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Classical Mechanics
For 30 years, this classic text has been the acknowledged standard in classical mechanics courses. Classical Mechanics enables students to make connections between classical and modern physics an indispensable part of a physicist s education. The authors have updated the topics, applications, and notations to reflect today s physics curriculum. They introduce students to the increasingly important role that nonlinearities play in contemporary applications of classical mechanics. New numerical exercises help students develop skills in the use of computer techniques to solve problems in physics. Mathematical techniques are presented in detail so that the text remains fully accessible to students who have not had an intermediate course in classical mechanics.
Features
The classical approach of this leading text book has been revised and updated A section on the Euler and Lagrange exact solutions to the three-body problem A section on the damped driven oscillator as an example of the workings of the Josephson junction Chapter on canonical perturbation theory has been streamlined and the mathematics has been simplified Approximately 45 new problems, mostly in Chapters 1 8 and 11. Problems sets are now divided into Derivations and Exercises Solutions for 19 select problems have been provided in Appendix C
Table Of Contents:
Survey of the Elementary Principles Variational Principles and Lagrange s Equations The Central Force Problem The Kinematics of Rigid Body Motion The Rigid Body Equations of Motion Oscillations The Classical Mechanics of the Special Theory of Relativity The Hamilton Equations of Motion Canonical Transformations Hamilton Jacobi Theory and Action-Angle Variables Classical Chaos Canonical Perturbation Theory Introduction to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formulations for Continuous Systems and Fields Appendix A Euler Angles in Alternate Conventions and Cayley Klein Parameters Appendix B Groups and Algebras Appendix C Solutions to Select Exercises Selected Bibliography Author Index Subject Index
Features
The classical approach of this leading text book has been revised and updated A section on the Euler and Lagrange exact solutions to the three-body problem A section on the damped driven oscillator as an example of the workings of the Josephson junction Chapter on canonical perturbation theory has been streamlined and the mathematics has been simplified Approximately 45 new problems, mostly in Chapters 1 8 and 11. Problems sets are now divided into Derivations and Exercises Solutions for 19 select problems have been provided in Appendix C
Table Of Contents:
Survey of the Elementary Principles Variational Principles and Lagrange s Equations The Central Force Problem The Kinematics of Rigid Body Motion The Rigid Body Equations of Motion Oscillations The Classical Mechanics of the Special Theory of Relativity The Hamilton Equations of Motion Canonical Transformations Hamilton Jacobi Theory and Action-Angle Variables Classical Chaos Canonical Perturbation Theory Introduction to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formulations for Continuous Systems and Fields Appendix A Euler Angles in Alternate Conventions and Cayley Klein Parameters Appendix B Groups and Algebras Appendix C Solutions to Select Exercises Selected Bibliography Author Index Subject Index
664 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 28, 2007
Somehow this book has become one of the standards for classical mechanics. Unfortunately, it is neither particularly detailed in its explanations nor well-written.
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February 9, 2016I'm parking this one because it doesn't cover what I need. I'm not rating it because it might be good or bad and I haven't read enough of it to judge. The fact that it assumes what I wanted to learn just means it isn't the book I need.
The first chapter presents a very austere but elegant exposition of the basic principles of Newtonian mechanics. It would probably not suit beginners but this isn't a book for beginners anyway. That's about all I can say.
The first chapter presents a very austere but elegant exposition of the basic principles of Newtonian mechanics. It would probably not suit beginners but this isn't a book for beginners anyway. That's about all I can say.
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August 25, 2023This book still appears in my nightmares sometimes, and it always involves an impossible-to-read exam. If you love blocks sliding down increasingly complex ramps, this is the one for you.
January 19, 2014
"The" book that specializes on one of the 5 cornerstone topics that every physicist should learn. this isn't a "easy" book, but it is one of my favorites.
Download Link: http://dl.lux.bookfi.org/genesis/6100...
Download Link: http://dl.lux.bookfi.org/genesis/6100...
May 20, 2014
More analytical than geometrical but it still remains the gold standard for classical mechanics. The only improvement I would like is more succinctness.
March 6, 2026
Me cambio la vida. No sé si para bien o mal, pero ahora sé cómo calcular un Lagrangiano.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2020
This is my recommended book (and I am sure that many others will recommend it) for classical mechanics. It would help if you have already got some introduction to lagrangian and hamiltonian mechanics from some other book (I would recommend Classical Mechanics by Doughlas Gregory) but even if that is not the case, I will still say that this book is still one of the best and complete books out there to equip you with the basics and advanced topics of classical mechanics.
