This textbook covers all the standard introductory topics in classical mechanics, including Newton's laws, oscillations, energy, momentum, angular momentum, planetary motion, and special relativity. It also explores more advanced topics, such as normal modes, the Lagrangian method, gyroscopic motion, fictitious forces, 4-vectors, and general relativity. It contains more than 250 problems with detailed solutions so students can easily check their understanding of the topic. There are also over 350 unworked exercises which are ideal for homework assignments. Password protected solutions are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521876223. The vast number of problems alone makes it an ideal supplementary text for all levels of undergraduate physics courses in classical mechanics. Remarks are scattered throughout the text, discussing issues that are often glossed over in other textbooks, and it is thoroughly illustrated with more than 600 figures to help demonstrate key concepts.

Table of Contents

Preface
Strategies for solving problems
Statics
Using F=ma
Oscillations
Conservation of energy and momentum
The Lagrangian model
Central forces
Angular momentum, Part I (constant L)
Angular momentum, Part II (general L)
Accelerating frames of reference
Relativity (kinematics)
Relativity (dynamics)
4-vectors
General relativity