Introduction To Mechanics

ISBN-978-93-6976-799-1

The book “Introduction to Mechanics ” presents a systematic, accessible summary of classical
mechanics. It is for undergraduate and early postgraduate physics and engineering students.
This book ensures a logical and easy-to-understand evolution by starting with fundamental
principles and progressing to sophisticated mechanical systems. The first chapter introduces
scalars and vectors, two important mathematical concepts for motion. This chapter sets the
stage for later chapters. It allows transformations in spherical and cylindrical coordinate
systems and explores particle motion, friction, and forces in nature using Newton’s equations.
This addresses real-world complexity. Chapter 2 examines potential energy and conservative
and non-conservative force fields. Students learn orbital mechanics, energy conservation, and
Kepler’s equations while studying central force field trajectories. These elliptical to hyperbolic
orbits are crucial for understanding planetary motion and satellite dynamics. When non-inertial
frames are introduced in Chapter 3, rotating coordinate systems become the focus. Theory and
observation are linked by studies of Coriolis and centripetal accelerations and their application
in the Foucault pendulum and weather systems. Chapter 4 covers Simple Harmonic Motion
(SHM), including the fundamental harmonic oscillator, damped and forced oscillations, and
resonance phenomena. Engineering and science use this component to understand oscillatory
systems and mechanical vibrations. Before discussing rigid body dynamics, we study rigid
bodies, motion, and angular momentum in Chapter 5. Euler’s laws, which supplement Newton’s
laws and accurately describe rotational motion, are the emphasis of this chapter. Chapter 6
introduces three-dimensional rigid body motion, the moment of inertia tensor, the angular
velocity vector, and other concepts that two-dimensional analysis cannot explain. Real-world
examples demonstrate the value of three-dimensional mechanics. This textbook teaches
classical mechanics for academic study and real-world problem solving with a variety of
intellectual concepts, mathematical rigors, and physical intuition.