Prerequisites for John Taylor classical mechanics

[bigmike94]

Inside the textbook, the prerequisites state first year mechanics and some differential equations, although it continues to say the differential equations can be learned as you’re working your way through the book, as differential equations were basically “invented” to be used for applied situations and not abstractly. (I think?)

I am around 1/3 to a 1/2 through my differential equations course, so I do have the required “some differential equations”

But to gain the full benefits from the book would you recommend waiting till the end of the course or just diving straight in. I have completed first year mechanics and nearly all of Calculus 3.

Thank you.

Side note; although I am on a part time degree I mostly study for fun and plan on reading David morins mechanic book and a few others after John Taylor’s, so I am not too worried about not being able to pick up everything straight away, but also don’t want to be left scratching my head. If a full course in differential equations is required then I’ll happy wait. I’m in no rush.

 

[jedishrfu]

I would go for it. I think you have enough background to get through it.

I think you might run into boundary value problems and/or partial differential equations later in the book if they cover waves in Chapter 16 (last chapter) and possibly Calculus of Variations in Chapter 6.

Based on the table of contents for the book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/189138922X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[bigmike94]

I would go for it. I think you have enough background to get through it.

I think you might run into boundary value problems and/or partial differential equations later in the book if they cover waves in Chapter 16 (last chapter) and possibly Calculus of Variations in Chapter 6.

Based on the table of contents for the book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/189138922X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Thank you for the reply, I think I’ll go for it then, hopefully by the time I get to the more challenging concepts I will have completed the differential equations course. If not, like I said whatever I don’t fully understand hopefully David Morins book can help.

 

[malawi_glenn]

Just go for it. If you encounter a differential equation you are not familiar with, look it up.

 

[bigmike94]

Just go for it. If you encounter a differential equation you are not familiar with, look it up.

Just ordered it 💪 cheers 👍

 

[jedishrfu]

There are other good Classical Mechanics books besides Taylor namely Goldstein's, Marion's, Landau...

Goldstein was the gold standard for Classical Mechanics. Marion was the book I used but wish I had Goldstein. Landau is a very brief book but it stopped me in the first few pages.

I think Taylor is a good first choice though and later you can branch out into the others based on your interest and passion.

Here's an earlier thread comparing the classics:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/which-classical-mechanics-book-has-better-content.915485/