Introduction to Mechanics and Symmetry

Symmetry has alway played an important role in mechanics, from fundamental formulations of basic principles to concrete applications. The theme of this text is the role of symmetry in various aspects of mechanics. In recent times, this feature has accelerated because of new applications of symmetry techniques for studying integrable and chaotic systems, stability and bifurcation, as well as for obtaining new insights into specific rigid, fluid, plasma and elastic systems. This text lays the basic foundation for these topics. It also covers reduction theory and includes numerous applications, making it beneficial to physicists and engineers. It uses specific examples and applications showing how the theory works, plus up-to-date techniques.