basic relativity

[phish123]

ok im basiclly very new to relativity. I have read a little on it and understand it very little. Every book that I pick up and read explains it a little to complicated for where i am at. So im just asking if anyone knows any book that would explain it easier.

Thanks alot.

 

Matt

[iNow]

Well, it's not a book, but here ya go:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduction_to_special_relativity

 

This article aims to give a gentle, non-technical introduction to the theory based on geometrical intuition and explain some of the terminology and formalism involved. A more advanced, encyclopedic description will be found in the parent article Special relativity. It will be helpful to approach relativisic mechanics by first studying some properties of the classical (Newtonian) picture.

 

 

This link has a lot of really useful Animations

 

 

The below covers many of the critical concepts of relativity:

 

1. http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/MichelsonMorley/MichelsonMorley.html

2. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/TimeDilation.html

3. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/LengthContract.html

4. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/ContractInvisible.html

5. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/Simultaneity.html

6. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/SpecRel/Flash/TwinParadox.html

7. http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/Flash/ClassMechanics/Foucault/Foucault.html

8. http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/GenRel/Flash/Precession.html

[ydoaPs]

ok im basiclly very new to relativity. I have read a little on it and understand it very little. Every book that I pick up and read explains it a little to complicated for where i am at. So im just asking if anyone knows any book that would explain it easier.

Thanks alot.

 

Matt

 

Are you looking for special or general relativity? What level of maths do you know?

[phish123]

Are you looking for special or general relativity? What level of maths do you know?

 

im only in 10th grade so im practiclly done with geometry.lol but its fairly easy for me.

 

im only in 10th grade so im practiclly done with geometry.lol but its fairly easy for me.

 

and to answer your question. General relativity

[ydoaPs]

Not going to be able to do general relativity with euclidean geometry, sorry. If you are up for it, you can try wikibooks and click on links as necessary, but it will be a lot of work.

[phish123]

how about specical relativity. anythingg?

[ydoaPs]

[acr=If I Remember Correctly]IIRC[/acr], a good introduction can be had with simple algebra that you probably already know if you are in the 10th grade.

[phish123]

but back to my original question. does anyone know any good books to start me out?

[ydoaPs]

You can try the links I provided. Relativity Demystified, Relativity For Dummies, Gravitation, etc. Are you looking for a popsci book, or a detailed introduction?

[Riogho]

Go buy

 

"Black Holes and Time Warps" By Kip S. Thorne, I read it in the 8th grade, and it explained relativity well enough that I understood it then. So you should be able to grasp it.

[phish123]

thanks alot. if anyone as any more books to share just tell me

[Riogho]

Are you more interested in Macrophysics (Astrophysics, Stars, black holes, etc) or are you more interested in the microphysics, (subatomic particles, QM, etc)

[iNow]

Go buy

 

"Black Holes and Time Warps" By Kip S. Thorne, I read it in the 8th grade, and it explained relativity well enough that I understood it then. So you should be able to grasp it.

 

I've read it twice myself. Great book. It brings together the technical and the historical in an accessible way.

[Riogho]

I've read it three times, but it fell apart the last time I was reading it, and I was forced to pay attention in my biology class

[phish123]

definitely the macro physics and maybe a little of the micro

[ajb]

10th grade, that make you 15/16?

 

I guess you are after more of a popular science account?

 

My be the books by Hawking?

 

If you are looking for a text book I don't know what to recommend. Can't say I have found a book on special relativity that I like.

[Riogho]

If you're into the macrophysics, pick up the book I already mentioned.

 

Pick up just about anything by Steven Hawking as well.

 

The Universe in a Nutshell, a Brief History of time, all are great books.

 

If you're a little interested in the Micro, I suggest starting with Leon Lederman's The God Particle.

[abskebabs]

If you're still following this thread, I can recommend 3 books I personally found very useful for relativity:

1. Introduction to Relativity by William D. Mcglinn

2. Spacetime Physics by Edwin F. Taylor and John Archibald Wheeler(easier to follow, but more wordy than the 1st book IMO)

3.Physics in spacetime : an introduction to special relativity by Benjamin Schumacher.

[browndn]

Simply Einstein - Relativity Demystified

- Richard Woflston

Simple Terms explaining complex ideas. I mean it. He explains everything thoroughly.

[ydoaPs]

I read a good popsci book by Einstein, but I can't remember the name of it.

[phish123]

i tried reading a brief history of time. and it was pretty damn confusing

[Riogho]

i tried reading a brief history of time. and it was pretty damn confusing

 

Then I wouldn't reccomend touching any of those other books we mentioned.

 

Except possibly Black Hole and Time Warps, it is very very very simple.

 

And if you don't understand just re-read the paragraph over and over until you do.

 

Or give up and pursue a medical career.

[thedarkshade]

i tried reading a brief history of time. and it was pretty damn confusing

History of time?? That sounds strange to me, but if it was any philosophical explanation, just let it go!

[iNow]

History of time?? That sounds strange to me, but if it was any philosophical explanation, just let it go!

 

TDS,

 

Have you never before heard of this book?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Brief_History_of_Time

[thedarkshade]

TDS,

 

Have you never before heard of this book?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Brief_History_of_Time

 

Heard of it, yeah... Read it... No!