Lecture notes on Newtonian mechanics. Lessons from modern concepts (Q1955988): Difference between revisions

The textbook is an introductory course into classical mechanics. An important feature is a restricted use of mathematical methods and concentration on physical intuition. The aim is to define the key notions of Newtonian mechanics and to show how to solve problems of standard difficulty and sometimes a bit more difficult ones. The book has ten chapters and an appendix. The basic assumptions of classical or Newtonian mechanics are discussed in the first chapter, illustrated by a study of material points and rigid bodies. The motion of particles in different coordinate systems is considered in the next chapter. The kinematics of rigid body, including the motion in an accelerated reference frame, is studied in detail. The important concepts such as inertial system and forces are discussed at the qualitative level in the third chapter. The main laws of Newtonian mechanics are formulated, and the limits of applicability of the classical mechanics are outlined. Chapter 4 considers the conservation of momentum as a consequence of Newtonian dynamics. The work of a force and potential energy are treated in detail in the fifth chapter. Some important features related to these quantities are used to classify different types of forces. Gravitational force and air resistance are considered in detail. The conservation of energy in classical mechanics is discussed in Chapter 6. Here the authors consider the applications of energy conservation to closed systems and systems subjected to conservative external forces. Chapter 7 is devoted to oscillations. The harmonic oscillations are studied in detail in the presence of damping force and external source. The rotational dynamics and the corresponding conservation laws are analyzed in the eighth chapter. The rotational dynamics of a rigid body is discussed in detail. The motion in the gravitational field is considered in the ninth chapter. The authors discuss here Kepler's laws and the precession of perihelion for a nearly circular orbit in a weakly non-Newtonian gravitational field. The last chapter briefly introduces the basics of hydrodynamics. The notions of ideal fluid, Pascal's law and continuity equation are presented. Euler's equation is obtained and some consequences, such as Bernoulli's equation, are given. Finally, the equation for sound waves is discussed. The book is self-consistent and can be recommended to teachers and for independent study of classical mechanics.