本书是“索末菲理论物理教程”的第一卷，主题是力学。“索末菲理论物理教程”包括力学、变形介质力学、电动力学、光学、热力学与统计物理、物理学中的偏微分方程六卷，是作者给Muenchen大学和理工学院物理专业大三、大四学生讲课的手稿整理而成的。索末菲老师教书是物理数学融合在一起的，关键是他还能实验物理和理论物理一起教。索末菲的教学应该是深刻地影响到了不少人。他的教学非同于一般的教书匠，其教科书里融入了自己的理解还有自己对学术的贡献。索末菲对物理学的贡献是多方面的，即便面对爱因斯坦这样的人物，也未必逊色多少。

阿诺德·索末菲（Arnold Sommerfeld，1868-1951），Sommerfeld是德国伟大的理论物理学家、应用数学家、流体力学家、教育家、原子物理与量子物理的创始人之一。他对理论物理多个领域，包括力学、光学、热力学、统计物理、原子物理、固体物理（包括金属物理）等有重大贡献，在偏微分方程、数学物理等应用数学领域也有重要贡献。他引进了第二量子数（角量子数）、第四量子数（自旋量子数）和精细结构常数，等等。20世纪最伟大的物理学家之一Planck在获得1918年度诺贝尔物理学奖的颁奖典礼的仪式上的演讲中指出：“Sommerfeld…便可以得到一个重要公式，这个公式能够解开氢与氢光谱的精细结构之谜，而且现在最精确的测量……一般地也能通过这个公式来解释……这个成就完全可以和海王星的著名发现相媲美。早在人类看到这颗行星之前Leverrier就计算出它的存在和轨道。”
Sommerfeld思想深刻，研究成果影响深远。例如，他去世后发展起来的数值广义相对论和新近崛起的引力波理论研究中，还引用“Sommerfeld条件”，该条件在求解中发挥了重要作用。这再次彰显了他的科学工作的巨大价值。

FOREWORD TO SOMMERFELD'S COURSE BY P. P. EWALD
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER Ⅰ. MECHANICS OF A PARTICLE
1.Newton's Axioms
2.Space, Time and Reference Systems
3.Rectilinear Motion of a Mass Point
Examples:
(1)Free Fall Near Earth's Surface (Falling Stone)
(2)Free Fall From a Great Distance (Meteor)
(3)Free Fall in Air
(4)Harmonic Oscillations
(5)Collision of Two Particles
4.Variable Masses
5.Kinematics and Statics of a Single Mass Point in a Plane and in Space
(1)Plane Kinematics
(2)The Concept of Moment in Plane Statics and Kinematics
(3)Kinematics in Space
(4)Statics in Space; Moment of Force About a Point and About an Axis
6.Dynamics (Kinetics) of the Freely Moving Mass Point; Kepler Problem; Concept of Potential Energy
(1)Kepler Problem with Fixed Sun
(2)Kepler Problem Including Motion of the Sun
(3)When Does a Force Field Have a Potential?
CEAPTER Ⅱ. MECHANICS OF SYSTEMS, PRINCIPLE OF VIRTUAL WORK, ANDD'ALEMBERT'S PRINCIPLE
7.Degrees of Freedom and Virtual Displacements of a Mechanical Syatem;Holonomic and Non-holonomic Constraints
8.The Principle of Virtual Work.
9.Illustrations of the Principle of Virtual Work
(1)The Lever
(2)Inverse of the Lever: Cyclist, Bridge
(3)The Block and Tackle
(4)The Drive Mechanism of a Piston Engine
(5)Moment of a Force About an Axis and Work in a Virtual Rotation
10.D'Alembert's Principle; Introduction of Inertial Forces
11.Application of d'Alembert's Principle to the Simplest Problems
(1)Rotation of a Rigid Body About a Fixed Axis
(2)Coupling of Rotational and Translational Motion
(3)Sphere Rolling on Inclined Plane
(4)Mass Guided Along Prescribed Trajectory
12.Lagrange's Equations of the First Kind
13.Equations of Momentum and of Angular Momentum
(1)Equation of Momentum
(2)Equation of Angular Momentum
(3)Proof Using the Coordinate Method
(4)Examples
(6)General Rule on the Number of Integrations Feasible in a Closed
(5)Mass Balancing of Marine Engines Syetem
14.The Laws of Friction
(1)Static Friction
(2)Sliding Friction
CHAPTER Ⅲ. OSCILLATION PROBLEMS
15.The Simple Pendulum
16.The Compound Pendulum
Supplement: A Rule Concerning Moments of Inertia
17.The Cycloidal Pendulurm
18.The Spherical Pendulum
19.Various Types of Oscillations. Free and Forced, Damp and Undamped Oscillations
20.Sympathetic Oscillations
21.The Double Pendulum
CHAPTER Ⅳ. THE RIGID BODY
22.Kinematics of Rigid Bodies
23.Statics of Rigid Bodies
(1)The Conditions of Equilibrium
(2)Equipollence; the Reduction of Force Systems
(3)Change of Reference Point
(4)Comparison of Kinematics and Statics
Supplement: Wrenches and Screw Displacements
24.Linear and Angular Momentum of a Rigid Body. Their Connection with Linear and Angular Velocity
25.Dynamics of a Rigid Body. Survey of its Forms of Motion
(1)The Spherical Top Under No Forces
(2)The Symmetrical Top Under No Forces
(3)The Unsymmetrical Top Under No Forces
(4)The Heavy Symmetrical Top
(5)The Heavy Unsymmetrical Top
26.Euler's Equations. Quantitative Treatment of the Top Under No Forces
(1)Euler's Equations of Motion
(2)Regular Precession of the Symmetrical Top Under No Forces and Euler's Theory of Polar Fluctuations
(3)Motion of an Unsymmetrical Top Under No Forces. Examination of its Permanent Rotations as to Stability
27.Demonstration Experiments Illustrating the Theory of the Spinning Top; Practical Applications
(1)The Gyrostabilizer and Related Topics
(2)The Gyrocompass
(3)Gyroscopic Effects in Railroad Wheels and Bicycles
Supplement: The Mechanics of Billiards
(a)High and Low Shots, 158—(b) Follow Shots and Draw Shots, 159—
(c)Trajectories with " English " Under Horizontal Impact, 160—
(d)Parabolic