Product Description

In these inspiring lectures David Bohm explores Albert Einstein’s celebrated Theory of Relativity that transformed forever the way we think about time and space. Yet for Bohm the implications of the theory were far more revolutionary both in scope and impact even than this. Stepping back from dense theoretical and scientific detail in this eye-opening work, Bohm describes how the notion of relativity strikes at the heart of our very conception of the universe, regardless of whether we are physicists or philosophers.

Customer Reviews (6)

4.5*, Good, but not quite 5 stars
If fractional stars could be awarded I would give this book 4.5 stars.I liked it but in my opinion was not quite a 5 star book.Being unable to give it 4.5 stars I am giving it the benefit of the doubt and going with 5 stars, but with some reservations, discussed below.

I really liked the first three-quarters of the book.Professor Bohm writes with clarity, giving more than just derivations of basic equations (which he does with some rigor), but also provides a very clear exposition of why things are what the theory says they are.He provides not only the standard treatment of relativity, but also provides details about the ether theory, Lorentz' attempt to save it in the face of contradictory experimental evidence and the behavior of charged particles in electromagnetic fields - the last item a subject that is generally not covered in a basic treatment of relativity theory.In terms of difficulty, I would rate the book as being much more difficult than Gardner's "Relativity Simply Explained" or Wolfson's "Simply Einstein", but less difficult than an intermediate college text.It is suitable for someone wishing to learn the subject on their own, but only if they have some physics background and are willing to deal with some basic algebra and a little first year college math.It is also very useful for someone studying this subject in college, as Professor Bohm's explanations of the nature of relativity theory are very good, making this an excellent adjunct to a standard college text.

Unfortunately, I found the last quarter of the text a bit less clear than the first three-quarters.This latter quarter deals with the Minkowski Diagram, K calculus and applications of these subjects.Many basic books cover Minkowski's space-time approach, but few cover K calculus, for good reason.I found these discussions rushed and far from clear.Also, the text covering several of the figures contain reference to letter denoted items that are not on the figure, making it very difficult to follow what Bohm is trying to get across.As noted by other reviewers, there were some typographical errors (mostly leaving out prime superscripts and alike) that needlessly confused things. I had the feeling that if another 50 pages had been allotted to the latter half of the book it would have been greatly improved.

There is a 60-page appendix that discusses Physics and Perception.Professor Bohm obviously was greatly influenced by the work of Piaget and other physiologists and used this to try to explain how we learn to interpret the world, how this defines our concept of it, and why this makes the basic concepts of Special Relativity are so difficult to accept.While very useful and informative, this is an area where I think that less would have definitely been more. A brief 10-page summary would been, for me, clearer, more focused, and would therefore have had more impact.

All in all, I liked this book and would recommend it to someone who is really interested in Relativity Theory, but if all you want is a basic primer on what the subject is about, without somewhat rigorous mathematical derivations, then this would not be the best choice for you.

Special relativity for deep thinkers!
A great book made by a great physicist, it covers the historical, mathematical, empirical and philosophical issues of special relativity in a clear way.
It includes: Michelson-Morley experiment, Lorentz transformations, mass and energy equivalence, relativistic law for energy and momentum transformation, charged particles in electromagnetic field, Minkowski diagram, paradox of twins and others. It also has a very deep appendix about physics and perception explaining the way we see the world around us, with the work of swiss epistemologist Jean Piaget as background.
A nice book to understand special relativity.

a nice motivation of special relativity concepts.
Due to appreciation of Bohm's Quantum Theory text I didn't hesitate to borrow this from the library when I saw it in the catalogue.

Much of the book was very enjoyable and informative to read.Like Bohm's Quantum Theory book, this has a great deal of well thought out logical development of the subject, a great deal of which does not require much mathematics to appreciate.The discussion of the Lorentz and the aether theory fit well with the development of the Lorentz transformation, general velocity addition and other concepts.That Lorentz theory discussion provided nice context for the introduction of Einstein's relativity principle, and one is left better able to appreciate the differences from the mechanistic model.

The idea that our perceptions, and preconceptions towards non-relativisitic descriptions are learned was interesting.That said I have to admit that the non-technical appendix that discussed this in depth lacked the technical content required to hold my interest.

Some of the mathematics bits were actually fairly tricky, in particular, the transformation of the Lorentz force equation.The approach seemed straightforward, but the algebra gets hairy.The part that was left as an exercise for the reader to verify was particularly messy.

As observed by one of the other reviewers, there were many typography errors in the mathematics.These were usually self correcting in later steps so I imagine they were not in the original manuscript.

The Purely Conceptual View of STR
Here, David Bohm, one of Einstein's last students, brings to our attention in his usual clear, thorough and exciting way, just how revolutionary and counter-intuitive the ideas that underlie the Special Theory of Relativity really were, and still are, and indeed how different they are from the standard model of physics. In order to fully appreciate the radical nature of the changes needed to make the transition, from the "Standard Model" to "Relativistic Physics," he includes a complete appendix from which he draws most of his conceptual (i.e. Psychological and Philosophical) insights. Rather surprisingly they were taken mostly from the works of none other than the famous Swiss Child Psychologist Jean Piaget, which at the time the book was written in 1967, were quite revolutionary themselves.Judging by this rather astoundingly clear appendix alone, called "Physics and Perceptions," in which Bohm lays out a deep conceptual framework upon which the book is hung, one could argue that Professor Bohm is at least as proficient a social scientist and analytical psychologist as he is a Physicist.

Because of its centrality to the book, my advice to the reader is to read the appendix first, or at least at a very early stage of the book, because it is there that the substance of the book takes shape and form. The physics concepts are almost incidental to this underlying conceptual theme.

That said, it must be pointed out that this then is a wholly conceptual, rather than a mathematical book on the Special Theory. No mathematics are needed and none are used. In many ways it parallels Amos Harpaz's equally excellent conceptual book, called "Relativity Theory: Concepts and Basic Principles," which attempts to do the same thing for the General Theory, except in Harpaz's case (written almost 30 years later), even to explain the concepts of GT required, as a minimum, the Tensor Calculus.

The beauty of the present volume is that even though we have heard it all before and thought we fully understood the conceptual basis of the Special Theory, and all the many nuances of the Michelson-Morley experiments with the ether, Lorentz transforms, Maxwell equations, to Minkowski's geometry, and on to the tricky aspects of reformulating space-time itself, it all has a fresh (not a historical) resonance in Bohm's skilful hands.

And as always, here again, as he has done in his other writings especially those since, on "The Implicate Order," for instance, there is something novel to learn and understand with each new recounting by Bohm. It is not just the way the concepts are applied to physics alone that matters in Bohm's recounting, but also how they are used in other contexts, in the arts for instance, or to modern applied physics and engineering technology, and how Relativity has become a metaphor of our culture, more generally.

Bohm's explanations are so clear and so carefully laid out that there is no margin of error for misunderstanding. For that alone and the historical value of the book itself (it may even be clearer than Einstein's own popular book on STR) earns five stars.

