Re: self-study recommendations?
From: sal (pragmatist_at_nospam.org)
Date: 08/04/04
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Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 17:00:40 -0400
On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 17:48:23 -0700, Zachary Uram wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I would like to learn relativity through self-study (cannot afford college
> ATM sadly) and am wondering how I can begin?
>
> I have had intro calculus course but it's been a few years so i would like
> to refresh on that first (recommend texts/websites?) and I'm a bit rusty
> on trig. as well since it's been a number of years. I have not had any
> matrix or diff. eq. math yet. what are the math prereqs. for studying
> 1) special relativity
> 2) general relativity
My two cents...
You say you have had no "matrix math", by which I assume you mean linear
algebra.
That is a big hole. Nay, say, rather, an enormous hole. You can learn
the algebra on the fly when studying special relativity but it's going to
seem _much_ harder than it needs to be. At an elementary level, special
relativity is really not much more than applied linear algebra!
I'd suggest strongly picking up one or two algebra texts and reading them
in parallel with the physics texts. Go as far as you can stand in the
algebra -- it's all useful, though many people find it dull.
If you can get as far as finding out what a 2-form is, for instance,
from the algebra point of view before you run into them in relativity
things will go much more smoothly for you. If you know what a change of
basis transformation is before you hit the heavy stuff in SR you'll be
much happier with it.
If you need a recommendation for an algebra text, I'd suggest Michael
Artin's "Algebra". It's a good read, not too tough, and if you pay
attention to his asides you'll also learn some cool stuff like why there
are only 5 regular solids. But it's expensive (about $100).
For something cheaper, you might look at Lang's "Algebra"
(revised third edition -- careful with the title, Lang's got about a
zillion algebra texts out with similar titles). The Lang text is about a
third the cost of Artin, and it's deeper, more advanced, and goes farther,
but it's very hard to read IMHO (but it's a great cure for insomnia).
-- I can be contacted through http://www.physicsinsights.org
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