Theoretical Mechanics of Particles and Continua

Alexander L. Fetter, John Dirk Walecka

Courier Corporation, Dec 16, 2003 - Science - 570 pages

This two-part text fills what has often been a void in the first-year graduate physics curriculum. Through its examination of particles and continua, it supplies a lucid and self-contained account of classical mechanics — which in turn provides a natural framework for introducing many of the advanced mathematical concepts in physics.
The text opens with Newton's laws of motion and systematically develops the dynamics of classical particles, with chapters on basic principles, rotating coordinate systems, lagrangian formalism, small oscillations, dynamics of rigid bodies, and hamiltonian formalism, including a brief discussion of the transition to quantum mechanics. This part of the book also considers examples of the limiting behavior of many particles, facilitating the eventual transition to a continuous medium.
The second part deals with classical continua, including chapters on string membranes, sound waves, surface waves on nonviscous fluids, heat conduction, viscous fluids, and elastic media. Each of these self-contained chapters provides the relevant physical background and develops the appropriate mathematical techniques, and problems of varying difficulty appear throughout the text.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - barriboy - LibraryThing

A very readable, no bullshit introduction to continuum mechanics. Much more useful than the verbose and extremely formal Goldstein, Poole, and Safko that is the mainstay of graduate class mech classes ...

Bibliographic information

• Title: Theoretical Mechanics of Particles and Continua; Dover Books on Physics
• Authors: Alexander L. Fetter, John Dirk Walecka
• Edition: illustrated, unabridged, reprint
• Publisher: Courier Corporation, 2003
• ISBN: 0486432610, 9780486432618
• Length: 570 pages
• Subjects: Science / Mechanics / General; Science / Physics / General