The first eight chapters form a comprehensive introduction to classical mechanics and constitute the heart of a one-semester course. In a 12-week semester, we have generally covered the first 8 chapters and parts of Chapters 9 or 10. However, Chapter 5 and some of the advanced topics in Chapters 7 and 8 are usually omitted, although some students pursue them independently.

Chapters 11, 12, and 13 present a complete introduction to special relativity. Chapter 14, on transformation theory and four-vectors, provides deeper insight into the subject for interested students. We have used the chapters on relativity in a three-week short course and also as part of the second-term course in electricity and magnetism.

The problems at the end of each chapter are generally graded in difficulty. They are also cumulative; concepts and techniques from earlier chapters are repeatedly called upon in later sections of the book. The hope is that by the end of the course the student will have developed a good intuition for tackling new problems, that he will be able to make an intelligent estimate, for instance, about whether to start from the momentum approach or from the energy approach, and that he will know how to set off on a new tack if his first approach is unsuccessful. Many students report a deep sense of satisfaction from acquiring these skills. Many of the problems require a symbolic rather than a numerical solution.