In the second edition, the scope and organization of the original has been retained by and large, while adding or rewriting a number of sections which required clarity and simplicity. It reflects essentially a threefold effort on our part -- the refinement and improvement of the material in the original, addition of three more chapters, and emphasis on the applicational side by including more solved and unsolved problems.

Chapter 2 on vector algebra has been made more comprehensive by changing it into vector analysis through the shifting of Appendix B as well as adding an article on Gauss’s divergence theorem. In Chapter 4 on particle dynamics, the equation of motion for a variable mass has been incorporated by including the motion of a rocket.

In Chapter 6 on inverse square law force, an obvious lacuna has been eliminated by the addition of a section on gravitational potential and field along with discussions on the parallel cases of electrostatic potential and field. This lays the foundation of the classical theory of fields.

The theorems of perpendicular and parallel axes have been added in Chapter 8 -- on dynamics of rigid bodies -- to aid the student in learning the subsequent material. The scope of the Chapter 9 on oscillatory motion has been improved by including additional examples of SHM, i.e. loaded spring, torsion pendulum, compound pendulum, Helmholtz resonator and LC circuit as representatives of mechanical and electrical oscillations. Also included are the topics on resistance damping, electromagnetic damping in a moving coil galvanometer and electrical resonance.

In Chapter 10 on frames of reference, a few articles have been recast for making the presentation clear and simplified. The occurrence of Trade winds and Cyclones due to Coriolis force have been illustrated with diagrams, with a view to make it easily graspable. A section on "Experimental Evidence for Special Theory of Relativity" has been added in Chapter12.

The new chapters added in this edition are -- (i) Charged Particle Dynamics (ii) Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formulations, and (iii) Mechanics of Continuous Media. The article on charged particle dynamics has been enlarged to a full-fledged chapter in view of the requirements of the prevalent syllabi.

Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations have been introduced with a view to acquaint the reader with the canonical formulation of the dynamical equations. The last chapter on mechanics of continuous media comprises the topics on elasticity and fluid dynamics.

Furthermore, about 92 more solved problems have been interspersed throughout the book, in addition to over 80 unsolved problems with answers.

H S HANS
S P PURI