Thorough on the science, astute on the philosophy
A thorough but very down-to-earth introduction to the math, physics and philosophy of special relativity, and some of the history leading to its development.Bohm is such a first-rate physicist (well known for his original theorizing about quantum reality) and also a superb teacher who understands where others are coming from.The best quality is his well-rounded understanding of human cognition as it relates to the concepts of the relativity of space and time, matter and energy, etc.A long and really worthwhile appendix discusses Piaget's models of how children form ideas about space, time, permanence, change, etc., and, since we were all children once, the source of many of the metaphors and thought patterns that we bring to our understanding of classical space and time, and also relativity.He argues -- and shows -- that relativity's ideas of flexible space, time, etc., are actually close in structure to a child's notion of the world and therefore not so counter-intuitive as we often think they are.Indeed, his constant message is, "This isn't really so hard, nor is it really as strange as it's made out to be."He shows the errors of the absolutism (and arrogance, really) that grew out of Galileo's and Newton's approaches toward "eternal verities" about the universe, and finds in relativity not only a different approach toward space, time, matter, energy, etc., but toward doing science.
In the process he does a LOT of math, and relates the formulas to the philosophy and threory he expounds.The math is not hard -- almost no calculus, mostly algebra, a little trigonometry.If you really study this, you can have a very deep understanding of why special relativity concludes what it does.The discussion of Minkowski's geometrical approach is very helpful and complements well the earlier algebraic treatment of the Lorentz transformations.
I've read quite a few popular books on special relativity and this is definitely among the very best.Bohm converses with the reader, doesn't talk down, and is wise, not cute, about the most surprising aspects of the theory.He clearly has thought deeply about the meaning of special relativity, and I came away feeling fortunate for having one of the great physics minds of our century share his creative insights and many years of experience with me.His thinking has a broad reach -- herefers to Thomas Kuhn several times, and his focus on the physical experience behind our abstract concepts reminded me of Lakoff and Núñez's groundbreaking "Where Mathematics Comes From," and Lakoff and Johnson's "Metaphors We Live By" (both written well after this 1965 book).I feel I understand not only special relativity better, but science in general and its place in our thought.

There are a few small drawbacks. I found myself skipping over some of the tedious derivations of the formulas and picking up without missing anything.The edition I read (Routledge, ppbk 1996) has a few minor math mistakes, which is a pain when you're trying to follow the steps carefully.But all-in-all I found myself eager to come back to the book until I finished it, andI've underlined so much that I'll be going back to it again soon, I think. ... Read more

Product Description
A pair of eminent Russian theoretical physicists offer a captivating view of the paradoxes inherent to the special theory of relativity. Written in a simple, straightforward fashion, the text uses familiar objects (trains, rulers, and clocks, for example) to illuminate the more subtle and elusive aspects of relativity. Contents: 1. Familiar Examples of Relativity. 2. Space Is Relative. 3. The Tragedy of Light. 4. Time Proves to Be Relative. 5. Clocks and Rulers Play Tricks. 6. Work Changes Mass. 7. Summing Up. Index. Unabridged republication of the edition published by Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1959. 23 black-and-white illustrations.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

For Beginners Only
Never felt the need to submit a review -- before this book.This is the lightest science related text I have bought.(Did the other review sway me?Probably.)This translated-from-Russian text includes vintage Russian illustrations, which are amusing on their own, but the actual science is so very shallow.It's not enough to rehash the standard scenarios that tweak our everyday experience -- Einstein revealed a subtlety to the theories of Galileo and Newton that went unappreciated for centuries.Perhaps too much to expect from 65 pages...

A lucid treatment by a true master
Landau and Rumer do an excellent job of explaining the basics of relativity. You will be hard pressed to find any book that explains these ideas more clearly or succinctly. Finally, the treatment itself demonstrates the power of theory and experiment in its ability to overturn our most closely held intuitions. ... Read more

Product Description
This text provides a pedagogical tour through mechanics from Newton to Einstein with detailed explanations and a large number of worked examples. From the very beginning relativity is kept in mind, along with its relation to concepts of basic mechanics, such as inertia, escape velocity, Newton's potential, Kepler motion and curvature. The Lagrange and Hamilton formalisms are treated in detail, and extensive applications to central forces and rigid bodies are presented. After consideration of the motivation of relativity, the essential tensor calculus is developed, and thereafter Einstein's equation is solved for special cases with explicit presentation of calculational steps.The combined treatment of classical mechanics and relativity thus enables the reader to see the connection between Newton's gravitational potential, Kepler motion and Einstein's corrections, as well as diverse aspects of mechanics. The text addresses students and others pursuing a course in classical mechanics, as well as those interested in a detailed course on relativity. ... Read more

Product Description
Makes a quick, directed thrust through general relativity and black holes.Brings preliminary insights concerning the history and structure of the Cosmos. DLC: General relativity (Physics) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A nice introduction to General Relativity
This book covers solutions of Einstein's field equations developed in General Relativity, mainly the metric solutions of Schwarzschild, Kerr and Friedmann as well as topics that attracts the general public:GPS, advance of Mercury's perihelion, Einstein Rings and a bit of Cosmology as well (although it's clear the preference of the authors for a closed universe...). It also covers fundamentals of General Relativity with very few math, such as curved space-time, gravitational redshift , equivalence principle of gravity and acceleration, and the author'smasterpiece: The principle of extremal aging .
Don't expect to see any Christoffel symbols, covariant derivative, Ricci tensor, etc. this is a book about solutions, fundamentals and very interesting topics of General Relativity, a very nice way to start studying it!

A Breakthrough in Undergraduate Texts
A book I really wouldn't have thought could have been written. There are a lot of books on general relativity at the superficial level, call these books 'mathless.' There are monumental tomes aimed at the graduate student level, call these books 'tensor calculus.' Here is a book exquisitely positioned between these others. The student will need to have had differential calculus, and perhaps a bit of basic physics, and with these he will get a pretty good, introductory understanding of General Relativity.

The real key to this book is that it explains a lot, but then it open up a bunch of other questions, questions that we really haven't answered yet -- things like dark matter, dark energy, accelerating expansion of the universe, and more.

The book ends with: 'How can physics live up to its true greatness except by a new revolution in outlook which dwarfs all past revolutions? And when it comes, will we not say to each other, Oh, how beautiful and simple it all is! How could we ever have missed it so long.'

That's just the awe, the vision, that we want new and budding physicists to have.

Good book if you like mathematics!
This is the best book about General relativity ( GR ) that I have ever read. Instead of trying to explain GR with words the author is using mathematics to to illustrate some of the consequences of GR. This means that some mathematical knowledge is required ( but not knowledge about tensors and dfferential forms ) and that the reader need to spend some time with paper and pencil to truly understand the text. The examples is concentrated on what is happening around black holes but the advance of Mercury's perihelion and the slowing of light around the Sun is also described. A very good book!

Amazing Introduction to a Very Esoteric Subject
Einstein's general theory of relativity is perhaps one of the most mathematically intense areas of research any physicist or astronomer could undertake.However this book takes the subject and turns it into a joyous romp through curved spacetime.

By avoiding the field equations and focusing on their solutions the authors impart to the eager student an overview of general relativity and set the stage for a more rigorous approach to be undertaken later.This book is the perfect introduction to the subject.

The book is well suited for advanced undergraduates who have had several hours of physics and mathematics.It is likewise suited to serve as a introductory text for graduate students that are studying astrophysics and astronomy.In the latter case the text serves well as an overview of what general relativity is, many of its findings, its predictions, and its relevance to observational astronomy.

If you have a basic understanding of calculus and have studied the special theory of relativity in some detail then this book is well suited to your needs.

Excellent delivery!
This book was delivered in immaculate condition and is exactly how I was hoping it would be. Thank you for your product and i hope to do business with you again!

