Mechanics

by Keith R. Symon

This text is intended as the basis for an intermediate course in mechanics at the undergraduate level. Such a course, as essential preparation for advanced work in physics, has several major objectives. It must develop in the student a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of mechanics. It should treat in detail certain specific problems of primary importance in physics, for example, the harmonic oscillator and the motion of a particle under a central force.

Genres: Physics, Nonfiction, Textbooks

639 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 1971

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book where I began to see what it meant to "do physics" as opposed to "learn and use what physics has learned" like in Halliday and Resnick. I loved this book. I loved learning that all the math I was learning could really enable me to think through a problem with much more power and structure. I liked understanding, for the first time, and physics was about figuring out the problems no one had done before from first principles. And I really liked that I could do this, that it was fun and within my skill set.

The beginning of a wonderful learning experience at Georgia Tech.

[Motorpsico · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for physics students. It treat all the fundamental principles of the vectorial mechanics (Newton's formulation). The exposed treatment by Symon is clear and very conceptual, which helps to understand deeply the fundamental principles of the mechanics, like the notion of mass, force, momentum, etc.

I recomended to all physics students who want to know and understad well the physics behind the mechanics. This books result, then, a good desicion to read before approach the more formal formulation of the mechanics that Goldstein exposed in his famous Classical Machanics.

[Gabriela Martins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I've ever used!!

[Curtis Penner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Symon knows his stuff. He tried hard to teach it. Addison-Wesley worked with him to make the book part of a series of physics book with the same look and feel. Yet, it fell short. This was my second time through the book and each time I have come up with the same conclusion.

Mr. Symon uses equations numbers as if I have memorized all the equations in the book by the equation numbers. I was constantly expected to go back several pages and look up an equation, sometimes several chapters. This always interrupts the explanation.

As the book moves from the engineering physics in the beginning to "true physics" fron chapter 9 to the end, Mr. Symon uses more of the problems at the end of the chapter as "the student will work hard and show themselve what I won't explain." Augh.

I'm glad I went through this classic book on classical mechanics, and I believe there are better books.

[♥..Libra..♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a useful book for physics students like me!!!:)

[Jason]

Book for my mechanics class.