This book is a considerable amplification and modernisation of the author's earlier Essential Relativity. It aims to bring the challenge and excitement of modern relativity and cosmology at rigorous mathematical level within reach of advanced undergraduates and beginning graduates, while containing enough new material to interest lecturers and researchers. Its 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, it promotes a visceral understanding and the confidence to tackle any fundamental relativistic problem. Following a critical overview of the whole field, special-relativistic kinematics is presented three- dimensionally before the mathematical level gradually rises. Four-vectors precede mechanics, four-tensors precede Maxwell theory, and two of the eight chapters on general relativity roll by before general tensors are needed. Three 'easy' chapters on cosmology round off the work.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
The reader will find here a clear and understandable explanation of the physical principles behind the theory of relativity and its use in cosmology ... The level of mathematical knowledge required is very modest, so it should be useful for students at graduate level, both physicists and mathematicians. EMS ... this book should be on the shelf of all who are intrigued by the startling modern advances in our understanding of space and time. American Journal of Physics ... this book is accessible to engaged advanced undergraduates. Even professionals will discover fresh perspectives. American Journal of Physics Rindler's writing is elegant, yet compact and logically precise. American Journal of Physics An outstanding introductory treatise by one of the masters of the subject, this book belongs to the shelves of every physics library. Foundations of Physics Professor Rindler's book should be of particular interest to readers concerned with the physical foundations of relativity theory. Foundations of Physics This rich and insightful introduction to modern gravitational physics is an extended and updated version of the author's earlier excellent textbook Essential Relativity. Special relativity, general relativity, and cosmology are treated with exceptional clarity in the three parts of this book. It provides a thorough and conceptually rigorous introduction to relativistic physics. Foundations of Physics ... a self-contained and balanced work. Every sentence hits home, and no word is superfluous ... Each chapter ends with a set of well-chosen and instructive exercises ... exposes the reader to the physics with inspiring and occasionally surprising arguments ... a totally successful textbook and a must for all who study special and general relativity. Physik Journal ... a first-class presentation of the intellectual glory of the first century of relativity. Times Higher Education Supplement This book will find its place as recommended reading for many advanced undergraduate courses in relativity and cosmology, and is an excellent foundation for work in this field at graduate level and beyond. Times Higher Education Supplement
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
num. fig.
numerous line figures
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850836-6 (9780198508366)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
From absolute space and time to influenceable space time - an overview. Part I Special relativity: foundations of special relativity - the Lorentz transformation; relativistic kinematics; relativistic objects; space time and four vectors; relativistic particle mechanics; four tensors - electromagnetism in vacuum. Part II General relativity: curved spaces and the basic ideas of general relativity; static and stationary space times; geodesics, curvature tensor, and vacuum field equations; the Schwarzschild metric; black holes and Kruskal space; an exact plane gravitational wave; the full field equations; linearized general relativity. Part III Cosmology: cosmological space times; light propagation in FRW universes; dynamics in FRW universes.
