Self-Studying Mechanics as a Math Major: Thornton/Marion Guide

[tronter]

I am by training a math major. I have not taken any physics courses. If I want to self study mechanics, could I start of with Thorton/Marion?

 

[trinitron]

Marion and Thornton is perhaps the undergraduate physics book I've had to deal with. It really is just awful. As a math major I think you'll find it even worse than most physicists do. If your math is strong enough, check out Arnold: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387968903/?tag=pfamazon01-20

For an introductory book with much easier math requirements look at Kleppner's Introduction to Mechanics book.

If you want to maintain your sanity skip Thornton.

 

[rocomath]

Marion and Thornton is perhaps the undergraduate physics book I've had to deal with. It really is just awful. As a math major I think you'll find it even worse than most physicists do. If your math is strong enough, check out Arnold: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387968903/?tag=pfamazon01-20

For an introductory book with much easier math requirements look at Kleppner's Introduction to Mechanics book.

If you want to maintain your sanity skip Thornton.

What Math level should I be at before I purchase this book? It is much cheaper than Kleppner's book

 

[trinitron]

Some differential topology/geometry in addition to the standard physics material (ODE, PDE) should do.

 

[las3rjock]

Kleppner is a good book for a first-year university course in mechanics. I think it's one of the best books to prepare someone for subsequent mechanics courses and textbooks. An alternative which is currently available online is David Morin's textbook for Physics 16 at Harvard University, which will soon be published by Cambridge University Press.

Thornton & Marion is a pretty standard choice for a second course in mechanics. Other books at a similar level are Analytical Mechanics by Fowles and Mechanics by Symon. I happen to like Thornton & Marion: I think it is well-suited for the typical physics undergraduate whose primary interest is learning how to apply the techniques of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian techniques to solve problems, but I can see why a more theoretical or mathematically-oriented reader might dislike it.

The standard textbook for graduate-level mechanics is Classical Mechanics by Goldstein. Another book that is probably at a similar level is Mechanics by Landau and Lifsh*tz.

 

[robphy]

You might like Woodhouse's text:
http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/top3mset/463b7ef715179873a19afeb4da09e526.html
and possibly this free text " Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics"
http://mitpress.mit.edu/SICM/

Kleppner is a great advanced-introductory Newtonian-mechanics text.
Arnold and Abraham-Marsden are rather advanced geometrical treatments [using symplectic methods].

 

[tronter]

If I go through Kleppner/Kolenkow, is there a need for me to go through standard books like Halliday and Resnick for mechanics?

After this I am planning to study Berkely Vol. 2 E&M.

Thanks

 

[robphy]

If I go through Kleppner/Kolenkow, is there a need for me to go through standard books like Halliday and Resnick for mechanics?

No, you don't need to.

After this I am planning to study Berkely Vol. 2 E&M.

That's a common followup to a text like K&K.

 

[Dr Transport]

Thornton messed up that text, get the 1st or second edition authored by Jerry B. Marion alone, they are much better.

 

[malawi_glenn]

I have taking newtionain mechanics, but no lagragnian or hamitolian. And I also have studied math and physics for 3years. This semster I will take mechanics pt2 that deals with:

Central force motion
Eulers equations
Special relativity
Coupled harmonic oscillators
Lagrange and Hamiltons formulation of classical mechanics

The course book is Thorton/Marion - dymanics..

Should I also try to get over an older verison with only Marion as author, and sell the book by marion/thorton when class is over?