Learn Classical Mechanics: Prerequisites for Goldstein's Book

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Marion & Thornton's "Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems" is a solid foundation for upper division mechanics, making it a suitable precursor for self-studying Goldstein's "Classical Mechanics." Readers comfortable with M&T will find that much of Goldstein's content overlaps with their previous studies. It is recommended to begin with Goldstein's chapters on special relativity and Lagrangian mechanics to familiarize oneself with the notation before progressing to Hamiltonian mechanics. This approach aligns with the curriculum at some universities, where M&T is followed by advanced analytical mechanics using Goldstein.
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I used Marion & Thornton's Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems for my upper division mechanics course and liked it. I want to self study Goldstein's Classical Mechanics. Are there any books that I should read before going Goldstein?
 
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Nope! If you were comfortable with M&T, I can't think of anything in Goldstein that you shouldn't be ready for.
 
Much of material in Goldstein is already covered in M&T. Maybe start with the chapter about special relativity in Goldstein, and the one with Lagrangian, do get to know the notation, then start with Hamilton formalism of Mechanics then you are on the train.

At my university we first start with mechanics and analytical mechanics with M&T then at advanced Analytical Mechanics we do second half of Goldstein.
 
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I’ve heard that in some countries (for example, Argentina), the curriculum is structured differently from the typical American program. In the U.S., students usually take a general physics course first, then move on to a textbook like Griffiths, and only encounter Jackson at the graduate level. In contrast, in those countries students go through a general physics course (such as Resnick-Halliday) and then proceed directly to Jackson. If the slower, more gradual approach is considered...

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