Sincerely,

Travis ... Read more

Product Description
Explores the 20th century revolutions in physics. This title helps readers to build up physical intuition for what is going on, before presenting mathematical descriptions. It contains many applications, ten appendices, and numerous illustrations, examples and problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear and mostly pretty good
This is a pretty good treatment of special relativity that we used in my physics class at Caltech. For the most part, it makes sense and provides good examples and exercises. The only issue is that it is a little short on its coverage of spacetime diagrams. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1921, five years after the appearance of his comprehensive paper on general relativity and twelve years before he left Europe permanently to join the Institute for Advanced Study, Albert Einstein visited Princeton University, where he delivered the Stafford Little Lectures for that year. These four lectures constituted an overview of his then controversial theory of relativity. Princeton University Press made the lectures available under the title The Meaning of Relativity, the first book by Einstein to be produced by an American publisher. As subsequent editions were brought out by the Press, Einstein included new material amplifying the theory. A revised version of the appendix "Relativistic Theory of the Non-Symmetric Field," added to the posthumous edition of 1956, was Einstein's last scientific paper.Amazon.com Review
In 1921, a young Albert Einstein traveled to America to give four lectures at Princeton University, paving the way for a more complete acceptance of his theory of general relativity.These lectures are published together asThe Meaning of Relativity, and were revised with each new editionuntil Einstein's death.Despite Einstein's profession that he thoughtwithout using words, his examples and descriptions of the relativisticworld he perceived are clear and easy to follow.Unfortunately fornontechnical readers, his presentation requires deep diversions intomathematics often enough to break up the flow of his narrative, and theymay find this rough terrain.But for the mathematically sophisticated orthe devoted scientific historian, these lectures are profoundlyilluminating--Einstein's bright, quiet genius shines through in thesimplicity and economy of his writing. Two appendices follow the lectures:the first covers advances and experimental verifications after 1921; thesecond, "Relativistic Theory of the Non-Symmetric Field," was Einstein'slast scientific paper. The Meaning of Relativity documents arevolution in progress and yields to the careful student deeper truths thanthose found in physics textbooks.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Foundation of relativity
This is an almost complete description of Einstein thoughts and motivations into special and general relativity along with some extra material about tensors and finally Einstein's thoughts on grand unification...
My opinion is that the book has large historical value along with some deep philosophical insights
The only minus is that mathematical formalism is out of date(along with some ideas) and surely this is not the best book to learn relativity,but can serve as an exceptional supplement for deep understanding of the subject

Einstein's derivation of relativity in 120 pages
This is not a plain English explanation of relativity to the layman. (For that, check out "Relativity: The Special and the General Theory") It is a short and sweet summary of the thinking behind and derivation of relativity in a little over 100 short pages. The target audience is physicists and mathematicians. Actually, it is probably best if you have studied relativity and differential geometry in a textbook first before tackling this one. I don't think you can learn the basics of relativity or differential geometry from this book if it's your first encounter with the subjects.

However, if you have the mathematical maturity, you will really find the "essence" of relativity in this book. As the originator of the relativity theory, Einstein can explain it like no other. After his explanation, you will wonder why no one else thought about it in this fashion, as he shows you why physics has to work this way.The key philosophical underpinnings are: (a) invariance of physics under coordinate transformations, as physical laws have to be the same no matter where/when the observations are made; and the Euclidean coordinate transformation as an simple result from classical geometry.This establishes relativity as a theory of invariants which makes the development philosophically sound and much more accessible; (b) the equivalence of all inertial reference frames (Galilean principle) and why the constancy of the speed of light occupies a central place in special relativity (the impossibility of instant communication); the results of special relativity are then derived with ease from the invariance of line segments in 4-space time; (c) the equivalence principle (the absolute equivalence of the gravitational mass and inertial mass) as the tool to remove the non-inertial reference frame as a special case.Frankly, one of the biggest confusions in special relativity was the fact that inertial reference frames are singled out as special, and yet there is no concrete proof of any kind that certain reference frames are inertial as we all know that the earth is not an inertial reference frame.In Einstein's own words: "...the general theory of relativity, ...such a superiority of conception over classical mechanics, that all the difficulties encountered must be considered as small in comparison with this progress."

With that, the mathematics (while not easy) fills in the blanks on how to get there. And Einstein's derivation was elegant and insightful. However, it is still the value of his insights and incisive understanding of the fundamental problems stand make it such a book to read.It is like comparing his derivation of length contraction and time dilation with that of Lorentz's.After reading this book, you will "understand" relativity.

A dense, but brilliant, collection of lectures
Laymen, such as myself, are familiar with the equation e=mc2; yet how many of us non-scientists actually know what this means?Einstein explains this in a series of four lectures.While the explaination is clear, the mathematics behind it (and the implications of relativity theory) are far from easy for the layperson to understand.

The first section on space and time in pre-relativity physics provides the foundation for exactly why his theories are so revolutionary.I was able to digest this without much difficulty.The real challenges (for me at least) began with his explaination of special and general relativity - that space, time and light are dependent on each other, and in fact are (hence the name) all relative ... a real mind-bender.Sadly, I was unable to make it through the second half of the lecture on general relativity - too abstract for one who is not a scientist by training or vocation.

Nonetheless it is a worthwhile (if difficult) read.For those who are weak in mathematics (Euclidian geometry or below) much of the details will be incomprehensable; don't let this dissuade you - part of the genius of Einstein is his ability to explain what the mathematics proves.A seminal work in science, and highly recommended for those with the patience, training or deeply committed interest in the subject.

A Classic Collection
This book is an excellent collection of 'lectures' by Einstein himself and present the 'eventual' form of the Special & General Theories of Relativity (as in the 1950s). A handy accompaniment to undergraduate study in relativity, the book is a *mathematical* exposition into its broad features - and is NOT by any means a popular/lay account of what the theories mean. The title of the book may be a little dis-orienting in this regard - but the subtitle should lay to rest any doubts!

Einstein starts with pre-relativity physics formulated in the language of tensors and moves on to present the Special Theory using the same apparatus. The next two chapters delve really deep into the philosophy of the General Theory (GR) complete with equations. The Appendices are further advanced topics in GR - and may be of interest only to graduate students.

For a non-physicist like me, with a sufficent background in the requisite mathematics and some prior exposure to the topic, this book was a real treat. It is a classic well worth its place in a personal library. This book is, however, not recommended for those who are looking for something along the lines of Hawkings' A Brief History of Time.

The Meaning of Relativity by Albert Einstein
Einstein's theory seeks to unite time, space and impliedly
distance and light phenomena into a rational set of equations which are congruent to the Euclidian geometry. In essence,
the concept of time is meaningless except in relation to
light . Without light, there would be no reference point
for measuring distance in space because the whole area would
be dark and unidentifiable for scientific measurement and
comparison purposes. The use of the volumetric triple integral
seeks to make a measurement on 3-planes.i.e. x,y and z
Later in the work, Einstein explains that the laws of
configuration of rigid bodies with respect to K' do not agree
with the laws of configuration of rigid bodies that are
in accordance with Euclidean geometry. He provides an example
wherein two similar clocks rotate simultaneously on the
periphery and the center of a circle, then judged from K- the
clock on the periphery will go slower than the clock at the
center. He explains this difference as the result of the
gravitational field influence as determinants in the metric
laws of the space and time continuum. What happens when the
clocks are in a perfect vacuum? In addition, time travel is
a function of how light travels. Finite differences in the
radii of the clocks (periphery and center) imply distances with
slight changes in respect to the time light takes to travel
from one end of the radii (periphery or center) to the other.
In the Riemann Tensor, Einstein depicts an amorphous masse
dependent upon the path of displacement. The outline of the
masse approximates a square so that the area or volume is
determinate by approximation to the closest geometric form
to the amorphous massei.e.a square

On page 92, Einstein states that the rate of a clock is slower
the greater is the masse of the ponderable matter in the
neighborhood. This comports with the theory and computation
of inertia. As the base and height increases, the inertial
computation is geometrically greater in accordance with the
formulas of inertia [ ((b x h^3)/12)]. In the discussion of
Mach, Einstein states that the inertia of a body must increase
when ponderable masses are piled in the neighborhood. This is
proven by computing inertia utilizing more massive bases and
heights. As the base and height increases, the inertial
computation is geometrically greater thereby proving that the
inertia of a body must increase when ponderable masses are
piled up in the neighborhood.

