Hartle's Gravity: Read it Before Special Relativity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Goldbeetle
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Gravity
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reading order of Hartle's "Gravity" in relation to special relativity (SR). Participants explore whether it is beneficial to read Hartle's book before or after studying special relativity, considering the prerequisites for understanding general relativity (GR).

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that reading a book on special relativity before Hartle's "Gravity" is advisable, as it provides foundational knowledge.
  • Others argue that Hartle's book does cover special relativity, but may not delve deeply enough for those unfamiliar with the concepts.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of having exposure to SR, particularly in manipulating Lorentz factors, to better understand the 4-vector formulation presented in Hartle's book.
  • A participant mentions their current reading of "A Traveller's Guide to Spacetime" and references other books, indicating a personal approach to the subject matter.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that some background in special relativity is beneficial before approaching Hartle's "Gravity," but there is no consensus on the necessity of reading SR first.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about prior knowledge of special relativity are present, but the specific level of understanding required is not clearly defined. The discussion does not resolve the best reading order for all learners.

Goldbeetle
Messages
210
Reaction score
1
Has anybody read the book? Is it just me or it would be better to read before a book on special relativity?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, I'd suggest a book on special relativity before tackling Hartle, though Hartle does cover SR. If you're finding that section of his book difficult, I'd suggest, as usual, the red paperback first edition of Spacetime Physics.
 
You should definitely have had some exposure to SR before going through Hartle's Gravity. Even exposure on the level of simply manipulating lorentz factors and whatnot is very helpful before presented with the 4-vector formulation of everything. The book is, after all, an introduction to general relativity, and just quickly glosses over stuff from SR as a refresher/analogy to GR.
 
Thanks. I'm reading "A Traveller's Guide to Spacetime" and it's excellent. I also have "Spacetime Physics" (first red paperback edition with exercises and solutions" and the book by French.
 

Similar threads

Relativity Reviews of “Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein’s General Relativity”
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Calculus Thoughts on the book 'Second Year Calculus' (Bressoud)
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Relativity I want to learn special relativity. More details below
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Books to read before Arnold's Classical Mechanics
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Relativity Is it worth to read the chapters on relativity in K&K mechanics book?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Relativity Special relativity in Lagrangian and Hamiltonian language
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Relativity Free Books & Lectures on Special Theory of Relativity
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Quantum Math Textbooks to Read Before Starting QFT
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Relativity Second book on special relativity
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Intro Physics Finding Books on Elementary Particle Physics & Special Relativity
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K