Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, for Schools, Colleges, Candidates for University Examinations, &c

Abstract

WE are glad to see London University graduates recruiting the ranks of educational writers. Mr. Wormell states in clear and concise language the principles of elementary Statics and Dynamics, in close accordance with the syllabus of requirements for passing the examinations for the B.A. and B.Sc. degree at the London University. He gives hardly more nor less than this, but avoids at the same time an error into which most of our writers on the subject fall, viz. the overcrowding of their books with problems, which the purely didactic portion of the book does not enable even the gifted student to solve. Mr. Wormell adds to his test a great variety of really instructive solved problems, which will go far to help the student in finding the solutions of those given with the numerical answers alone. We have no doubt that this excellent little work will be a great success, but we should like the elementary principles of dynamics more amply illustrated. The introduction of the principle of limits on several occasions is highly commendable: the student should make its acquaintance early, but we believe in the old methods of proof to bring the matters more home to students, although they start, in a scientific view, from an inconsistency.

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, for Schools, Colleges, Candidates for University Examinations, &c.

By R. Wormell, M.A., B.Sc. (London: Groombridge and Sons.)