
The Geometry of Spacetime
An Introduction to Special and General Relativity
James J. Callahan(Author)
Springer (Publisher)
Published on 12. December 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
XIV, 454 pages
978-1-4419-3142-9 (ISBN)
Description
In 1905, Albert Einstein offered a revolutionary theory - special relativity - to explain some of the most troubling problems in current physics concerning electromagnetism and motion. Soon afterwards, Hermann Minkowski recast special relativity essentially as a new geometric structure for spacetime. These ideas are the subject of the first part of the book. The second part develops the main implications of Einstein's general relativity as a theory of gravity rooted in the differential geometry of surfaces. The author explores the way an individual observer views the world and how a pair of observers collaborates to gain objective knowledge of the world. He has tried to encompass both the general and special theory by using the geometry of spacetime as the unifying theme of the book. To read it, one needs only a first course in linear algebra and multivariable calculus and familiarity with the physical applications of calculus.
More details
Series
Edition
Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2000
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Lower undergraduate
Illustrations
XIV, 454 p.
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
821 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4419-3142-9 (9781441931429)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4757-6736-0
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
12/1999
Springer
€69.99
Shipment within 5-7 days
Person
James J. Callahan is currently a professor of mathematics at Smith College. His previous Springer book is entitled The Geometry of Spacetime: An Introduction to Special and General Relativity. He was director of the NSF-funded Five College Calculus Project and a coauthor of Calculus in Context.
Content
1 Relativity Before 1905.- 2 Special Relativity-Kinematics.- 3 Special Relativity-Kinetics.- 4 Arbitrary Frames.- 5 Surfaces and Curvature.- 6 Intrinsic Geometry.- 7 General Relativity.- 8 Consequences.