |
14.2 A Glimpse of General Relativity | p. 288 |
14.2.1 Gravitational fields | p. 290 |
A Deriving the Geodesic Equation | p. 295 |
B Solutions to Problems | p. 297 |