Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Strategies for solving problems
- 2 Statics
- 3 Using F = ma
- 4 Oscillations
- 5 Conservation of energy and momentum
- 6 The Lagrangian method
- 7 Central forces
- 8 Angular momentum, Part I (Constant L^)
- 9 Angular momentum, Part II (General L^)
- 10 Accelerating frames of reference
- 11 Relativity (Kinematics)
- 12 Relativity (Dynamics)
- 13 4-vectors
- 14 General Relativity
- Appendix A Useful formulas
- Appendix B Multivariable, vector calculus
- Appendix C F = ma vs. F = dp/dt
- Appendix D Existence of principal axes
- Appendix E Diagonalizing matrices
- Appendix F Qualitative relativity questions
- Appendix G Derivations of the Lv/c2 result
- Appendix H Resolutions to the twin paradox
- Appendix I Lorentz transformations
- Appendix J Physical constants and data
- References
- Index
1 - Strategies for solving problems
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Strategies for solving problems
- 2 Statics
- 3 Using F = ma
- 4 Oscillations
- 5 Conservation of energy and momentum
- 6 The Lagrangian method
- 7 Central forces
- 8 Angular momentum, Part I (Constant L^)
- 9 Angular momentum, Part II (General L^)
- 10 Accelerating frames of reference
- 11 Relativity (Kinematics)
- 12 Relativity (Dynamics)
- 13 4-vectors
- 14 General Relativity
- Appendix A Useful formulas
- Appendix B Multivariable, vector calculus
- Appendix C F = ma vs. F = dp/dt
- Appendix D Existence of principal axes
- Appendix E Diagonalizing matrices
- Appendix F Qualitative relativity questions
- Appendix G Derivations of the Lv/c2 result
- Appendix H Resolutions to the twin paradox
- Appendix I Lorentz transformations
- Appendix J Physical constants and data
- References
- Index
Summary
Physics involves a great deal of problem solving. Whether you are doing cutting-edge research or reading a book on a well-known subject, you are going to need to solve some problems. In the latter case (the presently relevant one, given what is in your hand right now), it is fairly safe to say that the true test of understanding something is the ability to solve problems on it. Reading about a topic is often a necessary step in the learning process, but it is by no means a sufficient one. The more important step is spending as much time as possible solving problems (which is inevitably an active task) beyond the time you spend reading (which is generally a more passive task). I have therefore included a very large number of problems/exercises in this book.
However, if I'm going to throw all these problems at you, I should at least give you some general strategies for solving them. These strategies are the subject of the present chapter. They are things you should always keep in the back of your mind when tackling a problem. Of course, they are generally not sufficient by themselves; you won't get too far without understanding the physical concepts behind the subject at hand. But when you add these strategies to your physical understanding, they can make your life a lot easier.
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- Information
- Introduction to Classical MechanicsWith Problems and Solutions, pp. 1 - 21Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008