Lectures on Analytical Mechanics

Written by professional physicists with over 140 years’ of teaching experience combined, this book is aimed at students and lecturers in physics. The authors present analytical mechanics as the basis for the study of theoretical physics, its methods and ideas forming the foundation of all other branches including quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and field theory. The book begins by discussing the motion of particles in a central field and scattering of particles based on Newton’s equations. It then introduces and explores Lagrange equations for various systems, linear and non-linear oscillations, Hamiltonian formalism, and the motion of a rigid body. Each topic is accompanied by problems that are suitable for seminars and testing. The book also includes five supplemental sections, which provide practical illustrations of the theoretical material. These sections can be used by teachers as the basis for conducting a specialized course, or by curious students who wish to explore different applications of analytical mechanics independently.