Learning about SR (for beginners)

  • Context: Relativity 
  • Thread starter Thread starter The Baron
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Beginners Sr
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for beginner-friendly books on special relativity (SR). Participants share various titles, approaches, and personal experiences with different texts, exploring the suitability of each for newcomers to the subject.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants recommend "Spacetime Physics" by Taylor and Wheeler as a top choice, noting its availability for free download.
  • Others suggest "Special Relativity for the Enthusiastic Beginner" by Morin, highlighting the first chapter's free access online.
  • A few participants mention Wolfgang Rindler's introduction to SR and other titles like Mermin's "It’s About Time" and French's "Special Relativity."
  • There is a discussion about the accessibility of Landau's volumes, with mixed opinions on their suitability for beginners.
  • Some participants express skepticism about using Feynman's lectures as a primary text for beginners, while others defend their value as supplementary material.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of spacetime diagrams in understanding SR, advocating for their use throughout the learning process.
  • Several participants highlight the variability in defining a "beginner," suggesting that the appropriate text may depend on the reader's background and goals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of multiple texts for learning SR, but there is significant disagreement regarding the appropriateness of certain books, particularly Landau and Feynman, as introductory materials. The discussion remains unresolved regarding which specific texts are best suited for beginners.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the effectiveness of a book may depend on the reader's prior mathematical and physics preparation, as well as their immediate and long-term learning goals.

  • #31
Morin's Special Relativity: For the Enthusiastic Beginner is hands the best introduction to special relativity. It is a pedagogical masterpiece. Excellent visual expositions and creative problems that will make you think. I can't recommend it enough. All that is required is an understand of basic calculus and a first year physics course.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: PhDeezNutz
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #33
Keith_McClary said:
Free!

Relativity made Relatively Easy (Oxford website, "Copyright A. Steane, Oxford University 2010, 2011; not for redistribution.")
From the introduction:

"This book presents an extensive study of Special Relativity, aimed at an undergraduate level.It is not intended to be the first introduction to the subject for most students, although for abright student it could function as that. Therefore basic ideas such as time dilation and spacecontraction are recalled but not discussed at length. "

So, quite explicitly, not what the OP was looking for.
 
  • #34
PeroK said:
From the introduction:

"This book presents an extensive study of Special Relativity, aimed at an undergraduate level.It is not intended to be the first introduction to the subject for most students, although for abright student it could function as that. Therefore basic ideas such as time dilation and spacecontraction are recalled but not discussed at length. "

So, quite explicitly, not what the OP was looking for.

Indeed... on my list earlier that book by Steane is further down the list (in increasing difficulty).
Steane's other book in relativity, The Wonderful World of Relativity, is more appropriate for a beginner.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198789203/?tag=pfamazon01-20
(On my list, I didn't separate these two since I haven't really looked at this beginner book in detail.)
 

Similar threads

Foundations A rigorous approach to learn Mathematics
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Intro Physics Learn Python: Top Book Recommendations for Beginners
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
12K
Relativity Good Beginner's General Relativity Books?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
Is "Quantum Mechanics Demystified" a good book for a beginner?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
Intro Physics Beginner friendly mathematical physics book
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
7K
Calculus book for 14 year old physics enthusiast
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Is Mankiw's Principles of Economics a good textbook for beginners?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
7K
Solid State Best resources to learn topological condensed matter in 2022?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Astronomy Books on astronomy and cosmology at the beginner level
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
What are best civil engineering books for beginners?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K