Where can I find beginner-friendly resources for learning Lagrangian Mechanics?

[nassboy]

My background is electrical engineering, but I've recently become fascinated with the principle of least action. I've gone to library to look at a few books on the subject, but I've quickly become overwhelmed.

Is there a good book/video lectures on Lagrangian Mechanics for somebody who knows calculus, but is not a mathematician. I've never had a course in Abstract Algebra, Set Theory, Manifolds, etc. Perhaps something aimed at undergraduates. I learn best through examples, so worked out problems are a plus!

 

[dx]

Leonard Susskind's video lectures on classical mechanics (which you can find on youtube) and L. D. Landau's book Mechanics.

 

[Peeter]

The Feynman lectures have an excellent (rather math free) introduction to the principle of least action. I think it was in volume II (electrodynamics).

 

[Feldoh]

I would second the recommendation for Landau, however if you need help with the calculus of variations I'd look at Boas's Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, chapter 9.

 

[Pinu7]

Try both Jose/Saletan and Landau if you have the money.

 

[TheRealColbert]

I just found this series of lectures that appears to be on the subject of Lagrangian dynamics. I have not watched them yet so I don't know if they are any good.

http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~maloney/451/

By the way, I had to install this codec (TSCC) before I could get the video to work

http://www.techsmith.com/download/codecs.asp