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Eagertolearnphysics
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I am a second year physics and I want to study CM in more depth than that of the general textbooks
Some people here suggested this nice book (that Wrobel mentioned) as well as Mechanics by Landau and Lifshitz... by the way, I study physics by myself...wrobel said:V. I. Arnold. Mathematical. Methods of. Classical Mechanics.
This is a very advanced course, it is mainly for mathematicians.. Perhaps it could be of some use. You can find it in the internet
Morin's book does not treat Hamiltonian dynamics, but Morin posted in his website a complete chapter on Hamiltonian dynamics that he will include in the next edition in his book.The Bill said:Arnold's text is more for someone who wants a very rigorous treatment of classical mechanics, and who wants to apply modern geometric techniques to analysis of classical systems. I would consider it a good third or fourth textbook in classical mechanics, if you consider a Physics I,II, III text as a first textbook in classical mechanics. Between Morin and Taylor, I'd choose Taylor because it treats both Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics. Thus, it would serve as a better preparation and reference for the future if the OP ever wants to study quantum mechanics, general relativity, a book like V. I. Arnold's, etc.
Adam Landos said:Morin's book does not treat Hamiltonian dynamics, but Morin posted in his website a complete chapter on Hamiltonian dynamics that he will include in the next edition in his book.
How can one write a textbook on theoretical classical mechanics without including Hamiltonian dynamics? If the study of classical mechanics makes any sense (except from being a very fascinating subject in itself) the whole purpose is to introduce the Hamilton formalism (with Poisson brackets) revealing the true structure of the theory, which can be used to motivate much of modern physics (particularly quantum theory).Adam Landos said:Morin's book does not treat Hamiltonian dynamics, but Morin posted in his website a complete chapter on Hamiltonian dynamics that he will include in the next edition in his book.
vanhees71 said:How can one write a textbook on theoretical classical mechanics without including Hamiltonian dynamics?
Considering Morin is at the level of K&K (i.e. a (honors) first-course in mechanics), the fact that it includes the Lagrangian formalism is already quite neat. Comparing Taylor and Morin is like comparing Shankar and Sakurai, they don't directly serve the same purpose.vanhees71 said:How can one write a textbook on theoretical classical mechanics without including Hamiltonian dynamics?
The main difference between Morin and Taylor on Classical Mechanics is the approach they take in explaining the subject matter. Morin's book, "Introduction to Classical Mechanics," is more focused on conceptual understanding and problem-solving techniques, while Taylor's book, "Classical Mechanics," is more mathematically rigorous and includes more advanced topics.
For beginners, Morin's book is generally considered to be a better choice. It provides a more intuitive and conceptual approach to understanding Classical Mechanics, which can be helpful for those who are new to the subject.
Taylor's book is better suited for advanced students of Classical Mechanics. It covers more advanced topics and goes into greater mathematical detail, making it a better resource for those who already have a strong foundation in the subject.
Yes, there are some differences in the examples and problems presented in the two books. Morin's book tends to focus on simpler and more conceptual examples, while Taylor's book includes more complex and challenging problems.
Both Morin and Taylor's books are highly regarded in the scientific community, and it ultimately depends on personal preference and the specific needs of the reader. However, Taylor's book is more widely used in academic settings and is often recommended by professors for undergraduate and graduate courses in Classical Mechanics.