Einstein discusses the theory of Mach in relation to inertia
and the mutual action of bodies. The actual measurement of
Mach has at least 3 different levels; namely, subsonic,
sonic and supersonic measurements

Einstein argues that the hypothesis that the universe is
infinite and Euclidean at infinity is complicated from the
relativistic point of view. The universe expands and contracts .
Accordingly, the nature tends to approximate non-Euclidean
or quasi-Euclidean objects in the evolution toward the
expansive and infinite state which Einstein postulates as
potentially Euclidean in order.

Einstein argues against an infinite space by stating:

" 1. From the standpoint of the theory of relativity , to postulate a closed universe is very much simpler than to postulate the corresponding boundary condition at infinity
of the quasi-Euclidian structure of the universe.

2. The idea that Mach expressed, that inertia depends upon the mutual action of bodies, is contained, to a first approximation,
in the equations of the theory of relativity; it follows from these equations that inertia depends, at least in part upon
mutual actions between masses.

3. An infinite universe is possible only if the mean density
of matter in the universe vanishes. Although such an assumption is logically possible, it is less probable than the assumption that there is a finite mean density of matter in the universe."

Critique:

The idea of a closed universe is simpler. It comports with experience. For instance, why does Haley's Comet return every
75 years. The idea of an infinite universe would imply the existence of a less dense outer-superstructure. As objects hurled in space, they would be drawn into the less dense regions. The idea of a bounded universe implies a boundary
to ricochet speeding objects. Otherwise, every speeding object
would continue into an infinite universe with a denseless
path of space.

To prove the third postulate, scientists must have better information on the mean density at the outer edges of the universe. Does density remain constant or does it evaporate
with greater distances toward the universe boundary regions?
If a boundary exists as postulated in the finite universe,
what is the boundary? Is the boundary a wall in space?
If so, what exists beyond the wall? At the corners of the universe, what structures exist to modulate areas of higher
density and less density or infinitestimal density?
In addition, there is a theory of an expanding universe.
How does the universe expand and what outer region accomodates
this expansion. The idea of an expanding universe admits to
an expanding boundary. Again, this poses the earlier question.
i.e. There must be free space to accomodate an expanding
universe. Is this free space dense or denseless.

This concept is similar to a computer gigobyte superstructure.
Users can define different regions on the computer disc.
These regions consist of utilized space and free space.
Conceptually, the universe may be seen in the same way.
It consists of both bounded and unbounded space. ... Read more

Product Description
A journey from the human mind to the outer universe explores such topics as the gravitational effects of the Moon, the future of interstellar space travel, and the incredible Planet X. Reprint. PW. K. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not a grad-level text, which is perfect
Those who are expecting an advanced text of physics, chemisty, or astronomy are going to be disappointed.This is a popularization.It's aimed at people who want to understand the basics of science but who don'thave formal training.On that level, it suceeds brilliantly.

Eventhose that do have formal training, however, could benefit from reading theeponymous essay which offers a great rebuttal to those who think thatscientific theories are just current guesses that can be radicallyoverthrown at any given moment.

An ok book if you don't know basic chemistry & astronomy
This is the first book I ever pick up by Isaac Asimov & I hope his other books are better.I have to admit he is a good writer, but the book only goes over the basic of basics in chemistry & astronony (Not to sayI have given up on him, but I guess I was expecting alittle bit more from aperson who got his PHD at the age of 25). If you are just starting one ofthese subjects it is an easily understandable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides an accessible introduction to astronomy and general relativity, aiming to explain the Universe, not just to describe it. Written by an expert in relativity who is known for his clearly-written advanced textbooks, the treatment uses only high-school level mathematics, supplemented by optional computer programs, to explain the laws of physics governing gravity from Galileo and Newton to Einstein. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great intro to all advanced topics
There are not a lot of books that come under this category.
This is meant for high school to college students who understand math like trigonometry, some algebra, but no need to know calculus.
The book lays out the graviy topics very well starting from Galilean, Newtonian physics to Einstein's relativity and quantum to some extent.
That is no small feat by any measure.
The market is crammed with two kinds of books. Its either:
a)Popular science books with no maths and throw a bunch of exciting facts at the reader.
b)Advanced Texts with indepth calculus, vectors, riemann geometry, tensors to make sense of the contents

And the author is right-on when he say this in the book.
"this is a book for people who are not afraid to think, who want to understand what gravity is, who want to go beyond the superficial level of understanding that many popular books settle for. But this is also not an advanced texbook. We shall steer a careful middle course between the over-simplification of some popular treatments and the dense complexity of many advanced mathematical texts. This book has equations, but the equations use algebra and (a little) trigonometry, not advanced university mathematics. What is required in place of advanced mathematics is thought"

All in all - an awesome book that I hoped I had when I was in highschool. I have lost count of the books I studied and cross-referenced to get a good understanding of all these topics while in high school.

If you are the person that cannot settle for facts thrown at you by popular science books and cannot deal with advanced calculus math (yet), this book is great for you. Even those with some Calculus background will learn a lot form this book because, the kind of calculus needed to under Riemann surfaces, Maxwell equations, Schrodinger equations, Quantum mechanics is very advanced calculus and vectors. This book can prepare you logically and mentally towards that.

I give two thumbs up to this book

binary stars, neutron stars, black holes
The book was very interesting.I discovered that gravitational waves were predicted by the Special Theory of Relativity and that Einsteins spacetime curvature correctly predicts binary star position and speed and neutron stars.

Matter falling into a neutron star is convert to energy in the form of X-rays at the accretion disk.Neutron stars pull matter into from neighboring stars.The neutron density of the star is constant and does not vary according to size; neutrons, protons and electrons (post big bang temperatures and pressures required); the neutrons can not get any closer.The gravitational pull of a neutron star is 100 trillion times greater than the gravity of the earth.The neutron star emits a strong electro-magnetic wave and strong gravitational waves. How much electricity is the neutron star generating?1 in every 1000 stars in the milky way is a neutron star.Why are neutron stars so common in the Galaxy.Stars between 1.4 and 3 solar masses will, if they supernova , become neutron stars. We see about 2,000 neutron stars and the Milky Way has about 400 billion stars.Neutron stars are spin about 700 times a second with a diameter of 40 km.

Astrophysicist study binary stars more than any other subject. Binary Stars orbits are elliptical and can circle around the perimeter equal distant; or follow elliptical concentric circles pass near each other. Is the binary pulsar PSR 1943+16 orbital distance from it's companion star increasing result of energy loss from radiation and gravity waves?

Too much for amateur scientist
I'm fascinated by gravity.What causes it, how it behaves, how does it relate to quantum mechanics.But for someone other than an advanced (graduate) student, it's too much.The descriptions are all in math, no verbage particularly, except to tell what the math is about.

If you're a graduate student, this is probably an excellent text.But not for the above-average amateur (but well read and knowledgeable) scientist.

Gravity
This is a truly wonderful book. It is suitable for those with little physics and math backgrounds as well as those with more. It is, in fact, incredible how much one can learn here with so little math about topics normally associated with advanced math. In addition to learning many new things, I got great new insights into what I thought I already knew.

I went to this book to learn about general relativity and cosmology. I got that and so much more. The book covers many fascinating topics about the earth, the solar system, galaxies, and brings in physics concepts when they are needed. A recurring theme is the effect of gravity and what resists gravity. So, e.g., white dwarfs are explained by quantum effects resisting complete collapse due to gravity. In addition to learning a lot about general relativity, you get introduced to some aspects of mechanics, statistical mechanics and quantum theory. All this while learning a great deal about astronomy and cosmology.

