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Analytical mechanics. Translated from the 1811 French original. Edited by Auguste Boissonnade and Victor N. Vagliente. (English) Zbl 0999.01032

Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science. 191. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. xlvi, 592 p. (1997).
This is the first English translation of Lagrange’s famous work on mechanics. Lagrange’s approach of using the principle of virtual work as the foundation for all of mechanics (including statics, hydrostatics, dynamics, and hydrodynamics) differs significantly from the mechanics of Newton. The difference is primarily due to the introduction of a fictitious constraint force. With the methods of the calculus of variation, Lagrange varies the configuration of a system in statics or the path of a system in dynamics in order to obtain the governing differential equations. The translators have tried to keep the language simple and direct, and they have succeeded in retaining the essence of Lagrange’s style of writing. They have added numerous footnotes that are useful to a modern audience. The introduction includes a survey of Lagrange’s life and scientific career. The translation is based upon the second edition of the Méchanique analitique, which was prepared almost entireley by Lagrange towards the end of his life.
Reviewer: A.Kleinert (Halle)

MSC:

01A75 Collected or selected works; reprintings or translations of classics
70-03 History of mechanics of particles and systems
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