A question about "semantics" ["Rational Mechanics"]

[GiuseppeR7]

Hi guys...i was wondering what is "Rational Mechanics"? and is it the same as "Analytical Mechanics"? Which book do you guys suggest for studying this stuff?

 

[jtbell]

i was wondering what is "Rational Mechanics"? and is it the same as "Analytical Mechanics"?

I' don't remember seeing the term "Rational Mechanics" before, in more than forty years of studying and teaching physics. After Googling a bit, I think it's just another term that some people like to use instead of "Analytical Mechanics."

 

[Andy Resnick]

Hi guys...i was wondering what is "Rational Mechanics"? and is it the same as "Analytical Mechanics"? Which book do you guys suggest for studying this stuff?

"Rational Mechanics" and "Rational Thermodynamics" generally refers to a program of study that seeks to provide an axiomatic method of formulating mechanics (and thermodynamics). The work originated in the 1950's through 1970's, principally by Coleman, Noll, and Truesdell, for a good overview see:

Truesdell, C.; https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Toupin&action=edit&redlink=1 (1960). "The Classical Field Theories". In Flügge, Siegfried. Principles of Classical Mechanics and Field Theory/Prinzipien der Klassischen Mechanik und Feldtheorie. Handbuch der Physik (Encyclopedia of Physics). III/1. Berlin–Heidelberg–New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. 226–793. Zbl 0118.39702.

And the journal: http://link.springer.com/journal/205