phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 how about specical relativity. anythingg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 [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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 but back to my original question. does anyone know any good books to start me out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 thanks alot. if anyone as any more books to share just tell me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Are you more interested in Macrophysics (Astrophysics, Stars, black holes, etc) or are you more interested in the microphysics, (subatomic particles, QM, etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 definitely the macro physics and maybe a little of the micro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abskebabs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndn Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Simply Einstein - Relativity Demystified - Richard Woflston Simple Terms explaining complex ideas. I mean it. He explains everything thoroughly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ydoaPs Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I read a good popsci book by Einstein, but I can't remember the name of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phish123 Posted April 9, 2008 Author Share Posted April 9, 2008 i tried reading a brief history of time. and it was pretty damn confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarkshade Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 i tried reading a brief history of time. and it was pretty damn confusingHistory of time?? That sounds strange to me, but if it was any philosophical explanation, just let it go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedarkshade Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now