Ebook Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books
Ebook Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books
Download As PDF : Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books
Einstein's general theory of relativity is introduced in this advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate level textbook. Topics include special relativity, in the formalism of Minkowski's four-dimensional space-time, the principle of equivalence, Riemannian geometry and tensor analysis, Einstein field equation, as well as many modern cosmological subjects, from primordial inflation and cosmic microwave anisotropy to the dark energy that propels an accelerating universe.
The author presents the subject with an emphasis on physical examples and simple applications without the full tensor apparatus. The reader first learns how to describe curved spacetime. At this mathematically more accessible level, the reader can already study the many interesting phenomena such as gravitational lensing, precession of Mercury's perihelion, black holes, and cosmology. The full tensor formulation is presented later, when the Einstein equation is solved for a few symmetric cases. Many modern topics in cosmology are discussed in this book from inflation, cosmic microwave anisotropy to the "dark energy" that propels an accelerating universe.
Mathematical accessibility, together with the various pedagogical devices (e.g., worked-out solutions of chapter-end problems), make it practical for interested readers to use the book to study general relativity and cosmology on their own.
Ebook Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books
"This is one of the most outstanding physics books in the field I have ever read. Combines phenomenology and theoretical/Mathematical structure with great tact, insight and generosity.
The book is definitely current with modern developments in the field and has extensive bibliography and references.
I would definitely prefer this book to teach a first course on General Relativity and Cosmology at a graduate or Advanced Undergraduate level(for both Physics or Mathematics Majors) to any other book.
This pedagogic pearl deserves five stars and that is the grade I am awarding this beautiful book.
I am also a great fan of the Advanced Quantum Field Theory/ Particle Physics book Co-Authored by the distinguished professor with separate solutions manual."
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Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books Reviews :
Relativity Gravitation and Cosmology A Basic Introduction Oxford Master Series in Physics TaPei Cheng 9780199573646 Books Reviews
- I graduated with a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1988 and quickly entered management; therefore my mathematics have not be extensively exercised for many years. Having had an affection for physics ever since being a teenager, I am finally at a point in my life where I have the time to do a little self study. After purchasing over 50 books that touch on relativity, I have found my favorite GR book in T.P. Cheng's masterpiece. I have used it as my guide to understand tensors, which were completely new to me, and digest and derive the foundational concepts and equations including EP, curved space, curved spacetime, covariant derivatives, parallel transport, Riemannian curvature, general covariance, Einstein's field equation, Schwarzschild's solution, and the famous applications of the theory to the precession of Mercury's orbit and the gravitational deflection of light. While I have supplemented my study with extra reading from Hartle, Hobson, Wald, Kenyon, Foster, Lawden, Stephani, D'Inverno, Gron, Ohanian, Zee, Kennedy, Alder and Misner, T.P Cheng's book has been my guide throughout.
With my background, I find Cheng's balance of mathematics and physical insight perfect for my journey through the beauty and complexity of GR. Cheng's approach to teaching the necessary mathematical tools in parallel to the physics has helped me over the "tensor hurdle" while maintaining my interest to press on. Books that spend the first chapters only dealing with the math sapped my motivation and give the impression that GR is mathematics, not physics. In a sense, Cheng's book is how Einstein created the theory - learning the necessary nomenclature and Riemannian geometry to help describe his incredible physical intuition.
I have worn out my paperback version, including many notes-to-self in the margins. Therefore, while I will always keep and cherish this ruffled version, I have just purchased a new hardback version to every now and then admire in unadulterated form this gem of physics education. - Let me preface this review by saying I majored in physics and finished college 14 years ago. I've always wanted to study GR but went to dental school right after college and so never got the chance. With the latest developments in cosmology, ie, dark flow, dark energy, dark matter, I finally couldn't suppress my curiosity any longer. The framework for understanding cosmology is GR.
I own the other GR books by Hartle, Schutz and Carroll. Each of them is more a textbook to accompany a lecture course than one for the self-taught.
This book reads more like a novel. The author begins with why Einstein tackled the problem of generalizing special relativity and why that generalization would also be a theory of gravity (Equivalence Principle). The book includes a good intro to special relativiy (SR) at the intermediate college level. This is followed by Minkowski's spacetime which is a deeper mathematical description of SR. From there, the next few chapters elucidate on the Metric tensor and the curvature of spacetime.
After you've learned the Metric, there is a chapter on black holes and 3 chapters on cosmology (expanding universe, inflation, cosmic microwave background, the cosmological constant and how it can be used to take into account dark matter and dark energy, and much more). I particularly enjoyed the cosmology part of the book. It gives you a taste of how modern physicists are using GR to tackle the biggest questions in cosmology. And it gives you a break to absorb the theory before going deeper mathematically.
The final part of the book gives a complete treatment of GR using tensors and ends with a chapter on gravity waves. This is the most difficult part of the book but as with the rest of the book, everything is well explained and there are no gaps in logic that would otherwise frustrate the autodidact.
You must be willing to do some of the problems at the ends of each chapter. To get the most out of this book, you should read it with pencil and paper in hand. Solutions to the more difficult problems are provided in the back of the book which is great pedagogically.
I would rank this up there with Shankar's QM and Griffiths' Intro to EM. It is by far the best intro book on GR out there. - This is an exceptional book. Professor Cheng has gone to considerable length to keep the explanations and derivations very clear. I am particularly pleased with the discussion questions and problems with solutions.This is one of several books I have read to teach myself GR. It is by far the most understandable text. However, GR is a difficult topic and this book requires great concentration. (i have a PhD in physics.) If your background is not strong in linear algebra and differential equations, I suggest you start with a book by Peter Collier, "A Most Incomprehensible Thing" which is a self-study book aimed at a more general user. Collier's book provides a crash course in the necessary mathematics.
- This is one of the most outstanding physics books in the field I have ever read. Combines phenomenology and theoretical/Mathematical structure with great tact, insight and generosity.
The book is definitely current with modern developments in the field and has extensive bibliography and references.
I would definitely prefer this book to teach a first course on General Relativity and Cosmology at a graduate or Advanced Undergraduate level(for both Physics or Mathematics Majors) to any other book.
This pedagogic pearl deserves five stars and that is the grade I am awarding this beautiful book.
I am also a great fan of the Advanced Quantum Field Theory/ Particle Physics book Co-Authored by the distinguished professor with separate solutions manual.
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