Learning Tensor Calculus: Struggling and Need Help!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of learning Tensor Calculus, with participants sharing their struggles and seeking resources for better understanding. The scope includes self-study methods, recommended materials, and personal experiences with learning the subject.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in self-teaching Tensor Calculus from a book and seeks suggestions for videos or tutors to see problems worked out.
  • Another participant recommends a specific book by James Simmonds and suggests looking for MIT lecture videos on tensor analysis.
  • A participant reiterates their struggle with self-teaching and asks about the intended application of Tensor Calculus, indicating a desire for context in learning.
  • One participant shares that understanding the physical meaning of equations helped them grasp Tensor Calculus, mentioning a specific book by D'Inverno as helpful.
  • A participant recalls finding a PDF about common mistakes in tensor calculations and suggests it may be useful for others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of learning Tensor Calculus and the value of seeing problems worked out, but no consensus exists on the best resources or methods for overcoming these challenges.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific resources and personal experiences, but there is no consensus on the effectiveness of these methods or materials. The discussion reflects individual learning preferences and experiences without resolving the overall challenges faced.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals struggling with self-study in Tensor Calculus, educators looking for teaching resources, and learners interested in understanding the application of tensors in physics.

ourstarfish
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I am trying to teach myself Tensor Calculus from a book. I am stuck. Websites and reading don't help. I need to see how the problems are actually done. Does anyone know of any videos or tutors that can help? Tried everything but no luck. At least if you can see a problem worked in class then you know what to do. Any suggestions?
 
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I know you said reading hasn't helped, but if you can get hold of the book https://www.amazon.com/dp/354094088X/?tag=pfamazon01-20 by James Simmonds, read it. It is the kind of book a university library is likely to have.

MIT puts videos of some lectures online. You might try googling MIT and tensor analysis.
 
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ourstarfish said:
I am trying to teach myself Tensor Calculus from a book. I am stuck. Websites and reading don't help. I need to see how the problems are actually done. Does anyone know of any videos or tutors that can help? Tried everything but no luck. At least if you can see a problem worked in class then you know what to do. Any suggestions?

What's your intended use--area of physics, or just, in general?
 
i found that until i saw what the equations meant in 'real' terms, i couldn't get any sort of a grasp on tensor calculus. working through the problems in D'Inverno's 'Introducing Einstein's Relativity' helped me understand.

there was a small pdf i found somewhere on the web about common mistakes that people make when working with tensors. must try and see if i can find it.

http://www.aapt-doorway.org/TGRU/articles/Moore%20GRArticle.pdf" . section 3 and 4. i fell foul of some of the common pitfalls working with tensors myself.
 
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