Calculus isn't required and most of the demonstrations are done with physical arguments, analogies, and simple algebra. Computer programs are available from a website for those who want to use them to illustrate numerical results. (You don't need to use the programs to enjoy the book.) Of course, further study will, at some point, require more math. But this book demonstrates how much can be explained with the simplest concepts, and would be worthwhile for someone to read before getting immersed in the higher math.

A real treasure
How many authors of popular science books begin their books by boasting that they can teach real science to readers who have no math--or no math beyond basic algebra?And then what do you get?Either a tub full of metaphors sloshing about promiscuously or else a math course so compressed it would leave Newton saying, "Duh?"But not in this book.Bernard Schutz takes the reader by the hand and leads him gently on.There is scarcely a bump in the road; yet, by the end of the book, you've not only learned a good deal of physics, astrophysics and cosmology, you've also gotten an inkling of how a physicist thinks.How does Schutz manage to succeed where failure is the rule?Well, partly by magic, I think.But partly by the clever use of simple computer simulations (downloadable for free) and partly by means of a very carefully thought out pedagogical strategy.This gentleman is a teacher par excellence.If you're only going to read one science book in your life, read this one.Just be prepared to spend some time with it. ... Read more

Product Description
Relativistic cosmology has in recent years become one of the most exciting and active branches of current research. In conference after conference the view is expressed that cosmology today is where particle physics was forty years ago, with major discoveries just waiting to happen. Also gravitational wave detectors, presently under construction or in the testing phase, promise to open up an entirely novel field of physics.

It is to take into account such recent developments, as well as to improve the basic text, that this second edition has been undertaken. The most affected is the last part on cosmology, but there are smaller additions, corrections, and additional exercises throughout.

The books basic purpose is to make relativity come alive conceptually. Hence the emphasis on the foundations and the logical subtleties rather than on the mathematics or the detailed experiments per se. Aided by some 300 exercises, the book promotes a deep understanding and the confidence to tackle any fundamental relativistic problem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Delivery Speed
The book was in perfect condition and got to my place within a couple of days after ordering it.Great speed!

no explanation of tensors, co-variance, etc.
The author does a pretty good job of explaining physical concepts, but is obviously impatient at explaining mathematics.In the chapter on electromagnetism he introduces tensor notation and important theorems such as co- and contra-variance without explanation.In some cases he says "the proof is left to the reader."The treatment is much less detailed than Einstein's original 1915 paper.It is like a book that purports to teach you French, and which summarily presents an abstract French-English dictionary and then the rest of the book is written in French.

One of the worst text on GR
This is one of the worst text I came across. Author keep discussing a topic but never points to the result. A book where you keep flipping back and forth to make sense. Often notations are used but there is no explanation what they represents. I have gone through chapter 15 and 18 ,on Linearized GR and FRW metric, following every step and found out that there are few errors and a lot of key steps are omitted. For example, gauge transformations are done and results are obtained but if you won't consult other similar texts then you won't know what are the results and which are the transformations, unless you already are a professor. Almost same topic is discussed in Inverno's book and you can clearly see what are the various transformations and what are the results.

A book may contain every topic what you are looking for but the key Qs is how well are they conveyed. In order to write an excellent text the author should be first clear about it in his own mind and organize it before publishing it. Save yourself and get a nicer book like Inverno or Stephani. I would not recommend this text for GR unless absolutely necessary.

Whoosh
Professor Rindler explains the concepts with clarity and rigour while minimising the complexities of the notation and formulae.His ability to put ideas into words is outstanding.If you have heard the tales of trains that whoosh past in the ether, and are still none the wiser; or have wondered how the background radiation that set out on its way at the speed of light when the world was a smaller simpler place is only now reaching us, this book will enlighten you.Even for those whose maths cannot keep up it should be worthwhile, stimulating even, to read the sections at the beginning of each chapter, and those elsewhere light in formulae.For those willing to tackle the exercises he is perhaps a little too generous with the hints.

Very good
I think both undergraduates and graduates students in physics will find this text enjoyable and enlightening. The sections on general relativity and cosmology are, I think, a little less thorough and complicated than those in Wald or Shultz, though I've only briefly perused those other texts. (GR is still plenty abstract and mathematical in Rindler.) The end of chapter exercises are well-chosen and lead the reader to understand the material. Rindler does an excellent job of keep physical insight at the forefront of his discussions. He points out and resolves a number of interesting paradoxes, and he mentions a number of interesting modern experiments when relevant. ... Read more

Product Description
This book, first appearing in German in 2004 under the title Spezielle Relativitätstheorie für Studienanfänger, offers access to the special theory of relativity for readers with a background in mathematics and physics comparable to a high school honors degree. All mathematical and physical competence required beyond that level is gradually developed through the book, as more advanced topics are introduced. The full tensor formalism, however, is dispensed with as it would only be a burden for the problems to be dealt with. Eventually, a substantial and comprehensive treatise on special relativity emerges which, with its gray-shaded formulary, is an invaluable reference manual for students and scientists alike.

Some crucial results are derived more than once with different approaches: the Lorentz transformation in one spatial direction three times, the Doppler formula four times, the Lorentz transformation in two directions twice; also twice the unification of electric and magnetic forces, the velocity addition formula, as well as the aberration formula. Beginners will be grateful to find several routes to the goal; moreover, for a theory like relativity, it is of fundamental importance to demonstrate that it is self-contained and without contradictions.

Contents: The Postulates of the Special Theory of Relativity; Time Dilation; Length Contraction; Lorentz Transformation; Minkowski Diagrams; Simultaneity; Transformation of Velocities; Aberration of Light; Accelerated Motion; Doppler Effect; Images of Fast Moving Objects; Mass and Momentum; Force; Energy; Four-Vectors and Scalar Products; Calculus with the Energy-Momentum Vector, Transformation of Electric and Magnetic Fields; and other papers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best special relativity book I've come across
Of about ten different current books I've looked at on special relativity recently, including the special relativity parts of more generalized books on Gravity, this is the clearest presentation, with a logical progression of ideas, and highly apt choices of thought experiments, making me nod my head in agreement and appreciation as I go along.I'm teaching high school physics to Korean kids and I want clear presentations to get the ideas across as well as easily understand derivations of the mathematics. I remember special relativity when I was taking physics and I never quite grasped the basic artifacts, time dilation, length contraction, apparent twin paradox, all of which I consider necessary parts of an educated person's understanding of the world. Later, reading Einstein about the Lorentz transformation, I wondered where it came from, and here it's laid out in the simplest possible fashion.It's Pythagorean Theorem! Now that's something I can teach to high school kids. The book is translated from the German, and the author wants to supplement the normal German high school and college courses in special relativity with materials that might actually make it understandable. He succeeds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

10 stars ....
I've read (attempted to read) a number of books on general relativity, including the elementary texts (Schutz, others), the introductions for mathematicians (Lee), books on tensors, web intros, .... and the only one that I've been able gain any traction with is this book.And, I'm not exactly unprepared, as I have a MS in math and have worked a number of years as an engineer, much of the time doing inertial nav and other presumably related work.Yet, the other GR books have completely baffled me.Warning ... if you start a book and there is a long section on tensors .... look out... or you'll soon be playing a game of 'find the pea (relativity)' and it will be under plenty of thick mattresses (tensor analysis being but one).This book develops all the machinery using a 2-d surface embedded in 3-d.This is the way to go, no question in my mind.There is a degree of concreteness to counter the endless poliferation of new symbols and notation.Then there is a good (could have been better see the Calculus Without Tears web page) intro to special relativity.And then .... before you've finished breakfast ... field equations... which I'm working on now. If not for this book, I might have given up on my latest hobby, GR.

