Mechanics and Thermodynamics

The first of a series of core texts developed for engineering and undergraduate physics students, this book has been divided into fourteen chapters.

The introductory chapter deals with SI units which are now widely accepted at all levels of physics teaching.

An adequate introduction to vectors is provided in the second chapter.

Direct use of vector calculus has been avoided by circumventing it in rare cases where it could have been useful.

The main text consists of discussions of dynamics of a particle, conservation laws and the mechanics of rigid bodies.

Each chapter has several worked out examples, which are not merely substitution of data but require conceptual applications.

The discussion questions at the end of a chapter are at various levels and students should be encouraged to answer them by mutual discussions with minimal help from teachers.

The problems are an integral part of the course and are provided in adequate numbers.

Some sections of the text are marked with asterisks which can be skipped if the course is accelerated.