Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation [Paperback]

A. Lightman (Author), R. H. Price (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 069108162X | ISBN-13: 978-0691081625 | Publication Date: December 1, 1975

Important and useful to every student of relativity, this book is a unique collection of some 475 problems--with solutions--in the fields of special and general relativity, gravitation, relativistic astrophysics, and cosmology. The problems are expressed in broad physical terms to enhance their pertinence to readers with diverse backgrounds.

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 modem textbooks in general relativity.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This work is full of interesting problems, arranged by subject and graded by difficulty. It is full of intellectual content, and it is much more than modern pedagogy. It is modern physics, much of it at the frontiers, done in modern ways."--John A. Wheeler

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (December 1, 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 069108162X
• ISBN-13: 978-0691081625
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GR Classic, January 28, 2010

By 

Salman Habib (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation (Paperback)

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.

30 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Einstein Thorey of Gravitation, May 26, 2000

By 

Xavier Espinal Curull - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation (Paperback)

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 you easier the way to understand General relativity. I think this book has the key to fully understand Einstein gravitation. A good choose !

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, September 10, 2007

By 

Michael H. Wofsey (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Problem Book in Relativity and Gravitation (Paperback)

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.