Introduction

Abstract

In this book we introduce the fundamental concepts in our understanding of nature and learn to use them to deepen your understanding of nature. This is a bold and sweeping goal—it is indeed the goal of physics. The tools and concepts from mechanics have a central role in how a physicist thinks about nature. And an important part of learning mechanics is to learn to think like a physicist. Unfortunately there are no short-cuts to acquiring the experience of an expert. The only way to learn physics, and mechanics, is through diligent application of the theory to example and exercises. We will help you by providing hints on how to structure your approach, by introducing well-tested problem solving techniques, and through worked examples, but in the end it is only the amount of work you spend on exercises that will determine your success. The examples also provide you with inspirations for what you can do when you master the basic principles of mechanics, and we hope this will indeed show you the power that lies in our knowledge of physics, and the exiting adventure it is to discover how nature works and apply that knowledge to develop technologies for the best of mankind.