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Fluid Mechanics

Fluid Mechanics

Fluid Mechanics

Lectures on Theoretical Physics
Volume 4:
David Tong , University of Cambridge
May 2025
4
Not yet published - available from May 2025
Adobe eBook Reader
9781009594721

    Take anything in the universe, put it in a box, and heat it up. Regardless of what you start with, the motion of the substance will be described by the equations of fluid mechanics. This remarkable universality is the reason why fluid mechanics is important. The key equation of fluid mechanics is the Navier-Stokes equation. This textbook starts with the basics of fluid flows, building to the Navier-Stokes equation while explaining the physics behind the various terms and exploring the astonishingly rich landscape of solutions. The book then progresses to more advanced topics, including waves, fluid instabilities, and turbulence, before concluding by turning inwards and describing the atomic constituents of fluids. It introduces ideas of kinetic theory, including the Boltzmann equation, to explain why the collective motion of 1023 atoms is, under the right circumstances, always governed by the laws of fluid mechanics.

    • Fluid Mechanics is the fourth book in a series of textbooks covering the fundamentals of theoretical physics
    • Highlights connections to other areas of physics that are often overlooked, providing a more integrated understanding of the subject
    • Addresses fluid mechanics at a level suitable for undergraduate students and researchers. It starts with the basics and progresses to more advanced topics, including turbulence and kinetic theory
    • Includes a wealth of examples and illustrations making it an invaluable resource for undergraduates and researchers
    • Numerous homework exercises for the book are available online

    Reviews & endorsements

    'This is theoretical physics 'done right'. The author's love of the subject and its history, as well as its results, shines through. The definitions and derivations are clean, but never dry. For students of modern physical science, these volumes will be a rich source of instruction, insight - and joy.' Frank Wilczek, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    'David Tong is one of those physicists who comes along only rarely. He unrelentingly dives into all fields of physics, recognising the often underappreciated unity of the body of knowledge that exists. He is a master of technical detail along with the essential underlying physical principles. In this series he covers much of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum with clarity and humour, and I often find myself looking up his books or using his efforts to teach better myself.' Lisa Randall, Harvard University

    'This is a wonderful set of textbooks. A dynamic and engaging introduction to theoretical physics with a very modern emphasis.' Juan Maldacena, Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton

    'These books are an invaluable gift to physics students of all ages. It's probably impossible for a series of books to cover everything a physicist needs to know, but this is as close as you're going to get - all explained with David Tong's characteristic clarity and verve. I can't recommend them highly enough.' Sean Carroll, Johns Hopkins University, and author of Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity

    'The books in this textbook series are destined to become classics and will be immensely popular among students and researchers alike. The writing is clear and accessible, and the style is engaging and witty. One cannot resist a comparison to the authoritative and deeply insightful set of books by Landau and Lifshitz. This series, aimed at an even broader audience, may well prove to be equally influential, establishing a 'theoretical minimum' to which all physicists should aspire. I cannot wait for the other volumes to appear.' Sandip Trivedi, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai

    'David Tong's series brilliantly combines deep physical understanding with masterful teaching. Delivering a thorough, wide-ranging, and current view of physics, it effectively updates Landau and Lifshitz's renowned Course of Theoretical Physics. This series is highly recommended as both excellent course material and an essential resource for students and advanced researchers, and I am confident it will achieve classic status.' Nathan Seiberg, Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton

    'These volumes are brilliant gems, lovingly crafted in language that sparkles and enlightens. Moreover, the cross-referencing of topics, as well as the prefiguring of advanced concepts, allow students to appreciate the unity of theoretical physics in a way no individual textbook could. For the rest of us, the books rekindle the zing we felt when we first encountered these subjects, with numerous shiny new nuggets as a bonus. A Landau and Lifshitz for the twenty-first century, only more inviting and human this time.' Rajesh Gopakumar, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bangalore

    See more reviews

    Product details

    May 2025
    Adobe eBook Reader
    9781009594721
    0 pages
    Not yet published - available from May 2025

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Inviscid Flows
    • 2. The Navier–Stokes Equation
    • 3. Waves
    • 4. Instabilities
    • 5. Turbulence
    • 6. Kinetic Theory
    • 7. Diffusion.
      Author
    • David Tong , University of Cambridge

      David Tong is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Trinity College. He is known for his contributions to quantum field theory and its application to diverse areas of physics, including particle physics, condensed matter, cosmology, and quantum gravity. His lecture notes on theoretical physics have gained a global following due to their clear explanations and easy-going, accessible style.