 "Unclear Examples and Wrong Solutions" | 2007-12-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3OIWUNKBHB1FJ |
| While the text portions on the theory are mostly acceptable, there are two things that make this book very unhelpful. First, the example problems are not solved in terms of variables - numerical values are used from the beginning, which makes the example both hard to follow and less easily generalized to help the reader understand other problems. Second, the book provides solutions to the odd-numbered problems, but it was not uncommon for these solutions to be wrong (even the units were wrong!). This created a lot of frustration. A third minor complaint is that the book is not organized well - the chapters are far too broad (several are longer than 100 pages) and yet closely related material still sometimes appears in different chapters. |
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 "Thorough and ample preparation" | 2005-12-08 |
| - Reviewed By ryanharne |
Other reviewers have left their disgust of the book to a basic, if I may summarize, "it doesn't explain anything" carping. Now, of course, it should be understood that textbooks are a supplement to lecturing in a classroom setting, so, it should be without mentioning that learning material like dynamics would be rather difficult without an ample professor leading the way.
With that said, I believe this text is amazing. It is simply one of the better texts I've gone through so far and not simply due to my advantage. My advantage being that my professor was L.G. Kraige, the co-author and future author of the 6th edition (the distinguished Dr. Merian passed away in 2000). Dr. Kraige never went far beyond the text or elaborated any further than what was provided. And rightfully so - if you are not able to pick up some of this material from what you read, it is best that you take a few steps back (maybe back to statics, maybe to physics, maybe to grade school) and start again. Dynamics is a difficult subject to move through without some form of official lecture and having someone offer their own tips and hints is a necessity for your individual success.
The book is thorough and the appendices cover shades of older material that you may not remember fully - I know I had to review mass moments of inertia on several occasions and Appendix B was just enough to get me back on target. The problems for each article are very well formulated and clearly presented. As with many advanced texts, not all of the topics or questions are covered explicitly during the articles, but at this point in the physics/engineering game, it is a must for a student to begin to intuitively solve problems based on the basics that are presented.
Again, this book is wonderful, but needs to be complemented with an ample professor. I was very lucky to have Dr. Kraige as my professor and appreciate the text all the more. |
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 "useless text" | 2005-01-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1T8NCNQP7T51J |
You'd better hope you've got a good professor for dynamics, because this book is absolutely no help. It gives proofs for most equations, but doesn't seem to think any amount of example problems are necessary. I have the bootleg copy of the solutions manual for this book and the author solves most of the problems with bizarre calculus that isn't discussed in the chapter at all.
To top it off, the set (Statics and Dynamics) was $180 at my college bookstore. Pool your money with your classmates, buy one copy of each, and xerox the problems. You will not miss anything. |
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| "Same quality as the Statics text (that is, low quality)" | 2004-11-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A35TIR9I32764E |
| The authors treat this topic with the same dense, obtuse, poorly worded approach they used to write the Statics text. If you ever want to use your textbook except to do assigned problems out of it (that is, you want to learn from it by reading it) don't expect it to help you much, if at all. |
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| "Great book" | 2004-04-27 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| This is really a great book in a hard to grasp subject.It is easy to follow ,has a lot of excellent sample problems and examples ,student-friendly and it is ideal for selfstudy. |
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| "great book, great choice, but my taste has chosen Hibbeler10" | 2004-02-18 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
(refers to Dynamics, 5th Edition. but is meant for both volumes):
Lets begin with Meriam5 Pro's:
+ generously big-sized format. what a wonderful look when you open. really inviting, attractive. and enjoyable reading!
+ nicest written text passages: clear, in full, rigorous, easy-to-follow theory, explained with many words and extra-words. reading for interesting and lovely background information.
+ excellent general, comprehensive treatment of particle systems incl rigorous maths (Read this chapter and learn from it!!)derivations. results in many useful key equations. good overview.
+ rigid bodies treated as special case of particle systems (cool!). again, read the "Kinetics of Particle Systems"-chapter from this book, and not from any other.
+ key kinetic equations are easily identified and are given in most general forms, precision to special cases when needed only. good math manipulation/derivation of formulas and equations. gives best kinetics math fundament. Easy to spot the colourful boxes!
+ *each* problem statement supported by picture book illustrations, agreeable.
+ superb appendix: extremely detailed coverage of moments, products of inertia etc. Recomendable chapter.
+ book physical quality outstanding: page paper, hardcover, beautiful overall layout. Highest quality available! inside page layout not as modern as Hibbeler10 but maybe more attractive in total (talking about looks and physical quality).
+ no doubt, best problem set on the market (>1500 probs of immense educational value though they cover plane motion only)
+ recommendable for purchase. (but i d prefer a different one!)
The list of Con's is as long as the Pro's-list:
- neglects the 3rd-dim in general formulation and application of equations of motion, horror!
- except for last chapter whole book covers 2-dim motion only. no use of cylindrical coord's, nowhere.
- sticks to cartesian coord instead of being general
- doesnt cover eccentric impact at all
- 3-dim motion is covered truely "introductory" only.
- lacks basic kinematic formulas (n-t-coord's: no binormal unit vec, no formula for 'rho' curvature y(x) or tan 'psi')
- 'Key Concepts'-pages are not down to the details. interesting background reading but not too useful for application of concepts. No step-by-step procedure is given. Just vague formulations. Good for overview but not of any explicit use.
- Ch1 introduces spherical and cylindrical coord's but are never used in text/examples/problems (motion are in 2-dim's only) *very irritating* (problems and examples are all planar motion problems. except for very last Chapter)
- lacks a number of desirable illustrations t/a math developments
- not as much supplementary material on the companion website, poor.
- with reading the nice text passages one gains info/knowledge/wisdom but not problem-solving skills.
- lacks a few spicey but useful formulas found in Hibbeler's
- no money-saving Combined hardcover package available (only a money-saving 2-vols packaged paperback).
- inconsistent notation for rotational vector 'omega'.to sum up, MeriamKraige is a great buy - I respect the physical quality and content quality though it is a pure undergrad text and never wants to go beyond. all is presented in the most simple manner. no advanced (but useful) formulas, derivations, maths with the result: I am really missing a few equations. Taking into consideration that *none* of the competitors (BeerJohnston, Shames, Hibbeler) is complete either consider buying it if you can live with the above Con's. I could live with them, but my personal taste is towards Hibbeler10. Read also my Hibbeler10-review (amazon.com). |
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