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Newtonian mechanics is a cornerstone topic in physics. Regardless of the path an aspiring physicist takes, an intimate and intuitive understanding of how objects behave within Newton's law of motion is essential.
Yet the transition from high school physics to university level physics can be — and should be — difficult. The aim of this book is to teach Newtonian mechanics suitable for the first two years of university study. Using carefully chosen and detailed examples to expose areas of frequent misunderstanding, the first two thirds of the book introduces material familiar to high school students from the ground up, with a more mature point of view. The final third of the book contains new material, introducing detailed sections on the rotation of rigid objects and providing an insight into subtleties that can be troubling to the first-time learner. Tabletop physics demonstrations are suggested to assist in understanding the worked examples.
As a teacher and lecturer of physics with experience at both high school and university level, Professor Vijay Tymms offers a lucid and sensitive presentation of Newtonian mechanics to help make the step from high school to university as smooth as possible.
Overview
Introductory Concepts
1D Motion
Newton's First and Second Laws of Motion
Types of Force and Free Body Diagrams
Newton's Third Law of Motion
Linear Momentum
Work, Energy and Power
Potential Energy
Collisions and Rockets
Motion on a Curved Path
Simple Harmonic Motion
Gravitation
Rotational Analogues
Equilibrium and Balance
Unbalanced Objects
Rolling and Sliding
Angular Momentum
Angular Momentum, Gyroscopes, and Precession
Description
Newtonian mechanics is a cornerstone topic in physics. Regardless of the path an aspiring physicist takes, an intimate and intuitive understanding of how objects behave within Newton's law of motion is essential.
Yet the transition from high school physics to university level physics can be — and should be — difficult. The aim of this book is to teach Newtonian mechanics suitable for the first two years of university study. Using carefully chosen and detailed examples to expose areas of frequent misunderstanding, the first two thirds of the book introduces material familiar to high school students from the ground up, with a more mature point of view. The final third of the book contains new material, introducing detailed sections on the rotation of rigid objects and providing an insight into subtleties that can be troubling to the first-time learner. Tabletop physics demonstrations are suggested to assist in understanding the worked examples.
As a teacher and lecturer of physics with experience at both high school and university level, Professor Vijay Tymms offers a lucid and sensitive presentation of Newtonian mechanics to help make the step from high school to university as smooth as possible.