Classical mechanics

This is an introductory textbook, intended primarily for physics university undergraduates, but also suitable for students of other natural or engineering sciences who have physics as a subsidiary subject. It covers those parts of the field of classical — i. e. non-relativistic or “Newtonian” — mechanics which are usually included in a basic university physics course. The emphasis is on the phenomena and basic concepts rather than the formalisms; in other words, the treatment would, traditionally, be classified as “experimental” rather than “theoretical” physics. (Fortunately, modern university teaching methods are striving to break the hard division between these two compartments.) This does not mean that the treatment is completely non-mathematical. On the contrary, free use is made of those mathematical methods — such as differential and integral calculus — which are essential for all physics students and, in the author’s opinion, facilitate the learning of physics rather then making it more difficult. However, considering the fact that the students using this book will mostly be in their first university term, the first chapters introduce some of the mathematical techniques in their physical context, certainly not in a mathematically rigorous way, but so as to enable a student with little mathematical background to understand the text. In addition to the paper version of the textbook, an electronic version in PDF format, designed for viewing on a computer screen, is available for downloading from the publishers. The book contains numerous references to internet resources for physics teaching, with active links in the electronic version. Answers to exercises included in the text are given at the end of each chapter.