Understanding General Relativity without Tensors

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the challenge of understanding General Relativity without the use of tensors. Participants agree that while a complete explanation without tensors is nearly impossible, there are resources available that simplify the concepts. A recommended book is "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking, which avoids heavy mathematics. Additionally, a useful online resource is the MIT course material available at E.F. Taylor's website, which provides accessible sections on General Relativity.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of physics concepts such as gravity and spacetime.
  • Familiarity with the principles of classical mechanics.
  • Awareness of the historical context of General Relativity.
  • Ability to navigate online educational resources and textbooks.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore "The Universe in a Nutshell" by Stephen Hawking for a non-mathematical overview of General Relativity.
  • Review the MIT course materials on General Relativity available at E.F. Taylor's website.
  • Investigate alternative explanations of General Relativity that utilize visual aids and analogies.
  • Study the historical development of General Relativity to understand its foundational concepts.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for students, educators, and enthusiasts of physics who seek to grasp the fundamentals of General Relativity without delving into complex mathematical frameworks.

abc.def
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Is there any free online tutorial which completely explains General Relativity without concept of Tensors?
 
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abc.def said:
...completely explains General Relativity without concept of Tensors?
I can't imagine what such an explanation would look like. It would almost certainly be a lot more complicated than an explanation that is using tensors.

I'm sure others can give you links to pages you will find useful, but you're probably better off buying a book. The best one I know that doesn't use mathematics is https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393312763/?tag=pfamazon01-20.
 
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abc.def said:
Is there any free online tutorial which completely explains General Relativity without concept of Tensors?
While it would be impossible to have a complete explanation of general relativity without tenors there is something middle of the road at http://www.eftaylor.com/download.html#general_relativity

Download the sections on general relativity. This text is used at MIT in their course Exploring Black Holes.

Pete
 

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