YI PREFACE. 



in Hydrodynamics the main questions of wave and vortex motion are 

 taken up, with a brief account of the phenomena of the tides and of 

 viscous fluids. Thus the student is prepared for the study of Sound, Light, 

 and Electricity. The only work in English of which I know having the 

 same purpose is Professor Tait's admirable treatise on Dynamics. While 

 this book has been in preparation, there has appeared the first volume 

 of Professor Gray's Treatise on Physics, the scope of which is much 

 broader, but the aim of which is not greatly different from that of this 

 book. I have however attempted to provide a treatise which would 

 in not over a year's time offer to the student an amount of knowledge 

 of Dynamics sufficient to prepare him for the study of Mathematical 

 Physics in general. 



My obligations to previous authors are obvious, and where possible 

 explicit mention is made. A list of works which have been of service 

 to me is appended, but I wish particularly to acknowledge my indebtedness 

 to Thomson and Tait, to Kirchhoff and to Appell. I am under great 

 obligations to Dr. Margaret E. Maltby for valuable assistance in the 

 preparation of the manuscript, and for frequent suggestions, and to 

 Messrs. J. G. Coffin and J. C. Hubbard, Fellows of Clark University, for 

 efficient aid in the preparation of the drawings. I take this opportunity 

 of expressing my thanks to my colleague Professor William E. Story for 

 his continual willingness during fourteen years to aid me by putting at 

 my disposition his unusual knowledge in matters connected with Algebra. 

 My thanks are due to the publisher for the fine mechanical execution of 

 the work in the style for which the house of Teubner is noted. 



As the proof has been read only by myself, it is hoped that errors 

 will be dealt with lightly. In conclusion I venture to hope that my 

 attempt to make Dynamics more of an experimental science by subjecting 

 some of its conclusions to quantitative experimental verification may 

 deserve notice. 



Worcester, Mass., July 22, 1904. 



A. G. WEBSTEE. 



