Review of "An Introduction to the Use of Generalized Coordinates in Mechanics and Physics," by William Elwood Byerly

Review of

An Introduction to the Use of Generalized Coordinates in Mechanics and Physics, by William Elwood Byerly


Five out of five stars

 Despite the title, this is not an introductory book on the use of coordinates. That is clear starting with the second page, where the component velocity equation is given using partial derivatives. The sections of the first chapter in sequence are “free motion of a particle,” “constrained motion of a particle,” “motion of a system of particle,” “plane motion of rigid bodies,” “the billiard ball,” “the gyroscope,” “the choice of coordinate,” and “nomenclature.”

 Throughout this book, your understanding of partial differential equations and integration as applied to physics will be challenged. Yet, despite all of the technological advances since this book was first published in 1916, it still could be used as a textbook in classes covering this material.