An Elementary Treatise On Theoretical Mechanics

Author : James Hopwood Jeans
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781440085888
Total Pages : 386 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (858 download)

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Download or read book An Elementary Treatise on Theoretical Mechanics (Classic Reprint) written by James Hopwood Jeans and published by . This book was released on 2015-06-29 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from An Elementary Treatise on Theoretical Mechanics The primary aim of the present book is to supply for students beginning the study of Theoretical Mechanics a course of such a nature as shall emphasize the fundamental physical principles of the subject. Different students will of course approach the study of mechanics with different interests, different aims, and different amounts of mathematical equipment, so that it may not be possible to produce a single book which shall exactly fit the requirements of every class of student. But I believe that all students of mechanics, no matter what their aims and intentions may be, will be in the same position in one respect, namely that they will best begin the study of the subject by trying to acquire a firm grasp of the physical principles, leaving aside at first all mathematical developments and all practical applications, except in so far as these contribute to the elucidation of the fundamental physical principles. I am aware that this belief is not held by all teachers of mechanics, some of whom regard the laws of mechanics simply as working rules to be acquired as rapidly as possible for their utilitarian value, while others appear to regard them in the same light as the rules of a game, the game consisting in the solution of mathematical puzzles, most of which have no conceivable reference to the facts of nature. I find it hard to believe that there can be any considerable class of students for whom either of these points of view is the best. As regards the former, I feel that a student who cannot get, or does not wish to get, a clear understanding of mechanical principles would be well advised not to enter a profession in which his work will consist in the handling of mechanical problems; and as regards the latter, that a student who wishes merely to obtain material for puzzle solving would do better to turn his attention to chess or double acrostics. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.