Good book for Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics

[Gopal Mailpalli]

This book should introduce me to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics and slowly teach me how to do problems. I know about Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, but don't know how do I approach the book.

 

[Dr Transport]

Schaum's outline...

 

[vanhees71]

This book should introduce me to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics and slowly teach me how to do problems. I know about Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, but don't know how do I approach the book.

What's your level in physics and math? Also note that Goldstein's book contains a serious bug concerning anholonomous constraints!

 

[Gopal Mailpalli]

What's your level in physics and math? Also note that Goldstein's book contains a serious bug concerning anholonomous constraints!

Am in my final year of bachelors consisting of Mathematics and Physics. I don't have Lagrange's or Hamiltonian Mechanics in my course. I want to do a self study.
If there are any prerequisites before I start L & H. Please mention.

 

[vanhees71]

Then you should have the prereqesites for analytical mechanics. A good book is

F. Scheck, Mechanics - From Newton's Laws to Deterministic Chaos, Springer (2010)

 

[Gopal Mailpalli]

Then you should have the prereqesites for analytical mechanics. A good book is

F. Scheck, Mechanics - From Newton's Laws to Deterministic Chaos, Springer (2010)

Would you mind adding any prerequisites before i start the book. I'll cross check and learn if I don't know anything.

 

[smodak]

1. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics by Calkin
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9810226721/?tag=pfamazon01-20 (and the corresponding https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9810237820/?tag=pfamazon01-20)

2. A Student's Guide to Lagrangians and Hamiltonians
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1107617529/?tag=pfamazon01-20

3. Schaum's Outline of Lagrangian Dynamics
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0070692580/?tag=pfamazon01-20

4. Landu and Lifsheitz - Mechanics
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0750628960/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[NathanaelNolk]

What about Taylor's Classical Mechanics?

 

[Gopal Mailpalli]

Then you should have the prereqesites for analytical mechanics. A good book is

F. Scheck, Mechanics - From Newton's Laws to Deterministic Chaos, Springer (2010)

But it's a Graduate Text and quite advanced for beginners. Any suggestion how do i approach this book so that I can grasp well.

 

[vanhees71]

Hm, that's difficult to answer. Usually this book is used in the introductory lecture on classical mechanics of the theory course in Germany. At our university in Frankfurt that's already in the 2nd semester. Perhaps also the corresponding volumes of Greiner's theory-book series is more detailed so that it's easier to get started with. In my own studies the standard text for that purpose was Goldstein. Another very good source is of course Landau-Lifshitz but that's at a higher level than Scheck.

 

[smodak]

Hm, that's difficult to answer. Usually this book is used in the introductory lecture on classical mechanics of the theory course in Germany. At our university in Frankfurt that's already in the 2nd semester. Perhaps also the corresponding volumes of Greiner's theory-book series is more detailed so that it's easier to get started with. In my own studies the standard text for that purpose was Goldstein. Another very good source is of course Landau-Lifshitz but that's at a higher level than Scheck.

L&L, although at a high level, is surprisingly lucid and easy to read...

 

[Student100]

But it's a Graduate Text and quite advanced for beginners. Any suggestion how do i approach this book so that I can grasp well.

You're finishing a degree in physics (and math too I suppose), you aren't a beginner anymore. Or at least, you shouldn't be. You're a year removed from graduate school, graduate level texts shouldn't intimidate you.

What texts did you use for upper division mechanics? Taylor, Marion?

 

[Gopal Mailpalli]

You're finishing a degree in physics (and math too I suppose), you aren't a beginner anymore. Or at least, you shouldn't be. You're a year removed from graduate school, graduate level texts shouldn't intimidate you.

What texts did you use for upper division mechanics? Taylor, Marion?

I agree what you said student100. I didn't have quality education in my high school. Am working myself and building up slowly. In my bachelors i didn't have any introduction to Lagrange's or Hamiltonian mechanics. Trying my best to build day by day. I didn't use any of the books above what you mentioned.

 

[atyy]

I like https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486432610/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I haven't read this, but it should be good https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/046502811X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Student100]

I agree what you said student100. I didn't have quality education in my high school. Am working myself and building up slowly. In my bachelors i didn't have any introduction to Lagrange's or Hamiltonian mechanics. Trying my best to build day by day. I didn't use any of the books above what you mentioned.

Start with Taylor, afterwards you can move onto Goldstein/similar level text.

 

[rude man]

Housner & Hudson, Applied Mechanics Dynamics if it's still available.

 

[dustball]

Try V.I. Arnold, Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics, or Abraham and Marsden, Foundations of Mechnics.

 

[dustball]

Walter Greiner, Classical Mechanics.

 

[Adirondack Will]

I studied Goldstein as a senior. However, over the next summer i read Landau and Lifshitz and found it much more compelling. I think that if you are planning to go to grad school, you should simply sit down and read Landau and Lifshitz. It is much, much shorter and has all you need for next steps (e.g, Messiah's two-volume set on quantum theory).

 

[Ilamurugan]

This book should introduce me to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics and slowly teach me how to do problems. I know about Goldstein's Classical Mechanics, but don't know how do I approach the book.

Schaum's series is best. also Melvin G. Calkin book on this topic.

 

[Mark Harder]

Am in my final year of bachelors consisting of Mathematics and Physics. I don't have Lagrange's or Hamiltonian Mechanics in my course. I want to do a self study.
If there are any prerequisites before I start L & H. Please mention.

I support your choice to learn about Lagrangians and Hamiltonians. They are awfully important in graduate and professional level studies.