Fundamental Laws of Mechanics | I. E. Irodov

Fundamental Laws of Mechanics was first published in English by Mir in 1980. Currently there is 2002 reprint still in stock from CBS Publishers.

The objective of this book is to draw the readers’ attention to the basic laws of mechanics, that is, to the laws of motion and to laws of conservation of energy, momentum and angular momentum, as well as to show how these laws are to be applied in solving various scientific problems. At the same time author has excluded all things of minor importance in order to concentrate on questions which are hardest to comprehend.

The book consists of two parts: (1) classical mechanics and (2) relativistic mechanics. In the first part the laws of mechanics are treated in the Newtonian approximation i.e. when motion velocities are much less than the velocity of light, while in the second part of the book velocities comparable to that of light are considered.

Each chapter opens with a theoretical essay followed by a number of the most instructive and interesting examples and problems, with solutions provided. There are about 80 problems altogether; being closely associated with the introductory text, they develop and supplement it and therefore their examination is of equal inportance.

A few corrections and refinements have been made in the present edition to stress the physical essence of the problems studied. This holds true primarily for Newton’s second law and the conservation laws. Some new examples and problems have been provided.

The book is intended for first-year students of physics but can also be useful to senior students and lecturers.