For example ... spacetime is curved?Yes.Hard to visualize?No.Throw a ball ... look at the arc .... there it is.Calculate the curvature?Easy... no tensors, field equations, differentials.Of course, even Faber waits till page 274 for this little demonstration, and he could have put it on page 1... still, it's there.

Highly recommended. Shame about the price
The first part of this book is a lucid introduction to classical differential geometry from the Frenet formulas to Riemannian manifolds, via Gauss curvature, metric coefficients, connections, geodesics and the curvature tensor, with many well-motivated examples and exercises. If you have a working knowledge of basic linear algebra and multivariable calculus you should have no trouble with any of this.

The remainder (two-thirds of the book) provides one of the most readable introductions to special and general relativity that I have ever come across. Because of the geometric approach, modest prerequisites and limited space, there is no treatment of relativistic mechanics, electrodynamics or the 'matter' field equations, and actually no formal development of tensor calculus. Within these constraints, it is amazing what the author does manage to cover. You will be led easily through the vacuum field equations, Schwarzschild solution, perihelion precession, light-bending ...

If this book had been twice the length - more comprehensive but in the same style - it could have been a classic. As it is, it does not seem to be anywhere near as widely used as it deserves to be .. Surely this is a prime candidate for a ..Dover edition? Until then, get it from the library.

A very accessible book - well worth a look
This book comprises two sections. The first section develops the tools of classical differential geometry with a thorough treatment of 2D surfaces embedded in a 3D space. First and second fundamental forms are introduced and their relationships analysed. This leads into the usual realms - Christoffel symbols, connections and the Riemann Curvature Tensor.A very readable account of Gauss's Theorem Egregium is presented - it's great!. Finally, more abstract manifolds are presented.I worked thoroughly through the first half of this book.There are many good exercises.This volume is cited a number of times In Gregory L. Naber's 'Spacetime and Singularities'- a more difficult book. I found Faber's volume of real help when studying the latter(which has loads of exercises and problems but no hints/partial solutions at all). The second section is an introduction to Special and General Relativity. I have to confess I did not study this half as I had already covered the material presented in this section elsewhere. The first half of the book gives a very good feel for curved space and is fitting preparation for the second half if the material presented there is new to you.. A good little book for independent study. ... Read more

Product Description
Modern physics was born from two great revolutions: relativity and the quantum theory. Relativity imposed a locality constraint on physical theories: since nothing can go faster than light, very distant events cannot influence one another. Only in the last few decades has it become clear that the quantum theory violates this constraint. The work of J.S. Bell has demonstrated that no local theory can return the predictions of quantum theory. Thus it would seem that the central pillars of modern physics are contradictory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Down the gopher hole.
I must admit that my criticism probably says more about me than the book, but I found it impossible to follow his arguments. His summaries of Relativity theory and Quantum mechanics were helpful and the best parts of the book. Here he explained details not covered in most of the books I've read on the subjects. If other readers found his arguments clear, I guess I'll have to chalk up my confusion to creeping senility. The book left me feeling that the revolution of the New Physics is a disaster of contradictions, vagueness, and irrationality. With the profusion of "go-for-broke" mini-theories to account for all the problems with RT and QT, I get the impression that theoretical physicists are reincarnations of Greek steam bath philosophers spouting forth untestable theories. Is this all a futile exercise in hyperplane epistemics?

Trying to reconcile what are apparently different levels of reality.
Maudlin's book is wonderful for someone interested in getting a concise, non-technical survey of the literature landscape of how in the world, do we reconcile the non-locality of quantum mechanics with the tenets of relativity, namely, the relativity of simultaneity.

Professor Maudlin illustrates the heart of the Bell Inequalities with a straightforward example using simple logic.It's a treat to read through, and the clearest treatment of Bell's theorem I've ever seen.

The book ends with a question mark, but in getting there, it takes us on a non-mathematical journey into the heart of the problem:At the macro level of reality, locality appears to rule, but yet, at the micro level of reality -- the realm of quantum mechanics -- non-locality rules.

Go figure?

Nice introduction to physics, philosophical chaos
I am a theoretical physicist from Germany and I appreciated Maudlin's introduction to special relativity and quantum physics. Much of it is in words and pictures and yet it is as precise as possible, if one doesn't want to evoke the entire apparatus of equations.
However, the philosophical implications and reasonings were not only far from being clear, but also so twisted, that nobody is able to really wrap up, what Maudlin's view is. Try to find it on the internet - nowhere will you find, what his upshot is. Why is that? Because it is impossible to wrap up a philosopher in a few words? Of course not! You will find many clear and sharp results of the philosophies even of Kant, Schopenhauer or Nietzsche, who also enjoyed writing in long essays.

So what is this book about? It first tries to explain the EPR-paradoxon by considering the collapse as a physical process. Therefore you have to talk about signalling or some kind of propagation at least with a speed which is faster than light (in order to reproduce the results of A. Aspect for example).
So Maudlin analyses, which aspect of the 'information' of 'a measurement being performed' must minimally be submitted from one EPR-particle to another. He keeps analysing and approaches the problem from all kinds of sides. This is very lenghthy and repetative.

And then, suddenly, on the last 3 pages of the book: A miracle happens!
Suddenly Maudlin choses the Many Minds Interpretation, which has never before been motivated in the book!
He himself finds this a bit ad hoc and says: Well, you might feel a bit betrayed, that we now do not at all come to a conclusion which has anything to do with the rest of the book.
However, this solution suddenly seems logical to him and he choses it.
The reader stays back in bewilderment.

As I said, try to find someone, who sums up Maudlin's real conclusion of this book in a precise phrase.
You will fail.
I think, because there is none.

So after all, I would say: The book offers a good introduction to quantum physics and the EPR-problem, but it is way overrated in being innovative, brilliant or conclusive. It totally failed me in saying anything new. And don't tell me his concept of hyperplanes was new. Gordon Fleming has published this many years ago.

God does not play dice with Nature?
Excellent treatise on Non-Locality and Relativity.Some Knowledge based philosophy stuff but well written.

Kudos!

Dennis

Very clear discussion of Bell's Theorem
This contains the clearest presentation of the evidence for non-locality that I've seen. The other chapters on the implications of this are a little more challenging but worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
This book describes Carmeli s cosmological general and special relativity theory, along with Einstein s general and special relativity. These theories are discussed in the context of Moshe Carmeli s original research, in which velocity is introduced as an additional independent dimension. Four- and five-dimensional spaces are considered, and the five-dimensional braneworld theory is presented. The Tully Fisher law is obtained directly from the theory, and thus it is found that there is no necessity to assume the existence of dark matter in the halo of galaxies, nor in galaxy clusters.

The book gives the derivation of the Lorentz transformation, which is used in both Einstein s special relativity and Carmeli s cosmological special relativity theory. The text also provides the mathematical theory of curved space­time geometry, which is necessary to describe both Einstein s general relativity and Carmeli s cosmological general relativity. A comparison between the dynamical and kinematic aspects of the expansion of the universe is made. Comparison is also made between the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker theory and the Carmeli theory. And neither is it necessary to assume the existence of dark matter to correctly describe the expansion of the cosmos.

