Newtonian Dynamics: An Introduction

By: Richard Fitzpatrick

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: This textbook provides a comprehensive review of Newtonian dynamics at a level suitable for undergraduate physics students. It demonstrates that Newton’s three laws of motion, combined with a few simple force laws, can not only describe the motions of everyday objects observed on the surface of the Earth, but can also account for the motions of celestial objects seen in the sky. It helps bridge the problematic transition between elementary physics courses and upper-division physics course. The book will start off at a level suitable for undergraduate (freshman) physics students and will very gradually increase, until, towards the end, it will approach (but not quite reach) a level characteristic of a graduate (senior) physics course. Each chapter of the book will end with a large number of numerical and analytical exercises and, in all appropriate cases, the final answers to the exercises will be specified. The large number of exercises will allow students to accurately test their understanding of the material presented in the book, ideal for students who are self-studying or are taking classes remotely. Key features: Provides a brief and accessible introduction to a complex topic. Contains a thorough treatment of the motions of heavenly bodies than conventional elementary mechanics texts. Provides a wealth of end-of-chapter exercises to test understanding.