Spacetime Physics: Introduction to Special Relativity (English, Paperback, Edwin F. Taylor, John Archibald Wheeler)

5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome Anyone who like physics will be thrilled to read ...

AwesomeAnyone who like physics will be thrilled to read through this book

Un classico della fisica

L'ho acquistato dopo aver letto "Buchi neri e salti temporali" di Kip Thorne, libro che ha diversi rimandi a questo testo quando suggerisce approfondimenti di "fisica dura". L'ho affrontato quindi con molta calma e pazienza ed ammetto di essere ancora a metà del guado ma rappresenta un testo fondamentale, scritto da due fisici di prim'ordine ma attenzione che la mia edizione (vale a dire questa) risale al 1966 (mio anno di nascita, sigh!). La matematica comunque non è impossibile e ciò che insegna è comunque interessante ed appassionante.

Excellent Introduction to Special Relativity

This book was recommended to me, and I was not disappointed. It is readable, has minimal maths, but gets the message across in simple terms without talking down to you. If you want to cut through all the misconceptions and understand what SR is really about, then get this book.

The BEST way to learn about relativity

This book is for people with at least a mastery of high school algebra, geometry, and trig and best for those with a rudimentary grasp of calculus. As books on relativity go, this one is light on math. It is, however, on my very short list of best books ever for teaching concepts in physics.Relativity is a mysterious subject for the unexposed. Learning about relativity is not like learning how to apply math to designing a bridge or a guided missile. You need to develop insights that mature into intuition.The book calls itself an "Introduction to Special Relativity." It sells itself way short. If you take your time with it, the book will give you an in-depth understanding of special relativity and some of the fundamental tenets of general relativity. It can't go in-depth with general relativity because of the math required.I am a 76-year old experimental physicist finishing off a career in mostly aerospace engineering with liberal use of applied physics and math. I went through special relativity as an undergrad (mainly the Lorentz transformations) and general relativity as part of a grad course in classical mechanics. (My general relativity was mostly an exercise in tensor calculus, which I've forgotten because I never used it again. I did have the opportunity to use special relativity, but only a few times.)The problem with most physics books and lectures is that they spend most of their space and time (no pun intended) on math. A notable exception is the set of Feynman Lectures on Physics. Another is this book; it should never have gone out of print -- are you listening, Dover? One reason for our preponderance of focus on math is that the math is necessary. However, many students come away from those books and courses with only superficial insight into the physics. They are so busy struggling with the math that they can't step back and see the bigger picture. They are not prepared to attack a problem that differs greatly from problems they've studied. What are we producing, applied mathematicians or physicists? If you haven't fully mastered special relativity, this book can give you that mastery and will make general relativity more meaningful if and when you're ready to tackle it. There is, however, a price to pay beyond the cost of the book: you have to spend quality time.If you want to get a grasp of relativity, get this book, even if you have to buy it used as I did. It is without peer.The book says that intuition is necessary to solve problems in relativity. Here is a quote from the book: "... intuition-- a practiced way of seeing -- is best developed without hurry." I suggest that you pay a lot of attention to the problems/exercises in the book. If you don't see a solution immediately (you probably will see one immediately on most of the problems), set it aside for a day and come back to it. You may find that on the second or third pass it seems easy. Strange concepts take time to sink in. Your subconscious mind will work for you in solving problems and play a key role in developing insight and intuition.

In good condition book

good pedagogically written textbook and a joy to read