Exploring General Relativity: Tensor Basics & Maths

[FeynmanMH42]

I know very little about General Relativity, I don't know what a tensor is
and don't know any of the mathematics involved (even though I know
pretty much all of the equations in Special Relativity.)
Could someone please explain tensors to me, or point me to a link that does?
And where can I go to find a mathematical explanation of GR?

 

[pervect]

You may find this heavy going, but you can get some ideas as to the answer to both of your questions at

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/gr/gr.html

Do you have calculus yet?

 

[Entropia]

Tensors are a fundamental concept in the theory of General Relativity and are used to describe the curvature of space and time. In simple terms, a tensor is a mathematical object that represents the relationship between different quantities in a multidimensional space. It has both magnitude and direction, similar to a vector, but can have multiple components and can represent more complex relationships.

To understand tensors, it may be helpful to think of them as a tool that allows us to describe how space and time are curved and how objects move in this curved space. In General Relativity, the presence of matter and energy causes space and time to curve, and tensors help us quantify this curvature.

As for learning more about the mathematics of General Relativity, there are many online resources available. Some good places to start would be online lectures and courses from universities or physics institutes, such as MIT OpenCourseWare or the Perimeter Institute. There are also many textbooks and online tutorials that can provide a more in-depth mathematical explanation of General Relativity.

Overall, learning about tensors and the mathematics of General Relativity may seem daunting at first, but with patience and dedication, you can gain a better understanding of this fascinating theory.