A Most Incomprehensible Thing: Notes Towards a Very Gentle Introduction to the Mathematics of Relativity
ISBN-13:
9780957389465
ISBN-10:
0957389469
Edition:
3rd ed.
Author:
Peter Collier
Publication date:
2017
Publisher:
Incomprehensible Books
Format:
Paperback
274 pages
Category:
Cosmology
,
Physics
,
Mathematical Physics
,
Relativity
,
Astronomy & Space Science
FREE US shipping
Book details
ISBN-13:
9780957389465
ISBN-10:
0957389469
Edition:
3rd ed.
Author:
Peter Collier
Publication date:
2017
Publisher:
Incomprehensible Books
Format:
Paperback
274 pages
Category:
Cosmology
,
Physics
,
Mathematical Physics
,
Relativity
,
Astronomy & Space Science
Summary
A Most Incomprehensible Thing: Notes Towards a Very Gentle Introduction to the Mathematics of Relativity (ISBN-13: 9780957389465 and ISBN-10: 0957389469), written by authors
Peter Collier, was published by Incomprehensible Books in 2017.
With an overall rating of 4.2 stars, it's a notable title among other
Cosmology
(Physics, Mathematical Physics, Relativity, Astronomy & Space Science) books. You can easily purchase or rent A Most Incomprehensible Thing: Notes Towards a Very Gentle Introduction to the Mathematics of Relativity (Paperback) from BooksRun,
along with many other new and used
Cosmology
books
and textbooks.
And, if you're looking to sell your copy, our current buyback offer is $2.69.
Description
Teach yourself the mathematics of relativity – THE AMAZON BESTSELLER
To really understand Einstein's theory of relativity – one of the cornerstones of modern physics – you have to get to grips with the underlying mathematics. A Most Incomprehensible Thing is aimed at the general reader who is motivated to tackle that not insignificant challenge. With a user-friendly style, clear step-by-step mathematical derivations, many fully solved problems and numerous diagrams, this self-study guide provides an accessible introduction to a fascinating but complex subject.
For those with minimal mathematical background, the first chapter gives a crash course in foundation mathematics. The reader is then taken gently by the hand and guided through a wide range of fundamental topics, including Newtonian mechanics; the Lorentz transformations; the all important metric tensor gμν; tensor calculus; the Einstein field equations; the Schwarzschild solution (which gives a good approximation of the spacetime of our Solar System); black holes, relativistic cosmology and gravitational waves.
Understand even the basics of Einstein's amazing theory and the world will never seem the same again.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 Foundation mathematics
2 Newtonian mechanics
3 Special relativity
4 Introducing the manifold
5 Scalars, vectors, one-forms and tensors
6 More on curvature
7 General relativity
8 The Newtonian limit
9 The Schwarzschild metric
10 Schwarzschild black holes
11 Cosmology
12 Gravitational waves
Appendix: The Riemann curvature tensor
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
January 2019 – this revised printing includes new Chapter 11 (cosmology) sections on a scale factor and a spacetime diagram for our universe.
To really understand Einstein's theory of relativity – one of the cornerstones of modern physics – you have to get to grips with the underlying mathematics. A Most Incomprehensible Thing is aimed at the general reader who is motivated to tackle that not insignificant challenge. With a user-friendly style, clear step-by-step mathematical derivations, many fully solved problems and numerous diagrams, this self-study guide provides an accessible introduction to a fascinating but complex subject.
For those with minimal mathematical background, the first chapter gives a crash course in foundation mathematics. The reader is then taken gently by the hand and guided through a wide range of fundamental topics, including Newtonian mechanics; the Lorentz transformations; the all important metric tensor gμν; tensor calculus; the Einstein field equations; the Schwarzschild solution (which gives a good approximation of the spacetime of our Solar System); black holes, relativistic cosmology and gravitational waves.
- Special relativity helps explain a huge range of non-gravitational physical phenomena and has some strangely counter-intuitive consequences. These include time dilation, length contraction, the relativity of simultaneity, mass-energy equivalence and an absolute speed limit.
- General relativity, the leading theory of gravity, is at the heart of our understanding of cosmology and black holes. Summed up in the words of eminent theoretical physicist John Archibald Wheeler: “Matter tells space how to curve. Space tells matter how to move.”
Understand even the basics of Einstein's amazing theory and the world will never seem the same again.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1 Foundation mathematics
2 Newtonian mechanics
3 Special relativity
4 Introducing the manifold
5 Scalars, vectors, one-forms and tensors
6 More on curvature
7 General relativity
8 The Newtonian limit
9 The Schwarzschild metric
10 Schwarzschild black holes
11 Cosmology
12 Gravitational waves
Appendix: The Riemann curvature tensor
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
January 2019 – this revised printing includes new Chapter 11 (cosmology) sections on a scale factor and a spacetime diagram for our universe.
We would LOVE it if you could help us and other readers by reviewing the book
Book review
Congratulations! We have received your book review.
{user}
{createdAt}
by {truncated_author}