Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics

The emphasis of the book is quite definitely toward the solution of problems and, although an effort has been made to include a few very easy ones in each chapter, some of the exercises are rather difficult and are calculated to require a good deal of ingenuity on the part of the student. Indeed, it is not to be expected that all students will be able to solve all of the 400-odd problems in the book without assistance. However, the serious student who rises to the challenge presented by some of the problems is certain to find himself amply rewarded. The problem emphasis is easily justified, since the surest way to cultivate an ability to do physical reasoning is to apply it. Very little indeed can be learned in a course in mechanics, or physics in general, by the majority of students if the course is purely of a lecture type in which the solving of problems plays but a minor role.