Ebook: Theoretical Physics: A Classical Approach

This introduction to classical theoretical physics emerged from a course for students in the third and fourth semester, which the authors have given several times at the University of Freiburg (Germany). The goal of the course is to give the student a comprehensive and coherent overview of the principal areas of classical theoretical physics. In line with this goal, the content, the terminology, and the mathematical techniques of theoret­ ical physics are all presented along with applications, to serve as a solid foundation for further courses in the basic areas of experimental and theoretical physics. In conceiving the course, the authors had four interdependent goals in mind: • the presentation of a consistent overview, even at this elementary level • the establishment of a well-balanced interactive relationship between phys­ ical content and mathematical methods • a demonstration of the important applications of physics, and • an acquisition of the most important mathematical techniques needed to solve specific problems. In relation to the first point, it was necessary to limit the amount of material treated. This introductory course was not intended to preempt a later, primarily On the other hand, we aimed for a certain completeness in theoretical, course.

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This textbook is a thorough introduction to classical theoretical physics. While concise in its use of terminology, the book is intended nonetheless toprovide the means to understand all the fundamentals of this field. Worked examples throughout the text and 39 problems help the student to become familiar with the physics presented here. In orderto avoid any bias, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamicsare discussed in addition to classical mechanics and electrodynamics. After careful study of the book the student will be familiar with a wide variety of fields from advanced theoretical physics or applied physics.

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This textbook is a thorough introduction to classical theoretical physics. While concise in its use of terminology, the book is intended nonetheless toprovide the means to understand all the fundamentals of this field. Worked examples throughout the text and 39 problems help the student to become familiar with the physics presented here. In orderto avoid any bias, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamicsare discussed in addition to classical mechanics and electrodynamics. After careful study of the book the student will be familiar with a wide variety of fields from advanced theoretical physics or applied physics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIV
Introduction....Pages 1-3
Newtonian Mechanics....Pages 5-86
Lagrangian Methods in Classical Mechanics....Pages 87-143
Rigid Bodies....Pages 145-177
Motion in a Noninertial System of Reference....Pages 179-187
Linear Oscillations....Pages 189-221
Classical Statistical Mechanics....Pages 223-304
Applications of Thermodynamics....Pages 305-332
Elements of Fluid Mechanics....Pages 333-365
The Most Important Linear Partial Differential Equations of Physics....Pages 367-404
Electrostatics....Pages 405-437
Moving Charges, Magnetostatics....Pages 439-453
Time Dependent Electromagnetic Fields....Pages 455-482
Elements of the Electrodynamics of Continuous Media....Pages 483-516
Back Matter....Pages 517-569

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This textbook is a thorough introduction to classical theoretical physics. While concise in its use of terminology, the book is intended nonetheless toprovide the means to understand all the fundamentals of this field. Worked examples throughout the text and 39 problems help the student to become familiar with the physics presented here. In orderto avoid any bias, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamicsare discussed in addition to classical mechanics and electrodynamics. After careful study of the book the student will be familiar with a wide variety of fields from advanced theoretical physics or applied physics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XIV
Introduction....Pages 1-3
Newtonian Mechanics....Pages 5-86
Lagrangian Methods in Classical Mechanics....Pages 87-143
Rigid Bodies....Pages 145-177
Motion in a Noninertial System of Reference....Pages 179-187
Linear Oscillations....Pages 189-221
Classical Statistical Mechanics....Pages 223-304
Applications of Thermodynamics....Pages 305-332
Elements of Fluid Mechanics....Pages 333-365
The Most Important Linear Partial Differential Equations of Physics....Pages 367-404
Electrostatics....Pages 405-437
Moving Charges, Magnetostatics....Pages 439-453
Time Dependent Electromagnetic Fields....Pages 455-482
Elements of the Electrodynamics of Continuous Media....Pages 483-516
Back Matter....Pages 517-569
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