Classical Mechanics: From Particles to Continua and Regularity to Chaos
Published by Hindustan Book Agency and Springer-Nature
Series: Texts and Readings in Physical Sciences (TRiPS) 22
Review by Pinaki Majumdar in Resonance
Editions & Availability
Indian edition: The Indian edition (xviii, 711 pages, 167 figures, Hardcover, ISBN 9788195782994, Autumn 2024, Corrected Reprint Dec 2025) is available for purchase from Hindustan Book Agency and book stores such as amazon.in .
Global edition: The global print and online editions (xxv, 792 pages, 167 figures, Hardcover, ISBN 9789819744756, 31 July, 2025) are available from Springer-Nature and bookstores and online retailers such as Amazon.in and Amazon.com.
Discount: If you are a student/teacher in India and wish to purchase a copy, you may be eligible for a discount. Please write to me (govind(at)cmi(dot)ac(point)in) for futher details or contact the publisher Mr D K Jain (dk.jain(at)hindbook(dot)com).
Book Description
Indian Edition: Hindustan Book Agency
This textbook is a self-contained treatment of classical mechanics that emphasizes its wider connections to other branches of physics, such as quantum mechanics, thermal physics, electromagnetism, optics, etc. While the mechanics of Galileo and Newton to that of Lagrange and Hamilton along with their applications form the core of the text, many modern developments have also been included. Special attention has been paid to pedagogy; thus the chapters have numerous explanatory remarks and examples, and are supplemented with problems. The sections of the book are arranged in a modular fashion to increase accessibility. This new text, with minimal prerequisites, is suited for beginning researchers as well as advanced undergraduates. At the same time, instructors and practicing physicists will find the treatment novel.
Global Edition: Springer-Nature
This well-rounded and self-contained treatment of classical mechanics strikes a balance between examples, concepts, phenomena and formalism. While addressed to graduate students and their teachers, the minimal prerequisites and ground covered should make it useful also to undergraduates and researchers. Starting with conceptual context, physical principles guide the development. Chapters are modular and the presentation is precise yet accessible, with numerous remarks, footnotes and problems enriching the learning experience. Essentials such as Galilean and Newtonian mechanics, the Kepler problem, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, oscillations, rigid bodies and motion in noninertial frames lead up to discussions of canonical transformations, angle-action variables, Hamilton-Jacobi and linear stability theory. Bifurcations, nonlinear and chaotic dynamics as well as the wave, heat and fluid equations receive substantial coverage. Techniques from linear algebra, differential equations, manifolds, vector and tensor calculus, groups, Lie and Poisson algebras and symplectic and Riemannian geometry are gently introduced. A dynamical systems viewpoint pervades the presentation. A salient feature is that classical mechanics is viewed as part of the wider fabric of physics with connections to quantum, thermal, electromagnetic, optical and relativistic physics highlighted. Thus, this book will also be useful in allied areas and serve as a stepping stone for embarking on research.
Downloads and Resources
Table of Contents (Indian edition).
Preface and Table of Contents (Global edition).
Bibliography and Index (Global edition).
Review by Pinaki Majumdar in Resonance.
Ideas on planning a course based on this book.
Corrections and Clarifications: Indian Edition.