When most people—and many engineers—think of “Mechanics” they think of solid mechanics. Courses, textbooks and other materials are arranged accordingly. In the past, however, mechanics were considered as a whole, and this included solid mechanics, fluid mechanics and other behaviors of physical bodies.

Professor Strelkov’s book is a return to the older approach, not just for its own sake but also to give the student or practitioner alike a broader view of the principles involved. The book is thus divided into three parts:

The first part is the Mechanics of Rigid Bodies, which include the topics of statics, dynamics, kinetics and kinematics. It includes the introduction of vector analysis and the application of vectors to the solution of these problems.. It also includes material on energy and impulse/momentum, which are applied in fluid mechanics as well. Other topics include friction (Coulombic and rolling) and the gravitational attraction of bodies.
The second part is the Mechanics of Deformable Bodies. This not only includes solid bodies which deform under stress but also fluids, both compressible and incompressible. Considered also are the actions of moving fluids on bodies and (conversely) the behavior of bodies passing through fluids such as aircraft.
The last part considers more specialised topics such as vibrations and oscillations of mechanical systems, acoustics, vibrations in a continuous medium (as illustrated on this cover) and the fundamentals of the special theory of relativity.

Mechanics is an excellent introduction to what is probably the fundamental topic for scientists and engineers in the physical world.

