Lagrangian Mechanics, where can I learn?

Question

Can someone please direct me to a good website that teaches Lagrangian mechanics?
I know books are better, and I may eventually get one, but for now I would like to get started online.

Answer 1

http://www.phys.uu.nl/~thooft/theorist.html



Gerard ’t Hooft (Nobel Prize Winner) runs this site on how to become a physicist, and gives links to online material you can use to work on the basics. It won't open for me right now, but it's usually working. Also, try your university library for some grad-level classical mechanics books.

Answer 2

Get a good book - that's the best way. If you insist on using the net, I'd go to Wikipedia and start there. You'll need to understand some advanced calculus... but that's the nature of the beast. Lagrangian mechanics is not something you learn in isolation... it's really a part of a growth of sophistication in our understanding of mechanics which grew up in the 19th century, along with the work of Hamilton. An understanding of this stuff really helps with the understanding of Quantum Mechanics. So don't expect it to be easy. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Goldstein is surely the best, but i will prefer 'Thronton and Marion', it has more examples for clear understanding. More over you must be aware of Variational Calculus for Lagrangian Mechanics. And one more advice but take it lightly- don't read these at +2 level, you'll be any how reading them later, and they can confuse you a bit at this level.