Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor – University Science Books (Hardcover)

Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor is the hardcover undergraduate physics textbook used in intermediate mechanics courses, covering Newtonian, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics for students who have completed introductory physics.

Taylor is known for writing physics the way a good lecturer explains it. This book takes a student from conservation laws and oscillations through two-body problems, non-inertial frames, rigid-body rotation, normal modes and continuum mechanics, with a well-liked chapter on chaos built around a few simple systems. Each chapter ends with a large bank of problems, 744 in total, sorted by topic and marked by difficulty, from short exercises to computer projects.

What's included

• Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor, complete text
• Hardcover binding
• Publisher: University Science Books
• ISBN-13: 9781891389221
• 744 end-of-chapter problems classified by topic and difficulty
• Chapters on Lagrangian mechanics, Hamiltonian mechanics, chaos and continuum mechanics

Who it's for

Physics majors in a sophomore or junior-level classical mechanics course. Engineering and math students who want a readable treatment of Lagrangian methods. Graduate students reviewing mechanics before qualifying exams, and self-learners who found introductory physics too thin.

Why this edition

Taylor's Classical Mechanics has been adopted by hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and Canada and translated into several languages. It occupies the space between first-year physics and graduate texts such as Goldstein, which is why so many departments standardize on it. A separate Student Solutions Manual is published for the odd-numbered problems.

Frequently asked questions

Is Taylor's Classical Mechanics suitable for self-study?

Yes. The explanations are unusually clear and the problems are graded by difficulty, which makes it one of the more approachable mechanics texts for independent study.

Does this book cover Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics?

Yes. Lagrangian mechanics is introduced early and used throughout, and Hamiltonian mechanics has its own chapter near the end of the book.

Is this the hardcover or the paperback?

This listing is the hardcover edition from University Science Books.

Details