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Foreword to the Third Russian Edition 5
Introduction 13
PART ONE Mechanics of Rigid Bodies 21
- Chapter 1 Kinematics of a Particle 23
  - Motion of Bodies 23
  - Rectilinear Motion of a Particle 24
  - Velocity of a Particle in Rectilinear Motion 25
  - Relationship Between the Velocity and the Distance Travelled 28
  - Acceleration of a Particle in Rectilinear Motion 31
  - Three-dimensional Motion of a Particle 32
  - Basic Properties of Vectors 34
  - Velocity of a Particle 38
  - Acceleration of a Particle in Plane Motion. Centripetal Acceleration 42
  - Acceleration of a Particle in Three-dimensional Motion 48
  - Space, Time, and Frames of Reference 51
- Chapter 2 Fundamental Laws of Dynamics 53
  - Motion and Interaction of Bodies 53
  - Force 54
  - Measuring Constant Forces 55
  - Equilibrium Conditions for Forces Acting on a Particle 58
  - Force and Motion (Newton’s First Law) 62
  - Newton’s Second Law 64
  - Mass of a Body 66
  - General Form of Newton’s Second Law 68
  - Newton’s Third Law 70
  - Forces and Newton’s Second and Third Laws 72
  - Motion of a Body Under the Action of Given Forces 78
  - Constrained Motion of a Body 84
- Chapter 3 Momentum of a System of Bodies 95
  - Law of Conservation of Momentum 95
  - Transfer of Momentum from One Body to Another 98
  - Impulse of a Force 103
  - Motion of a Body with Variable Mass 104
- Chapter 4 Work and Energy 111
  - The Concept of Energy 111
  - Work and Energy 112
  - Work of a Force 114
  - Potential Energy of Strain 115
  - Kinetic Energy of a Body 116
  - Perfectly Plastic Impact of Two Bodies 117
  - Elastic Impact 119
  - Impact of Non-elastic Bodies 128
  - Potential Energy 129
  - Change of Energy of a Body in the Gravitation Field. Law of Conservation of Energy 134
- Chapter 5 Friction 137
  - Various Types of Friction Forces 137
  - Viscous Friction 139
  - Fall of a Ball in a Viscous Medium 141
  - Dry Friction 144
  - Force of Sliding Friction 147
- Chapter 6 Relative Motion 152
  - Inertial Reference Frames 152
  - Motion of a Body in a Non-inertial System of Reference. Inertia Forces 153
  - Inertia Forces Acting on a Body in a Rotating Frame of Reference 156
  - Weightlessness 157
  - The Relationship Between the Vectors of Angular and Linear Velocities of a Particle 160
  - Inertia Forces Acting on a Body Moving in a Rotating Frame of Reference 161
  - The Influence of the Earth’s Rotation on the Motion of Bodies. The Foucault Pendulum 169
- Chapter 7 Motion of a Rigid Body 176
  - Translatory and Rotational Motions of a Rigid Body 176
  - Equilibrium Conditions for a Rigid Body with a Fixed Axis of Rotation 179
  - Law of Dynamics for a Body Rotating About a Fixed Axis 181
  - Angular Momentum 185
  - Kinetic Energy of a Rotating Body 188
  - Centre of Gravity and Centre of Mass of a Rigid Body 192
  - The Law of Motion of the Centre of Mass of a Body 196
  - Plane Motion of a Body 200
  - Rolling Motion of a Cylinder on a Plane. Maxwell’s Pendulum 206
  - Moments of Inertia of Some Bodies. Huygens-Steiner Parallel Axes Theorem 212
  - Kinetic Energy of a Body for Simultaneous Translatory and Rotational Motions 217
  - Free Axes of Rotation 219
  - Kinematics of a Rigid Body 221
  - Moment of a Force About a Point and Angular Momentum of a Rigid Body 226
  - Angular Momentum of a Rigid Body and Moment of Inertia 228
  - The Fundamental Law of Dynamics of a Rigid Body 238
  - Gyroscopes 241
  - Motion of the Axis of a Gyroscope 244
  - Gyroscopic Effect 249
  - Rotation of the Axis of a Constrained Gyroscope 250
  - Motion of a Free Gyroscope 252
  - On Gyroscopic Forces 256
- Chapter 8 Rolling Friction 259
  - Forces of Rolling Friction. Forces of Sliding Friction in Rolling
    Motion of a Cylinder 259
  - Adhesion of Wheels 262
  - Braking and Skidding 263
  - Rolling Friction 265
- Chapter 9 Gravitational Attraction of Bodies 270
  - Law of Universal Gravitation 270
  - Inertial Mass and Gravitational Mass 278
  - Potential Energy of Gravitation 278
  - Basic Laws of Celestial Mechanics 276
  - Motion of Earth’s Satellites and Spaceships 280
PART TWO Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
- Chapter 10 Mechanics of Deformable Solids 285
  - The Concept of an Elastic Body, Forces and Deformations in Tension 285
  - Physical Phenomena in a Deformable Body. Properties otJMaterials 290
  - Internal Forces and Stresses 293
  - Shearing Stresses and Strains 295
  - Stresses in an Elastic Body. General Case 298
  - Small Deformations of a Body 304
  - Relationship Between Stresses and Strains 308
  - Strain Energy 314
  - Forces and Deformations in the Bending of Beams 316
  - Determination of Deflection of a Beam 321
  - On Deformation of Supports 326
  - Stresses in Overload and Weightlessness 332
- Chapter 11 Equilibrium of Fluids and Gases 337
  - Solids, Fluids, and Gases 337
  - The Concept of Pressure 338
  - Relationship Between the Density of a Gas and the Pressure 341
  - Distribution of Pressure in a Fluid in Equilibrium State 342
  - Distribution of Pressure in a Gas 344
  - Equilibrium of Bodies Floating on the Surface of a Fluid 346
  - Equilibrium Conditions for a Body Immersed in a Fluid or Gas 347
- Chapter 12 Motion of Fluids and Gases 349
  - Stationary Fluid Flow 349
  - Fundamental Law of Dynamics for a Particle of an Ideal Fluid 353
  - Bernoulli’s Equation for a Stationary Flow of an Incompressible
    Fluid 357
  - Outflow of a Heavy Fluid from a Vessel 359
  - Pressure in Fluid Flow in a Pipe with Variable Cross Section 362
  - Outflow of Fluid or Gas from a Vessel Under the Action of Pressure 363
  - Pressure at the Stagnation Point in a Flow Around a Body 366
  - Variation of Pressure Across a Stream Tube 369
  - Distribution of Pressure in a Rotating Fluid 371
  - Momentum of Fluid or Gas 372
  - Reaction Force of Flowing Fluid 373
  - Flow of a Viscous Fluid in a Pipe 3?8
- Chapter 13 Action of a Fluid or Gas Flow on a Body 384
  - Drag Force 384
  - Dynamical Similarity of Bodies 389
  - Boundary Layer 392
  - Measuring Forces Acting on a Body in a Flow of Fluid or Gas 394
  - Lift Force of a Wing of an Airplane 397
  - Fluid Flow Around a Wing. Circulation. Lift Force 399
  - Dependence of the Lift Force on the Angle of Incidence. Wing Drag 405
  - Forces in a Flight of an Airplane 408
  - Propagation of Pressure Disturbances in a Compressible Fluid.
    Supersonic Motion of a Body 409
  - Wave with Large Variation of Pressure. Motion of a Body with
    Large Velocity 415
  - Supersonic Flow in a Pipe 417
PART THREE Oscillations and Waves. Elements of Acoustics. Fundamentals of Special Theory of Relativity
- Chapter 14 Oscillations 423
  - Periodic Processes 423
  - Harmonic Vibrations 424
  - Natural Oscillation and Variation of Energy in Oscillation Process 430
  - Damped Natural Oscillations 435
  - Forced Oscillation and Resonance 439
  - Dependence of the Amplitude of a Forced Oscillation on the Frequency 442
  - Vibration of a Shaft with Disk 447
  - Transient Processes and Compound Vibrations. Harmonic Analysis 451
  - Auto-oscillation 456
  - Natural Oscillations of a System with Many Degrees of Freedom 461
  - Theoretical Analysis of Beating 464
  - Natural Frequencies of Coupled Pendulums 467
  - Natural Frequencies of Three Connected Pendulums 468
  - Forced Oscillations in Composite Systems 470
- Chapter 15 Vibrations in a Continuous Medium 474
  - Waves 474
  - Sinusoidal Plane Sound Wave 480
  - Energy of Sound Wave 482
  - Plane Waves in a Gas and in a Homogeneous Elastic Medium 486
  - Superposition (Interference) of Waves 490
  - Reflection of Waves 493
  - Natural Vibrations of a String and of the Air in a Pipe 498
- Chapter 16 Elements of Acoustics 505
  - Basic Phenomena 505
  - Reflection of Sound Waves 506
  - Propagation of Sound Waves 509
  - Hearing 510
  - Ultrasonic Vibrations 511
- Chapter 17 Fundamentals of Special Theory of Relativity 518
  - Galileo’s Principle of Relativity 513
  - Constancy of Speed of Light 516
  - Simultaneity of Events 517
  - Lorentz Transformation 520
  - Analysis of Lorentz Transformation 523
  - Momentum 531
  - Dependence of Mass on Velocity of Motion 532
  - Transformation Laws for Momentum and Mass 534
  - Energy 537
  - Momentum and Energy of System of Particles 540
  - Invariants 542
  - Four-vector. Space-like, Time-like, and Light-like Intervals 544
  - Relativistic Mechanics 549
  - Theory of Elastic Impact of Two Particles 554
Name Index 560
Subject Index 561