Need a book to prepare for my Special Relativity class

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on recommended resources for preparing for a Special Relativity course at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Key suggestions include "Spacetime Physics" by Taylor & Wheeler, "Relativity" by Rindler, and "A Traveller's Guide to Spacetime" by Moore, all of which provide quantitative approaches to the subject. The participants emphasize the importance of working through problems in the red paperback edition of "Spacetime Physics" and suggest searching for lecture notes online to supplement learning.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of physics principles
  • Familiarity with mathematical concepts relevant to relativity
  • Access to "Spacetime Physics" by Taylor & Wheeler
  • Ability to search for and evaluate academic lecture notes
NEXT STEPS
  • Read "Spacetime Physics" by Taylor & Wheeler and complete the practice problems
  • Explore "Relativity" by Rindler for additional quantitative insights
  • Investigate "A Traveller's Guide to Spacetime" by Moore for alternative perspectives
  • Search for and review online lecture notes on Special Relativity
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for a Special Relativity course, educators seeking teaching materials, and anyone interested in a quantitative understanding of relativity concepts.

evacek3
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Hello,
Next semester I will be taking a class in Special Relativity through UIUC. Its only a 200 level course titled Relativity and math applications but I would really like to go in with a base. If anyone could give me some book suggestions which would contain practice problems and the like but not be too techinical (like a "...for dummies" book) that would be great. Or a website along the lines of Paul's Online Notes but for relativity would be great too.

NOTE: I am not looking for a book which covers Special Relativity on a conceptual level. I need one that is quantitative.

Thanks!
 
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I would recommend Taylor & Wheeler's Spacetime Physics.
 
Check Rindler's Relativity. It's pretty good.
 
Moore's A Traveller's Guide to Spacetime is excellent.
 
Taylor and Wheeler is popular. I like to look for lecture notes to get a feel for something new before I start buying books. There are thousands of professors who post their notes, some are good, some are awful. Google "SR lecture notes" or something similar and you will find a lot of notes at a variety of levels.
 

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