Contents: Special Relativity Theory; Cosmological Special Relativity; General Relativity Theory; Cosmological General Relativity; Properties of the Gravitational Field; Cosmological Special Relativity in Five Dimensions; Cosmological General Relativity in Five Dimensions: Brane World Theory; Particle Production in Five-Dimensional Cosmological Relativity; Properties of Gravitational Waves in an Expanding Universe; Spiral Galaxy Rotation Curves in the Brane World Theory in Five Dimensions; The Friedmann Universe: FRW Metric; CGR versus FRW; Testing CGR Against High Redshift Observations; Extending the Hubble Diagram to Higher Redshifts in CGR; Homogeneous Spaces and Bianchi Classification. ... Read more

Product Description
The series of texts on Classical Theoretical Physics is based on the highlysuccessful series of courses given by Walter Greiner at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Intended for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students, the volumes in the series provide not only a complete survey of classical theoretical physics but also an enormous number of worked examples and problems to show students clearly how to apply the abstract principles to realistic problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fantastic
This is a fantastic book for the motivated physics student.
It is the best "theoretical" approach to Newtonian physics that I have found.At the University level, motivated Physics students are left with the frustration of taking their first few Physics courses with students who are majoring in Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Pre-med, etc., etc.This leaves the situation where material is presented "watered down" and entirely non-theoretical in order to allow all students to follow along.
For the motivated Physics major, this can be quite frustrating.The first thing many of them do in that situation is begin a path of self-study to go along with the dry classroom presentation of the material.However, the search for a more mathematically driven "theoretic" approach to mechanics leads almost entirely to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism.

This book presents Newtonian mechanics in all its theoretical "math nerd" glory.All necessary mathematical topics are covered with "physics rigor" that allows you to gain a usable knowledge of the mathematics in a minimal time.It has been the only book I've found that sticks to Newtonian mechanics, yet avoids the point and click "apply equation X here" methods that most introductory University texts give. I used it as a supplement to my assigned physics book for Mechanics and Heat and felt exceedingly more prepared than my fellow students with each succeeding chapter.

If you're a motivated student, I highly suggest picking up this book.The first year or two of a University Physics program can be uncomfortably dry....and you'll hear many times that students don't feel like they're doing "real" physics until their Junior year.This book will allow you the feel of doing "real physics" while sticking to the Newtonian mechanics that you'll use for your courses. By the end of the book, you'll feel comfortable with all the mathematical derivations and applications of Newtonian mechanics, have a solid grasp of harmonic oscillations, have a solid background in solving ordinary differential equations, feel comfortable with matrix algebra applications, and get the enjoyment that comes with doing "real physics" a good year or two before your classmates.

My only complaint is with some of the presentation of relativity.It is still well above average, but I didn't find it to be the asset of a self-study supplement that it was for freshman physics.

Excellent supplementary book
Simply stated, I don't consider this "the book" on the subject, but it is a most-have.It begins by developing some of the mathematical foundations needed to solve the problems; followed by some Newtonian mechanics (basic concepts: force, energy, motion in 1D-3D, and many examples and applications), and ends with special relativity.The topics are presented in a clear and straight-forward manner, although some of them were too simple and not as thorough as I wished.

This book corresponds to a regular 1st semester in mechanics.It should be complemented with the second book (Classical Mechanics) which deals with non-inertial reference frames, systems of particles, rigid bodies, Lagrange equ. and Hamiltonian Theory.

I give this book 4.5 stars (I'm a tough grader) ... Read more

Product Description
This book combines relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology in a single volume, providing an introduction to each subject that enables students to understand more detailed treatises as well as the current literature. The section on general relativity gives the case for a curved space-time, presents the mathematical background (tensor calculus, Riemannian geometry), discusses the Einstein equation and its solutions (including black holes, Penrose processes, and similar topics), and considers the energy-momentum tensor for various solutions. The next section on relativistic astrophysics discusses stellar contraction and collapse, neutron stars and their equations of state, black holes, and accretion onto collapsed objects. Lastly, the section on cosmology discusses various cosmological models, observational tests, and scenarios for the early universe.

*Clearly combines relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology in a single volume so students can understand more detailed treatises and current literature

*Extensive introductions to each section are followed by relevant examples and numerous exercises

*Provides an easy-to-understand approach to this advanced field of mathematics and modern physics by providing highly detailed derivations of all equations and results ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

All the Math You Need for GR
This book, alone, was what got me through my General Relativity course.The text we were using didn't include much math, and the professor didn't want to discuss the mathematical aspects of what we were doing.So I came upon this book armed with a vague physical understanding, but mathematically clueless.Fortunately, this book seems to have been written for precisely such a situation!

In a remarkably clear and concise manner, this book manages to:
- introduce the notations that are commonly used
- demonstrate how a physical system can be represented using the new formalisms
- outline the common mathematical operations that can be performed under this formalism
- describe how these operations are different from similar operations that the reader is already familar with
- show how these mathematical operations are physically relevant to a particular system

The other mathematical texts on this topic all seem to start off slowly with several chapters full of things that, as a physicist, I don't particularly want to know about.This book, by contrast, simply skips right to the parts that are relevant to relativistic calculations, and as a result the reader need not waste time trying to understand mathematical concepts that will not be useful to him.

In short, it's absolutely perfect if you need help with the mathematical aspects of relativity.Its physical explanations are brief, however, so if it's the physical concepts themselves that are troubling you, it might be better to start with a more descriptive book.

Tensors, Relativity, and Cosmology by Mirjana Dalarsson
An excellent introductory book to this exciting subject. Covers all neccessary calculations to master the subject easily. Strongly recommended to all students new to this subject as well as to researchers who need to refresh the technical skills in this subject.

Tensors, Relativity, and Cosmology, First Edition by Mirjana Dalarsson ...
An excellent introductory book to this exciting subject. Covers all neccessary calculations to master the subject easily. Strongly recommended to all students new to this subject as well as to researchers who need to refresh the technical skills in this subject. ... Read more

Product Description

This book is the result of more than twenty years of lecturing a master course on the General Theory of Relativity at the University of Oslo, Norway, by Dr. Øyvind Grøn. The text has been continuously updated by Dr. Grøn and is written so students can follow the deductions all the way throughout the book. The conceptual content of the general theory of relativity is presented briefly but reasonably and completely. Both bachelor students and master students will find the text useful as the manuscript is organized to easily find the topics one wants to read about, with separate lists of contents, figures, definitions, examples, and an index.

Customer Reviews (1)

Some serious errors in describing the General Relativity!
Quite unfortunately, in this overall well written book the author makes some serious mistakes regarding the essence of the GR. For instance:

1. On the page 10, the author states that in non-inertial
frames the following postulates apply:

"G1. The laws of nature are the same in all reference frames."

"G2. An observer with arbitrary motion may consider himself
to be at rest and the environment as moving."

The both statements, especially G2, are incorrect. An observer
in an accelerated frame definitely can tell that he is
in an accelerated frame, because, for instance, he will be
feeling g-forces, the period of a pendulum will be changing
from the magnitude of the acceleration, etc., quite different
from an inertial (non-accelerated) frame, where everything
will be floating in weightlessness! The correct statement,
describing the equivalence principle is:

"An observer in an uniformly accelerated frame may consider
himself to be at rest in a frame with an uniform gravitational
field. The laws of nature are the same in the both frames."

Since "uniform" gravitational fields do not exist in the
nature (except as an approximation in a very small volume),
Einstein came to the concept of space-time curvature expressing
the "real" gravitational field, etc.

