Special Relativity, Electrodynamics, and General Relativity: From Newton to Einstein is intended to teach students of physics, astrophysics, astronomy, and cosmology how to think about special and general relativity in a fundamental but accessible way. Designed to render any reader a "master of relativity", all material on the subject is comprehensible and derivable from first principles. The book emphasizes problem solving, contains abundant problem sets, and is conveniently organized to meet the needs of both student and instructor. Read more...
Abstract: Special Relativity, Electrodynamics, and General Relativity: From Newton to Einstein is intended to teach students of physics, astrophysics, astronomy, and cosmology how to think about special and general relativity in a fundamental but accessible way. Designed to render any reader a "master of relativity", all material on the subject is comprehensible and derivable from first principles. The book emphasizes problem solving, contains abundant problem sets, and is conveniently organized to meet the needs of both student and instructor
Content: 1. Physics According to Newton : A World With No Speed Limit --
2. Space-Time Measurements According to Einstein --
3. Visualizing Relativity : Minkowski Diagrams and the Twins --
4. Lorentz Transformations (Boosts), Addition of Velocities, and Invariant Intervals --
5. Illustrations and Problems in Space-Time Measurements --
6. Relativistic Dynamics: First Steps --
7. Acceleration and Forces in Relativity: The Birth of Dynamical Fields --
8. Boosting the Electrostatic Force, Electromagnetic Fields and More on Four-Vectors --
9. Maxwell's Equations of Electrodynamics and the Wave Equation --
10. Magnetism in the Lab, the Discovery of Relativity, and the Way Forward --
11. Introduction to General Relativity --
12. Curvature, Strong Gravity, and Gravitational Waves --
Appendix A. Physical Constants, Data, and Conversion Factors --
Appendix B. Solutions to Selected Problems --
Appendix C. Mathematics Background --
Appendix D. Theorems and Concepts of Vector Calculus --
Appendix E. Summary of Formulas --
Appendix F. The Wave Equation With Sources: The Four-Vector Potential and the Lorenz Gauge --
Appendix G. Equation of Motion in Curved Space and Christoffel Symbols, Two-Dimensional Surfaces, and the Geodesic Deviation and Gravity Waves.
