Classical Mechanics or old Mechanics deals with the laws of motion that are applicable to systems that could be called 'macroscopic in the modern sense. Its failure to describe the motion of microscopic systems led to the formulation of quantum mechanics, and at a later stage to the formulation of relativistic quantum mechanics.

For complete understanding of modern physics, a perfect knowledge of classical mechanics is very essential. Neglect of classical mechanics or failure to grasp its fundamental concepts has always led to frustration and failure in the field of physics. Recent discoveries about the nature of the earth and its surroundings, the launching of satellites and rockets, has further increased the importance of the subject since celestial mechanics is based on classical mechanics. I have, therefore, sufficiently emphasized the importance of classical mechanics.

The contents of the book contain a series of lectures which the author had been giving to the M.Sc. and Ph.D students in physics for the last over ten years. The chapters are arranged in a sequence in which the subject matter was taught to the students.

The pre-requisite for the study of this book is an undergraduate course on mathematics with a particular knowledge of differential equations, integral and differential calculus.

Kapil Mohan Khanna (b. 1934) took his B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc.
(Hons.) from the Panjab University in 1956 and 1957, respectively, and was
awarded the Panjab University Medal in Physics for the year 1956 for

standing first in Panjab University in B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics. He was in-
scribed in the Roll of Honours of the Panjah University three times. He

was awarded a Ph. D. degree in Physics by the Indian Institute of Techno-
logy, Kharagpur, in 1964. In 1958-59, Dr. Khanna was a teaching fellow

at the University of Notre Dame, U.S.A., and in 1959-1961 at the
University of Alberta, Canada. He took up a Faculty position in 1962 in
the Deptt. of Physics and Meteorology at the Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur. He served the Institute till 1967 when he joined as professor
and Head of the Department of Physics, Dibrugarh University, Assam. In
1977, Dr. Khanna joined as Professor of Applied Physics and Head, at the
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi. In 1976, Dr. Khanna took
up the present position of Principal Training Officer and Head, Department
of Materials Science, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology,
Hatia, Ranchi-834 003, India. He is the author of over sixty-five
research papf'rs in Physics and Materials Science which have appeared in
International Journals and referred to in books and journals.