Book Description

Excerpt from Elementary Mathematical Astronomy, Vol. 2: With Examples and Examination Papers Preface To The First Edition. For some time past it has been felt that a gap existed between the many excellent popular and non-mathematical works on Astronomy, and the standard treatises on the subject, which involve high mathematics. The present volume has been compiled with the view of filling this gap, and of providing a suitable text-book for such examinations as those for the B.A. and the B.Sc. degrees of the University of London. It has not been assumed that the reader's knowledge of mathematics extends beyond the more rudimentary portions of Geometry, Algebra, and Trigonometry. A knowledge of elementary Dynamics will, however, be required in reading the last three chapters, but all dynamical investigations have been left till the end of the book, thus separating dynamical from descriptive Astronomy. The principal properties of the Sphere required in Astronomy have been collected in the Introductory Chapter; and, as it is impossible to understand Kepler's Laws without a slight knowledge of the properties of the Ellipse, the more important of these have been collected in the Appendix for the benefit of students who have not read Conic Sections. All the more important theorems have been carefully illustrated by worked-out numerical examples, with the view of showing how the various principles can be put to practical application. The authors are of opinion that a far sounder knowledge of Astronomy can be acquired with the help of such examples than by learning the mere bookwork alone. Preface To The Second Edition. The first edition of Mathematical Astronomy having run out of print in less than eight months, we have hardly considered it advisable to make many radical changes in the present edition. We have, however, taken the opportunity of adding several notes at the end, besides answers to the examples, which latter will, we hope, prove of assistance, especially to private students; our readers will also notice that the book has been brought up to date by the inclusion of the most recent discoveries. At the same time we hope we have corrected all the misprints that are inseparable from a first edition. Our best thanks are due to many of our readers for their kind assistance in sending us corrections and suggestions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.