Lagrangian Mechanics
Classical Mechanics Problems
David J. Jeffery Physics Department New Mexico Tech Socorro, New Mexico
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Portpentagram Publishing (self-published) 2001 January 1
Introduction
Classical Mechanics Problems (CMP) is a source book for instructors of advanced classical mechanics at the Goldstein level. The book is available in electronic form to instructors by request to the author. It is free courseware and can be freely used and distributed, but not used for commercial purposes. The problems are grouped by topics in chapters: see Contents below. The chapter ordering follows the Goldstein chapter/topic ordering. For each chapter there are two classes of problems: in order of appearance in a chapter they are: (1) multiple-choice problems and (2) full-answer problems. Almost all the problems have complete suggested answers. The answers may be the greatest benefit of CMP. The problems and answers can be posted on the web in pdf format. The problems have been suggested mainly by Goldstein problems, but have all been written by me. Given that the ideas for problems are the common coin of the realm, I prefer to call them redactions. Instructors, however, might well wish to find solutions to particular problems from well known texts. Therefore, I give the suggesting source (when there is one or when I recall what it was) by a reference code on the extra keyword line: e.g., (Go3-29.1) stands for Goldstein (3rd Edition), p. 29, problem 1. Caveat: my redaction and the suggesting source problem will not in general correspond perfectly or even closely in some cases. The references for the source texts and other references follow the contents. A general citation is usually, e.g., Ar-400 for Arfken, p. 400. At the end of the book are two appendices. The first is an equation sheet suitable to give to students as a test aid and a review sheet. The second is a set of answer tables for multiple choice questions. Classical Mechanics Problems is a
David J. Jeffery Physics Department New Mexico Tech Socorro, New Mexico
♠
♠ ♠
♠
♠ ♠ ♠
♠
♠
♠
Portpentagram Publishing (self-published) 2001 January 1
Introduction
Classical Mechanics Problems (CMP) is a source book for instructors of advanced classical mechanics at the Goldstein level. The book is available in electronic form to instructors by request to the author. It is free courseware and can be freely used and distributed, but not used for commercial purposes. The problems are grouped by topics in chapters: see Contents below. The chapter ordering follows the Goldstein chapter/topic ordering. For each chapter there are two classes of problems: in order of appearance in a chapter they are: (1) multiple-choice problems and (2) full-answer problems. Almost all the problems have complete suggested answers. The answers may be the greatest benefit of CMP. The problems and answers can be posted on the web in pdf format. The problems have been suggested mainly by Goldstein problems, but have all been written by me. Given that the ideas for problems are the common coin of the realm, I prefer to call them redactions. Instructors, however, might well wish to find solutions to particular problems from well known texts. Therefore, I give the suggesting source (when there is one or when I recall what it was) by a reference code on the extra keyword line: e.g., (Go3-29.1) stands for Goldstein (3rd Edition), p. 29, problem 1. Caveat: my redaction and the suggesting source problem will not in general correspond perfectly or even closely in some cases. The references for the source texts and other references follow the contents. A general citation is usually, e.g., Ar-400 for Arfken, p. 400. At the end of the book are two appendices. The first is an equation sheet suitable to give to students as a test aid and a review sheet. The second is a set of answer tables for multiple choice questions. Classical Mechanics Problems is a