Because of this initial error, on the page 33 the author,
when explaining the (in)famous "twin paradox" concludes
"In order to arrive at a clear answer to these questions,
we shall have to use the result from the general theory
of relativity." This statement is absolutely false, as it
had been shown countless times before in various texts, as
long as the "real" gravitational field is not present
(the Riemann tensor equal to 0), the twin paradox can be
easily resolved using only the special theory of relativity
(see the book by Taylor and Wheeler)! This argument has already
been discussed to death, so it's quite bad to open it anew
in this book :-(
... Read more

Product Description
Introduction to Special Relativity By Robert Resnick, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute This book gives an excellent introduction to the theory of special relativity.Professor Resnick presents a fundamental and unified development of the subject with unusually clear discussions of the aspects that usually trouble beginners.He includes,for example, a section on the common sense of relativity.His presentation is lively and interspersed with historical, philosophical and special topics (such as the twin paradox) that will arouse and hold the reader's interest. You'll find many unique features that help you grasp the material, such as worked-out examples,summary tables,thought questions and a wealth of excellent problems.The emphasis throughout the book is physical.The experimental background, experimental confirmation of predictions, and the physical interpretation of principles are stressed.The book treats relativistic kinematics, relativistic dynamics,and relativity and electromagnetism and contains special appendices on the geometric representation of space-time and on general relativity.Its organization permits an instructor to vary the length and depth of his treatment and to use the book either with or following classical physics.These features make it an ideal companion for introductory courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Clear and thorough introduction
I used this book as an undergrad many years ago in honors first-year physics (along with Purcell's excellent E&M book from the Berkeley Physics Series), and have referred to it from time to time since.It's a clear, patient, matter-of-fact introduction to the subject which takes the time to clarify many of the obscure and seemingly contradictory aspects of special relativity.It's written about at the level of the famous Halliday and Resnick university physics books.I found the book to be very useful as an introduction.If you already know the subject, and need an advanced reference, this will be too basic, but as the title says, it's an "Introduction". ... Read more

Product Description
In their solutions, the authors have attempted to convey a mode of approach to these kinds of problems, revealing procedures that can reduce the labor of calculations while avoiding the pitfall of too much or too powerful formalism. Although well suited for individual use, the volume may also be used with one of the modern textbooks in general relativity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

GR Classic
The "Problem Book" is a remarkable resource for learning GR as well as physics in curved spaces and some aspects of cosmology. Targeted to advanced undergraduate and graduate students, it constitutes an essential test in convincing yourself that you know how to think like a relativist -- that you have actually understood GR -- rather than ground through some (by now more or less standardized) math and learnt some calculational techniques. There's nothing else like it. Written by masters of classical relativity, the Problem Book is far more than a very interesting set of problems that illuminate many aspects of spacetime physics. While that in itself is a major accomplishment, a key value of the book lies in the terse disciplined elegance of the solutions. Want to know if GR is something you might want to get into? Dig into the Problem Book -- if you are delighted by what you find, welcome to the club.

A classic source
I've owned the book for a number of years and find I keep referring to it for solutions and methods time and again.Like quantum theory there are relatively few problems with exact solutions in GR and this book has many of the classics worked out in detail.The authors are from the peak of the golden age of GR and share their honed talents with the rest of us.This resource is a must have for anyone who works out problems in GR.

Good book
I found it very helpful for my General Relativity course. There is really nothing else like this out there ... and for those of us that learn best by example, this book is a bargain.

Understanding Einstein Thorey of Gravitation
This is a capital book for all the Physics students, it give a good overview of the theory through a huge set of problems of the main parts in the theory. Good exercices and understandable solutions, that will make youeasier the way to understand General relativity. I think this book has thekey to fully understandEinstein gravitation. A good choose ! ... Read more

Product Description

The foundations are thoroughly developed together with the required mathematical background from differential geometry developed in Part III.

The author also discusses the tests of general relativity in detail, including binary pulsars, with much space is devoted to the study of compact objects, especially to neutron stars and to the basic laws of black-hole physics.

This well-structured text and reference enables readers to easily navigate through the various sections as best matches their backgrounds and perspectives, whether mathematical, physical or astronomical.

Very applications oriented, the text includes very recent results, such as the supermassive black-hole in our galaxy and first double pulsar system

Customer Reviews (1)

A Masterpiece
For the graduate student of physics or mathematics who has the requisite background in modern differential geometry, Straumann's text presents themost mathematically honest and thorough introduction to general relativity currently available in book form.This book is a masterpiece and belongs in the company of the classic books by Misner, Thorne and Wheeler, Penrose and Rindler, and Hawking and Ellis.

Potential readers must understand that there has been an uneasy truce between modern differential geometry and general relativity for nearly a century.While mathematicians developed the subject of Riemannian geometry along largely coordinate-free lines, reaching ever greater levels of abstraction and geometric insight, physicists continued to develop the related subject of semi-Riemannian (also called pseudo-Riemannian) geometry along coordinate-based lines, mired in complex index computations and the awkward notation that accompanies them.This is reflected in the Introduction to an excellent 1990 text on semi-Riemannian geometry in which the authors, explaining their choice of title, offer the semi-humorous lament, "Any possible title would mislead somebody.'Tensor Analysis' suggests to a mathematician an ungeometric, manipulative debauce of indices, with tensors ill-defined as 'quantities that transform according to' unspeakable formule."

Misner, Thorne and Wheeler introduced a generation of students to the power of modern, coordinate-free methods in general relativity in the early 1970s in their classic book "Gravitation," citing the wonderful book by Bishop and Goldberg as their standard reference forsemi-Riemannian geometry.Sadly, however, the modernization of the subject that MTW initiated did not seem to entirely catch on within the physics community.A number of very recent texts on general relativity have been printed in the past decade by highly reputable publishers, all written in an entirely index-based approach that was already becoming outdated and deficient over 30 years ago.The serious student of relativity already faces considerable challenges in mastering the formidable mathematical preliminaries to the subject;the work surely need not be compounded in difficulty by total reliance on obscure, unmotivated, index-based computational gymnastics. What students need is a thoroughly modern and enlightened introduction that teaches them to move comfortably and effortlessly between index-free and index-based approaches, permitting them to read and understand both the older and modern literature, both the physics and mathematical literature.

Straumann's book offers an introduction to general relativity that is completely modern in its approach to the mathematics.The final five chapters, covering roughly 100 pages, provide concise but readable introductions to basic manifold theory, Lie differentiation, differential forms and integration on manifolds, and the theory of affine connections (this latter does not provide an introduction as thorough as is found in volume 1 of Kobayashi and Nomizu---there simply is not room to study Ehresmann's approach to connections in this overview).Any student who has been fortunate enough to study the mathematical preliminaries from a modern treatment, such as Barrett O'Neill's wonderful Semi-Riemannian Geometry with Applications to Relativity, will be able to master the mathematical material in Straumann without undue stress.

One final piece of history to fully drive home the point. Richard Bishop and Barrett O'Neill introduced the notion of warped product manifolds to Riemannian geometry in the 1960s, providing one way of decomposing amanifold into two smaller and "simpler" parts.Beem and Ehrlich observed in 1982 that many of the well-known exact solutions to Einstein's equations are natural examples of warped products.The use of warped product formulas offers significant simplification of the analysis of these exact solutions.The use of warped products became central in O'Neill's 1983 book on semi-Riemannian geometry, and in Beem, Ehrlich and Easley's 1996 book on Global Lorentzian Geometry.Other authors have been slower to recognize and employ this powerful tool, and the reader will barely find warped products mentioned at all in modern texts on general relatitivy. In stark contrast, Straumann's book contains an entire section on warped products and makes full use of the simplifying formulas throughout:another sign of the progressive nature of the book.

I recommend this book in the strongest possible terms to all serious students of general relativity.If your background in differential geometry in inadequate, then I recommend purchasing O'Neill's book along with Straumann's as a packaged set.I view the O'Neill/Straumann pair as the current successors to the tradition begun by the Bishop and Goldberg/Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler books of an earlier era.

Dr. Straumann already updated this book in 2004 to a far more extensive second edition.We can only hope that as developments in our understanding of the large-scale structure of the universe progress through observational astronomy, Dr. Straumann will continue to update his book to include recent experimental and theoretical results.




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