Abstract
THIS book is roughly of the intermediate standard of the universities and deals with most of the general principles of mechanics usually studied by engineering students prior to embarking upon the more highly specialised engineering subjects. The author has some very decided views upon the teaching of mechanics, ‘and does not lay stress upon laboratory work since’ “it seldom achieves the results intended-too often; students treat it as routine work, to be struggled through by following imperfectly comprehended instructions.” This denunciation is too sweeping, and we are inclined to believe that in those cases where experimental work fails in its object, the cause may often be found in the: lack of that inspiration which a competent teacher may communicate to his students. The author has com?, piled his book for the use of engineers, and we cannot welcome too strongly his courage in throwing over so-called “engineers' units “and his use of absolute units throughout in the development of the principles, of the subject. The confusion which has resulted front engineers' units has become deplorable. There are. several recent text-books on engineering subjects, which are almost unreadable on this account. We have therefore every confidence in recommending thi$ book to all teachers who have to handle engineering students and desire that their fundamental knowledge of this important subject shall be sound.
An Introduction to the Principles of Mechanics.
J. F. S.
Ross
By. Pp. x + 400. (London: Jonathan Cape, 1923). 12s. 6d. net.
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An Introduction to the Principles of Mechanics. Nature 113, 420 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/113420a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/113420a0