Variational principles have proven to be surprisingly fertile. For example, Fermat used variational methods to demonstrate that light follows the fastest route from one point to another, an idea which came to be a cornerstone of geometrical optics. This book explains variational principles and charts their use throughout modern physics. It examines the analytical mechanics of Lagrange and Hamilton, the basic tools of any physicist. The book also offers simple but rich first impressions of Einstein's General Relativity, Feynman's Quantum Mechanics, and more that reveal amazing interconnections between various fields of physics.

Book Information
ISBN 9780387377476
Author Jean-Louis Basdevant
Format Hardback
Page Count 186
Imprint Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Publisher Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Weight(grams) 465g