Understanding SR/GR: Tips and Tricks for Intuitive Comprehension

[BosonJaw]

Hello Guys!

Everything in this subject absolutely fascinates me to no end! I've been trying to gain an intuitive understanding of the subject and it seems I can only do so in brief episodes! Particularly if I take a break and come back, It seems to make sense! For the few seconds it lasts its great! Then, not much unlike a vivid dream, it seems to dissipate. From there the harder I think the more aggravated I get

I was wondering if there is a preferred method or system to help better understand GR, particularly Lorentz laws, Light cones, Time dilation and Minkowski spacetime. I realize a strong mathematical background is important if not required criteria for these subjects. Right now I have a calculus tutor in preperation for some calc. courses I have coming up in April.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[pervect]

I'd suggest Bondi's "Relativity and common sense", which is a dover paperback. I would then suggest following up with something like Taylor & Wheeler's "Space-time physics".

 

[robphy]

Learn to draw and interpret spacetime diagrams.
Learn to think geometrically and "invariantly" (e.g. vectors not [coordinate-dependent] components).

 

[BosonJaw]

Thanks Guys! I love this site!