Mechanics (the book is too expensive) - would *this* work?

[FrogPad]

I am in my senior year as an EE student. Part of the curriculum is a course in mechanics, particularly (from the course description):

Force systems, resultants, moments and equilibrium. Kinematics and kinetics of particles, systems of particles and rigid bodies. Energy and momentum principles. Lecture, recitation. Prerequisites: PHY 121, 122. Pre- or corequisite: preferably MAT 275 (or 274).

The required text is Engineering Mechanics Statics & Dynamics (Bedford, Fowler); this is where the homework problems will be taken from. The book costs 170.00. To me this is outrageous, and I refuse to pay this much for a book I will never keep.

I had this thought, that I shall simply photocopy the problem sets from a fellow classmate, and pick up some book to suppliment the information. After some browsing I have found, An Introduction To Mechanics (Keppner, Kolenkow) for a very reasonable price.

Does anyone recommend that A: I do this, and B: That the Keppner, Kolenkow book would be enough to suppliment the other book?


Thanks in advance,

 

[jtbell]

I'm not acquainted with your required text, but from the title I strongly suspect that it's oriented towards engineering methods and applications. Kleppner and Kolenkow, on the other hand, is very much a physicist's textbook, and I would expect it to be more "theoretical" than the other book. I would not expect it to mesh well with your course.

 

[FrogPad]

I'm not acquainted with your required text, but from the title I strongly suspect that it's oriented towards engineering methods and applications. Kleppner and Kolenkow, on the other hand, is very much a physicist's textbook, and I would expect it to be more "theoretical" than the other book. I would not expect it to mesh well with your course.

To me Kleppner and Kolenkow looks like I would actually learn the material. The other text reminds me of a halliday resnick treatment of mechanics.

I found a statics and dynamics text available free through (I believe) Cambridge professors that I will try out.

Thank you for your response. I am very glad I asked before ordering.

 

[bel]

amazon.com is selling an old textbook for USD4.00 or so, I think, go and check it out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0130324736/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[learningphysics]

amazon.com is selling an old textbook for USD4.00 or so, I think, go and check it out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0130324736/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Nice find.

 

[las3rjock]

Kleppner & Kolenkow is an honors freshman-physics textbook, so probably something like a PHY 121 textbook at your school. It is a book worth having, especially if you can get it for cheap, but it is not a sophomore-level engineering statics/dynamics textbook, and it probably will not be very helpful for taking such a course. (It would, however, be a great way to review freshman physics in preparation for this course. ) I would suggest picking up one of the $4 used copies of the previous edition of the Bedford & Fowler text and photocopying the problem sets--I did basically the same thing for my first two circuits courses as an EE undergrad.

 

[rocomath]

where did you find Kleppner for a reasonable price? Amazon has it for 150 ...

 

[robphy]

http://www.google.com/products?q="Kleppner"+kolenkow&btnG=Search&show=dd&scoring=p