Problems in Mechanics
Problems and Solutions in Introductory Mechanics
Self-published (to keep the cost low) through CreateSpace (2014), 350 pages.
Intended audience: High school AP, or college first-years.
(The Kindle version is a static-page “Print Replica” – basically a pdf in Kindle form.)
I generated the book’s material during the first dozen times I taught Harvard’s introductory mechanics course (Physics 15a). Most of the problems are from old exams and problem sets. Each chapter has a short introduction, then a set of multiple-choice questions, and then a set of longer free-response problems. Detailed solutions to all questions/problems are included.
- Back cover (concise description of book)
- Preface
- Table of contents
- Sample chapters:
- Chapter 1 (Problem-solving strategies)
- Chapter 2 (Kinematics in 1-D)
- Chapter 3 (Kinematics in 2-D (and 3-D))
- Chapter 4 (F=ma)
- Appendices
- Corrections/typos/errata/clarifications
While the book is calculus-based, it can also easily be used in algebra-based courses. The problems that require calculus (only a sixth of the total number) are listed in an appendix, allowing students to steer clear of those if they wish.
This book (the blue book) is written for a more general audience than Introduction to Classical Mechanics (the red book). The blue-book problems are similar to the one-star and two-star problems in the red book. The red book contains many harder problems and more advanced topics. The blue book can be viewed as a stepping stone to the red book.
Side note: If you know of any middle school or high school students (or eager elementary school students) who are learning algebra, they might enjoy my new Algebra book!