Presents a new updated and revised edition of a successful textbook

Enables the reader to develop general principles from which equations of motions may be derived

Highlights the importance of the concept of symmetries as a basis for quantum mechanics

Presents over 150 problems with complete solutions

Florian A. Scheck, professor emeritus at University of Mainz, Germany.Born in 1936, diploma degree 1962 , Ph.D. (Dr. rer.nat) 1964, both at U. Freiburg, Germany. Habilitation at U. Heidelberg 1968. Guest scientist at the Weizmann Instituteof Science, Rehovoth, (1964 - 1966), research assistant U. Heidelberg, (1966 - 1968), research fellow at CERN, Geneva, (1968 - 1970), head of theory groupSIN/PSI, lecturer and titular professor at ETH Zurich (1970 - 1976). Professor of theoretical Physics U. Mainz (1976 - 2005). Numerous visits as guest scientist or guest professor, Helsinki, Montpellier, Marseille, San José (Costa Rica), Bogota (Columbia).

This book covers all topics in mechanics from elementary Newtonian mechanics, the principles of canonical mechanics and rigid body mechanics to relativistic mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. It was among the first textbooks to include dynamical systems and deterministic chaos in due detail. As compared to the previous editions the present 6th edition is updated and revised with more explanations, additional examples and problems with solutions, together with new sections on applications in science.

Symmetries and invariance principles, the basic geometric aspects of mechanics as well as elements of continuum mechanics also play an important role. The book will enable the reader to develop general principles from which equations of motion follow, to understand the importance of canonical mechanics and of symmetries as a basis for quantum mechanics, and to get practice in using general theoretical concepts and tools that are essential for all branches of physics.

The book contains more than 150 problems with complete solutions, as well as some practical examples which make moderate use of personal computers. This will be appreciated in particular by students using this textbook to accompany lectures on mechanics. The book ends with some historical notes on scientists who made important contributions to the development of mechanics.

Elementary Newtonian Mechanics.- The Principles of Canonical Mechanics.- The Mechanics of Rigid Bodies.- Relativistic Mechanics.- Geometric Aspects of Mechanics.- Stability and Chaos.- Continuous Systems.- Exercises.- Solution of Exercises.- Appendix.