First published in 1987 this text offers concise but clear explanations and derivations to
give readers a confident grasp of the chain of argument that leads from Newton's laws through
Lagrange's equations and Hamilton's principle to Hamilton's equations and canonical
transformations. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to include: - A
chapter on symplectic geometry and the geometric interpretation of some of the coordinate
calculations. - A more systematic treatment of the conections with the phase-plane analysis of
ODEs and an improved treatment of Euler angles. - A greater emphasis on the links to special
relativity and quantum theory showing how ideas from this classical subject link into
contemporary areas of mathematics and theoretical physics. A wealth of examples show the
subject in action and a range of exercises - with solutions - are provided to help test
understanding.
