Relativity: An Introduction to Spacetime Physics (Paperback)

by Steve Adams (Author) "Pre-Classical science was an attempt to understand the world in terms of qualitative models based on the religious and philosophical ideas of the middle ages..." (more)
Key Phrases: past lightcone, falling reference frame, gravitational time dilation, Big Bang, Nick Adams, Ernst Mach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Richly illustrated, this introductory text develops the ideas of basic physics and mathematics to introduce the essential principles and results of special relativity. A geometric interpretation of space-time is used so that the general theory is seen as a natural extension of the special theory. Although most results are derived from first principles, complex mathematics is avoided, and all mathematical steps and formulas are fully explained and interpretated. Student guides allow for alternative routes of study, and summaries, worked examples, and exercises are provided to enhance the student's understanding.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis; 1 edition (September 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0748406212
• ISBN-13: 978-0748406210
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,688,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to Relativity, May 21, 2003

By A Customer

If you are a ambitious highshool student or a physics freshman this is the best place to get started on special realtivity.
It is far less mathematically demanding then many books out there and clear on physical concepts.
(ch.1) Good review of classical ideas.
(ch.2) Need for special relativity, good explanations of
galaian and lorentz transformation, and uses of the latter.
(ch.3) Good introductions to spacetime geometry (the invariant
interval) and relativistic mechanics.

(ch.4) Good introduction to basis of general relativity and cosmmology.

One of the great things about the book is that it takes the common 'popular' accounts one step further by intoducing physics in precise languge and formulas. So that you can apply your knowldege to actully solve some problems and gain further understanding. There are problems at end of each chapter and they are (mostly) supplemented by answers in an appendix.

One thing that is left out completely is relativistic electrodynamics, of course that's only sutibale for a more advanced book. I would've liked to see the power of four vectors utilized more and see the role of tensors.