Information for readers

What is this book about and who is it for?

This is a book on classical mechanics for university undergraduates. It aims to cover all the material normally taught in classical mechanics courses from Newton's laws to Hamilton's equations. If you are attending such a course, you will be unlucky not to find the course material in this book.

What prerequisites are needed to read this book?

It is expected that the reader will have attended an elementary calculus course and an elementary course on differential equations (ODEs). A previous course in mechanics is helpful but not essential. This book is self-contained in the sense that it starts from the beginning and assumes no prior knowledge of mechanics. However, in a general text such as this, the early material is presented at a brisker pace than in books that are specifically aimed at the beginner.

What is the style of the book?

The book is written in a crisp, no nonsense style; in short, there is no waffle! The object is to get the reader to the important points as quickly and easily as possible, consistent with good understanding.

Are there plenty of examples with full solutions?

Yes there are. Every new concept and technique is reinforced by fully worked examples. The author's advice is that the reader should think how he or she would do each worked example before reading the solution; much more will be learned this way!