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  • Textbook
  • © 2000

The Geometry of Spacetime

An Introduction to Special and General Relativity

Authors:

  • Presents an important and fascinating blend of geometry and physics
  • Explains the surprising notions and consequences of relativity in a way which readers will appreciate and understand
  • Interdisciplinary interest from students and researchers in both math and physics
  • Includes over 200 clear and helpful diagrams and many examples
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
  • Request lecturer material: sn.pub/lecturer-material

Part of the book series: Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics (UTM)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. Relativity Before 1905

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 1-29
  3. Special Relativity — Kinematics

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 31-86
  4. Special Relativity — Kinetics

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 87-141
  5. Arbitrary Frames

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 143-201
  6. Surfaces and Curvature

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 203-256
  7. Intrinsic Geometry

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 257-328
  8. General Relativity

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 329-384
  9. Consequences

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 385-434
  10. Erratum

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 461-463
  11. Erratum to: Special Relativity — Kinematics

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 455-455
  12. Erratum to: Relativity Before 1905

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 455-455
  13. Erratum to: Special Relativity — Kinetics

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 456-457
  14. Erratum to: Arbitrary Frames

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 457-458
  15. Erratum to: Intrinsic Geometry

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 458-459
  16. Erratum to: Surfaces and Curvature

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 458-458
  17. Erratum to: General Relativity

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 459-460
  18. Erratum to: Consequences

    • James J. Callahan
    Pages 460-461
  19. Back Matter

    Pages 435-454

About this book

In 1905, Albert Einstein offered a revolutionary theory - special relativity - to explain some of the most troubling problems in current physics concerning electromagnetism and motion. Soon afterwards, Hermann Minkowski recast special relativity essentially as a new geometric structure for spacetime. These ideas are the subject of the first part of the book. The second part develops the main implications of Einstein's general relativity as a theory of gravity rooted in the differential geometry of surfaces. The author explores the way an individual observer views the world and how a pair of observers collaborates to gain objective knowledge of the world. He has tried to encompass both the general and special theory by using the geometry of spacetime as the unifying theme of the book. To read it, one needs only a first course in linear algebra and multivariable calculus and familiarity with the physical applications of calculus.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Mathematics, Smith College, Northampton, USA

    James J. Callahan

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access