No label defined (Q4340902)

Problems concerning how and why things change with time lie at the heart of applied mathematics, physics, and engineering. This book is a highly readable introduction to such problems, involving the applications of calculus, from Newton's time to the present day. The book is aimed at a wide readership including university students of mathematics and science, mathematics and science teachers in schools and universities, and general readers who have some knowledge of elementary calculus. Starting with a brief review of calculus and ordinary differential equations and an introduction to computer solution methods of differential equations, the book proceeds to oscillations, planetary motion, waves and diffusion, fluid flow, instability and catastrophe, nonlinear oscillations and chaos, and vibrated and chaotic pendulums. Each chapter has a set of exercises, with full solutions given in the back of the book. Also included are computer programs written in Microsoft QBasic, and Appendix A contains a start-from-scratch account of how to get the programs working with MS-DOS as well as WINDOWS 95. This is a well-written book that shows how remarkable and interesting the applications of mathematics can be. It is accessible to readers with limited background and experience in mathematics and computing.