One of the things that I like about this book is that it does cover the topic of classical field theory and does introduce the concept of lagrangian density. I do remember that I went to this book before I started to learn QFT as I didn't know about the concept of lagrangian density. This book explained that concept to me in a very understandable manner.
Another remarkable feature of this text is that it does express special relativity in the formalism of lagrangians. This is a key insight that a student might need in high-level studies. For example, when someone starts to learn about relativistic strings, he/she does need to understand a lagrangian named Nambu Goto lagrangian. However, in order to understand that from where does the motivation to consider the area of a world sheet of the string as the lagrangian comes, one needs to understand the lagrangian of a relativistic point particle. This book does provide that understanding to it's reader.
Last but not the least, this book also covers some of the advanced level topics in the application of classical mechanics i.e. the rigid body dynamics and Hamilton Jacobi theory.
I won't recommend reading all of this book in one go. Instead, reading parts of this text according to the need will really help the reader to make the most out of this book.
One of the things that I like about this book is that it does cover the topic of classical field theory and does introduce the concept of lagrangian density. I do remember that I went to this book before I started to learn QFT as I didn't know about the concept of lagrangian density. This book explained that concept to me in a very understandable manner.
Another remarkable feature of this text is that it does express special relativity in the formalism of lagrangians. This is a key insight that a student might need in high-level studies. For example, when someone starts to learn about relativistic strings, he/she does need to understand a lagrangian named Nambu Goto lagrangian. However, in order to understand that from where does the motivation to consider the area of a world sheet of the string as the lagrangian comes, one needs to understand the lagrangian of a relativistic point particle. This book does provide that understanding to it's reader.
Last but not the least, this book also covers some of the advanced level topics in the application of classical mechanics i.e. the rigid body dynamics and Hamilton Jacobi theory.
I won't recommend reading all of this book in one go. Instead, reading parts of this text according to the need will really help the reader to make the most out of this book.
June 22, 2007
Even though this is the standard mechanics book, its treatment is pretty average. Be careful when doing problems and check the website for corrections because there are a lot of typos. Also, there were a lot of changes between different printings of the same edition as some of the typos were corrected or problems modified, e.g. different potentials given for the same scattering problem. This makes it tough when the professor, grader, and your classmates all have different versions of the same problems.
December 8, 2015
Much too formal.
February 5, 2019
Fantastic!
Absolutely the best book I read ever.
Absolutely the best book I read ever.
June 10, 2019
This is a standard textbook used by Universities and Colleges all around the world for a course in Advanced Undergraduate Classical Mechanics as well as Graduate Courses in the subject. Frankly, it doesn't deserve this appreciation.
As a subject that is built on geometric intuition, this book does a fairly decent job at bringing up the notions, but fails to carry it through, thus making it a terse and boring book of differential equations with a little bit of physical context.
One good thing about this book though, is that despite it's appalingly boring nature, it isn't very difficult to follow and has some great insights to work with. Still, I believe it is subpar for the intended audience.
As a subject that is built on geometric intuition, this book does a fairly decent job at bringing up the notions, but fails to carry it through, thus making it a terse and boring book of differential equations with a little bit of physical context.
One good thing about this book though, is that despite it's appalingly boring nature, it isn't very difficult to follow and has some great insights to work with. Still, I believe it is subpar for the intended audience.
June 27, 2025
Best book about intermediate/advanced classical mechanics
I've read my share of intermediate/advanced classical mechanics books, and this is definitely the best one. Some books are practically unreadable because they lean towards abstract/formal math lingo. Yes, contrary to other reviews, this book's language is much, MUCH more bearable than some others.(though I won't deny that there were parts that were hard to get through...).
Easy Recommendation for bored undergrads.
I've read my share of intermediate/advanced classical mechanics books, and this is definitely the best one. Some books are practically unreadable because they lean towards abstract/formal math lingo. Yes, contrary to other reviews, this book's language is much, MUCH more bearable than some others.(though I won't deny that there were parts that were hard to get through...).
Easy Recommendation for bored undergrads.
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August 8, 2020Aptly called the Canonical Reference of Classical Mechanics. It is hard to find a book that covers topics in such depth or breadth as Goldstein. In some places, the author digresses a bit too much... so, not suitable for a quick read. Took me a while a to get through this, but, definitely worth it.
