An Introduction to Mechanics

An Introduction to Mechanics, commonly referred to as Kleppner and Kolenkow, is an undergraduate level textbook on classical mechanics coauthored by physicists Daniel Kleppner and Robert J. Kolenkow. It originated as the textbook for a one-semester mechanics course at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where both Kleppner and Kolenkow taught, intended to go deeper than an ordinary first year course.[2] Since its introduction, it has expanded its reach to other universities to become one of the most popular mechanics textbooks.[citation needed]

An Introduction to Mechanics
Cover of the second edition
AuthorDaniel Kleppner
Robert J. Kolenkow
LanguageEnglish
SubjectClassical mechanics
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherMcGraw Hill
Cambridge University Press
Publication date
1973, 2010, 2013
Publication placeUnited States
United Kingdom
Pages542[1]
ISBN9780521198219
OCLC1059566786

The first edition was published in 1973 by McGraw Hill and republished in 2010 by Cambridge University.[3] The second edition was published in 2013 by Cambridge.

Table of contents (2nd edition)

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  • Preface
  • To the Teacher
  • List of Examples
  • Chapter 1: Vectors and Kinematics
  • Chapter 2: Newton's Laws
  • Chapter 3: Forces and Equations of Motion
  • Chapter 4: Momentum
  • Chapter 5: Energy
  • Chapter 6: Topics in Dynamics
  • Chapter 7: Angular Momentum and Fixed Axis Rotation
  • Chapter 8: Rigid Body Motion
  • Chapter 9: Non-Inertial Systems and Fictitious Forces
  • Chapter 10: Central Force Motion
  • Chapter 11: The Harmonic Oscillator
  • Chapter 12: The Special Theory of Relativity
  • Chapter 13: Relativistic Dynamics
  • Chapter 14: Spacetime Physics
  • Hints, Clues, and Answers to Selected Problems
  • Appendix A: Miscellaneous Physical and Astronomical Data
  • Appendix B: Greek Alphabet
  • Appendix C: SI Prefixes
  • Index

Reception

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The first edition of the book was criticized for sexism in the exercises, though this was improved in the second edition.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "An Introduction to Mechanics". WorldCat.
  2. ^ Kleppner, Daniel; Kolenkow, Robert (1973). An Introduction to Mechanics. Cambridge University Press. p. xi.
  3. ^ Kleppner, Daniel; Kolenkow, Robert J. (6 May 2010). An Introduction to Mechanics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19821-9.
  4. ^ Shorter, Richard (14 Aug 2014). "An Introduction to Mechanics (2nd Edition), by Daniel Kleppner and Robert Kolenkow". Contemporary Physics. 55 (4): 359. doi:10.1080/00107514.2014.948931. Retrieved 25 Jul 2024.

See also

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