Gravity
An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity

Best-selling, accessible physics-first introduction to GR uses minimal new mathematics and begins with the essential physical applications.

James B. Hartle (Author)

9781316517543, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 June 2021

602 pages
24.1 x 19.8 x 3.2 cm, 1.4 kg

'This is probably my favourite book on GR at this level. It should appeal to those who also like the physics-first approach, and be accessible to those with an undergraduate-level understanding of mechanics.' Phillip Helbig, The Observatory

Einstein's theory of general relativity is a cornerstone of modern physics. It also touches upon a wealth of topics that students find fascinating – black holes, warped spacetime, gravitational waves, and cosmology. Now reissued by Cambridge University Press, this ground-breaking text helped to bring general relativity into the undergraduate curriculum, making it accessible to virtually all physics majors. One of the pioneers of the 'physics-first' approach to the subject, renowned relativist James B. Hartle, recognized that there is typically not enough time in a short introductory course for the traditional, mathematics-first, approach. In this text, he provides a fluent and accessible physics-first introduction to general relativity that begins with the essential physical applications and uses a minimum of new mathematics. This market-leading text is ideal for a one-semester course for undergraduates, with only introductory mechanics as a prerequisite.

List of Boxes
Preface
Figure credits
Part I. Space and Time in Newtonian Physics and Special Relativity: 1. Gravitational physics
2. Geometry as physics
3. Space, time, and gravity in Newtonian physics
4. Principles of special relativity
5. Special relativistic mechanics. Part II. The Curved Spacetimes of General Relativity: 6. Gravity as geometry
7. Description of curved spacetime
8. Geodesics
9. The geometry outside a spherical star
10. Solar System tests of general relativity
11. Relativistic gravity in action
12. Gravitational collapse and black holes
13. Astrophysical black holes
14. A little rotation
15. Rotating black holes
16. Gravitational waves
17. The universe observed
18. Cosmological models
19. Which universe and why?. Part III. The Einstein Equation: 20. A little more math
21. Curvature and the Einstein equation
22. The source of curvature
23. Gravitational wave emission
24. Relativistic stars
Appendix A. Units
Appendix B. Curvature quantities
Appendix C. Curvature and the Einstein equation
Appendix D. Pedagogical strategy
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Relativity physics [PHR], Gravity [PHDV], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]