Advanced Mechanics and General Relativity
Advanced Mechanics and General Relativity
$99.99
USDAimed at advanced undergraduates with background knowledge of classical mechanics and electricity and magnetism, this textbook presents both the particle dynamics relevant to general relativity, and the field dynamics necessary to understand the theory. Focusing on action extremization, the book develops the structure and predictions of general relativity by analogy with familiar physical systems. Topics ranging from classical field theory to minimal surfaces and relativistic strings are covered in a homogeneous manner. Nearly 150 exercises and numerous examples throughout the textbook enable students to test their understanding of the material covered. A tensor manipulation package to help students overcome the computational challenge associated with general relativity is available on a site hosted by the author. A link to this and to a solutions manual can be found at www.cambridge.org/9780521762458.
- Develops the structure and predictions of general relativity with a focus on action extremization, covering topics from classical field theory to minimal surfaces and relativistic strings
- Contains numerous examples and nearly 150 exercises to test understanding of the material covered
- A tensor manipulation package to help students overcome the computational challenge associated with general relativity is available on a site hosted by the author
Reviews & endorsements
"Franklin’s book is an excellent addition to the literature, and its readability and
explicitness will be appreciated by the target audience. Should I be teaching an introductory undergraduate class in general relativity in the near future, I would seriously consider this book for the main class text."
Jorma Louko, Classical and Quantum Gravity
"The book is beautifully illustrated. Important equations are framed so that they can be easily found. The text is both informal and precise, and the mathematics is very explicit and hence easy to follow. Together with the approach of introducing
geometric concepts early (in Newtonian mechanics) and not only when they cannot be avoided anymore (in general relativity), the didactic approach of this book can be considered a full success and will be very helpful for every student with an interest in learning general relativity."
Thomas Peters, Contemporary Physics
Product details
July 2010Adobe eBook Reader
9780511771361
0 pages
0kg
60 b/w illus. 147 exercises
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- 1. Newtonian gravity
- 2. Relativistic mechanics
- 3. Tensors
- 4. Curved space
- 5. Scalar field theory
- 6. Tensor field theory
- 7. Schwarzschild space-time
- 8. Gravitational radiation
- 9. Additional topics
- References
- Index.
