The Variational Principles of Mechanics - Lanczos, Cornelius

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Résumé :
Analytical mechanics is, of course, a topic of perennial interest and usefulness in physics and engineering, a discipline that boasts not only many practical applications, but much inherent mathematical beauty. Unlike many standard textbooks on advanced mechanics, however, the present text eschews a primarily technical and formalistic treatment in favor of a fundamental, historical, philosophical approach. As the author remarks, there is a "tremendous treasure of philosophical meaning" behind the great theories of Euler and Lagrange, Hamilton, Jacobi and other mathematical thinkers. Well-written, authoritative and scholarly, this classic treatise begins with an introduction to the variational principles of mechanics including the procedures of Euler, Lagrange and Hamilton. After a philosophical evaluation of the variational approach, the text is divided into 11 chapters. Ideal for a two-semester graduate course, The Variational Principles of Mechanics includes a variety of problems, carefully chosen to familiarize the student with new concepts and to illuminate the general principles involved. Moreover, it offers excellent grounding for the student of mathematics, engineering or physics who does not intend to specialize in mechanics, but wants a thorough grasp of the underlying principles.

Biographie:
The late Professor Lanczos (Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies) was a wellknown physicist and educator who brought a superb pedagogical sense and profound grasp of the principles of mechanics to this work, now available for the first time in an inexpensive Dover paperback edition. His book will be welcomed by students, physicists, engineers, mathematicians, anyone interested in a clear masterly exposition of this all-important discipline.

Sommaire:
["The Basic Concepts of Analytical Mechanics","The Calculus of Variations","The Principle of Virtual Work","D'Alembert's Principle","The Lagrangian Equations of Motion","The Canonical Equations of Motion","Canonical Transformations","The Partial Differential Equation of Hamilton-Jacobi","Relativistic Mechanics","Historical Survey","Mechanics of the Continua."]