Mechanics

Mechanics Second Edition

By 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.