June 28, 2022
"For 30 years, this book has been the acknowledged standard in advanced classical mechanics courses." When this edition was published, it should have said, "For 50 years..." Now, it would properly say, "For 70 years..."
I never used it myself, but I graded a class that used it -- an intermediate class with delusions of grandeur.
I never used it myself, but I graded a class that used it -- an intermediate class with delusions of grandeur.
March 31, 2021
Poorly Written. Certainly not a good idea for a self learner to read this. It's alright for quick reference to some topic or equation. The sequence of topics chosen by the author is aslo puzzling to me.
April 21, 2025
The best book on classical mechanics out there.
Excellent formalism, mathematically grounded.
It starts directly with Lagrange and Hamiltonian mechanics and it follows from there.
A must in every physicist's bookshelf.
Excellent formalism, mathematically grounded.
It starts directly with Lagrange and Hamiltonian mechanics and it follows from there.
A must in every physicist's bookshelf.
December 31, 2017
Es un buen libro y la materia que trata es bellísima. Pero es muy difícil de seguir. Muy denso, muy críptico. Riguroso pero inaccesible.
September 8, 2018
Quite Good book, but not an easy read for beginner.
November 21, 2021
One of the best book ever been that I love
November 7, 2024
اعتقد كتاب يشرح كل مفهوم اساسي فالميكانيكا الكلاسيكية باكملها من نيوتن حتى هاملتون .
January 17, 2025
dense, really, really dense textbook. Takes ages to get through a single chapter
May 6, 2015
Not this edition. Reading the original edition. Smaller.
The book is mostly about transformations. There were many printing errors, but those are very forgivable. He does connect the classical mechanics to the the modern or the electromagnetic, but what was missing was collision theory.
I am not sure how useful transforming form one coordinate system to another will be. He even went through a couple of transformations of the simple harmonic oscillator, and stated that this was a more difficult way of doing it, but look, it has the same answer.
I haven't seen the newer edition, maybe it has more examples, but I doubt if it would be enough to change the book much. The size of the book, 370 reading pages was about right. I would have prefer less transformations and more mechanics.
The book is mostly about transformations. There were many printing errors, but those are very forgivable. He does connect the classical mechanics to the the modern or the electromagnetic, but what was missing was collision theory.
I am not sure how useful transforming form one coordinate system to another will be. He even went through a couple of transformations of the simple harmonic oscillator, and stated that this was a more difficult way of doing it, but look, it has the same answer.
I haven't seen the newer edition, maybe it has more examples, but I doubt if it would be enough to change the book much. The size of the book, 370 reading pages was about right. I would have prefer less transformations and more mechanics.
June 23, 2009
his style of teaching isnt as for a 2nd year student...
its disappointing when it takes ages for you to cover mere one page...:)
especially in the beginning of it...
I also think that the book lacks some diagrams..
some of the terms that are very impotant in developing your understanding further in the book, will just be introduced briefly and thats no good I believe...
but maybe its my fault that am not that used to self study ..:)
by the way...
Its a good book I should say..
its disappointing when it takes ages for you to cover mere one page...:)
especially in the beginning of it...
I also think that the book lacks some diagrams..
some of the terms that are very impotant in developing your understanding further in the book, will just be introduced briefly and thats no good I believe...
but maybe its my fault that am not that used to self study ..:)
by the way...
Its a good book I should say..
August 25, 2015
The ordering for the content inside this book is amazing H. Goldstain flows from one topic to another giving a very clear and deep explanation of the topics. The notation is clear and so is the explanation of the conceptual framework for classical mechanics and then builds from the ground up to our modern physics. The only thing I disliked about this book is that some problems are just crazy hard.
May 3, 2022
A reliable text on classical mechanics for upper undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Unlike Landau and Lifshitz, Goldstein did not spare words in explaining things, though he was at times overly formal. Not sure why the discussion on the opto-mechanical analogy and the links between classical and quantum mechanics was taken out, however.
April 11, 2007
im about to read this book, i cant say anything yet
May 28, 2009
Rigorous and modern introduction to classical mechanics, dynamics.
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March 2, 2011good
April 19, 2014
I found this book was great suplement to Landau. Goldstein can be more clear and comprehensive when Landau is concise.
December 12, 2014
An absolutely amazing text , covering everything any undergraduate would need to know regarding classical mechanics! Very well written!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews