Einstein's theory of general relativity is a cornerstone of modern physics. It also touches upon a wealth of topics that students find fascinating – black holes, warped spacetime, gravitational waves, and cosmology. Now reissued by Cambridge University Press, this ground-breaking text helped to bring general relativity into the undergraduate curriculum, making it accessible to virtually all physics majors. One of the pioneers of the 'physics-first' approach to the subject, renowned relativist James B. Hartle, recognized that there is typically not enough time in a short introductory course for the traditional, mathematics-first, approach. In this text, he provides a fluent and accessible physics-first introduction to general relativity that begins with the essential physical applications and uses a minimum of new mathematics. This market-leading text is ideal for a one-semester course for undergraduates, with only introductory mechanics as a prerequisite.
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List of Boxes; Preface; Figure credits; Part I. Space and Time in Newtonian Physics and Special Relativity: 1. Gravitational physics; 2. Geometry as physics; 3. Space, time, and gravity in Newtonian physics; 4. Principles of special relativity; 5. Special relativistic mechanics. Part II. The Curved Spacetimes of General Relativity: 6. Gravity as geometry; 7. Description of curved spacetime; 8. Geodesics; 9. The geometry outside a spherical star; 10. Solar System tests of general relativity; 11. Relativistic gravity in action; 12. Gravitational collapse and black holes; 13. Astrophysical black holes; 14. A little rotation; 15. Rotating black holes; 16. Gravitational waves; 17. The universe observed; 18. Cosmological models; 19. Which universe and why?. Part III. The Einstein Equation: 20. A little more math; 21. Curvature and the Einstein equation; 22. The source of curvature; 23. Gravitational wave emission; 24. Relativistic stars; Appendix A. Units; Appendix B. Curvature quantities; Appendix C. Curvature and the Einstein equation; Appendix D. Pedagogical strategy; Bibliography; Index.
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'Jim Hartle's Gravity is a gem that offers a novel approach to general relativity pedagogy. It is written for senior level undergraduate physics students, but I expect it will be useful for a broader audience. The writing throughout is clear, methodical, and elegant, spiced with the author's characteristic dry sense of humor. His book is a fine contribution that extends the range of pedagogical choices available to instructors.' Jennie Traschen, Physics Today
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Best-selling, accessible physics-first introduction to GR uses minimal new mathematics and begins with the essential physical applications.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781316517543
Publisert
2021-06-24
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
1400 gr
Høyde
241 mm
Bredde
198 mm
Dybde
32 mm
Aldersnivå
U, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
602

Forfatter

Biographical note

James B. Hartle is Professor of Physics at the University of California–Santa Barbara. His scientific work is concerned with the application of Einstein's relativistic theory of gravitation (general relativity) to realistic astrophysical situations, especially cosmology. He has made important contributions to the understanding of gravitational waves, relativistic stars, and black holes. Professor Hartle is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the American Philosophical Society. He is a founder and past director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics in Santa Barbara. He was awarded the 2009 Einstein Prize of the American Physical Society for his work on gravitational physics.