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Originally published in 1904, this book was written to provide an accessible introduction to the principles of mechanics.
List of contents
Part 1. The Winning of the Principles: 1. Introduction; 2. The beginnings of statics. Archimedes. Problem of the lever and of the centre of gravity; 2. Experimental verification and applications of the principle of the lever; 3. The centre of gravity; 4. The balance; 5. Stevinus of Bruges. The principle of the inclined plane; 6. The parallelogram of forces; 7. The principle of virtual work; 8. Review of the principles of statics; 9. The beginnings of dynamics. Galileo. The problem of falling bodies; 10. Huyghens. The problem of uniform motion in a circle. 'Centrifugal force'; 11. Final statement of the principles of dynamics. Extension to the motions of the heavenly bodies. The law of universal gravitation. Newton; Part II. Mathematical Statement of the Principles: Introduction; 12. Kinematics; 13. Kinetics of a particle moving in a straight line. The laws of motion; 14. Experimental verification of the laws of motion. Atwood's machine; 15. Work and energy; 16. The parallelogram law; 17. The composition and resolution of forces. Resultant. Component. Equilibrium; 18. Forces in one plane; 19. Friction; Part III. Application to Various Problems: 20. Motion on an inclined plane. Brachistochrones; 21. Projectiles; 22. Simple harmonic motion; 23. The simple pendulum; 24. Central forces. The law of gravitation; 25. Impact and impulsive forces; Part IV. The Elements of Rigid Dynamics: 26. The compound pendulum. Huyghens' solution; 27. D'alembert's principle; 28. Moment of inertia; 29. Experimental determination of moments of inertia; 30. Determination of the value of gravity by Kater's pendulum; 31. The constant of gravitation, or weighing the Earth. The Cavendish experiment; Answers to the examples; Index.
About the author
John Cox was a pastor for twenty-five years, working in South Africa and Canada with a focus on counselling, teaching, and making Christianity simple and accessible to all. He holds degrees in psychology and theology and is the author of Googling God (2007) and Unaware (2021). John also worked in business consulting for seven years. He is married to Vi and they live on Vancouver Island.
Summary
Originally published in 1904, as part of the Cambridge Physical Series, this book was written to provide an accessible introduction to the principles of mechanics. The text analyses the principles as they developed in chronological order and places them in their historical context, with discussion of pioneering figures.
