Gravitation and Spacetime (Second Edition) by Hans C. Ohanian

by Hans C. Ohanian

The third edition of this classic textbook is a quantitative introduction for advanced undergraduates and graduate students. It gently guides students from Newton's gravitational theory to special relativity, and then to the relativistic theory of gravitation. General relativity is approached from several as a theory constructed by analogy with Maxwell's electrodynamics, as a relativistic generalization of Newton's theory, and as a theory of curved spacetime. The authors provide a concise overview of the important concepts and formulas, coupled with the experimental results underpinning the latest research in the field. Numerous exercises in Newtonian gravitational theory and Maxwell's equations help students master essential concepts for advanced work in general relativity, while detailed spacetime diagrams encourage them to think in terms of four-dimensional geometry. Featuring comprehensive reviews of recent experimental and observational data, the text concludes with chapters on cosmology and the physics of the Big Bang and inflation.

Genres: Physics, Textbooks

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1976

Reviews

[فرهاد ذکاوت · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenological relativity book, in the level of first year of master degree, or last year of B.Sc in theoretical physics. broad examples and practical applications with actual experiments results. latest edition which I studied, has updates for new or near future tests or observatories.
It could be better, theoretically, but still good book. If I want to bring readers an example, its ancestors are, Gravitation by Wheeler, Thorne, Misner. But not Hawking-Penrose, large scales and R. Wald, G.R. these two books which second one is a new version of the first are pure theoretical and if someone looks for topology in older books these are the ones. Of course H-P book, is based on Gravitation which for the first time topology, practical general relativity and phenomenology tried to introduce a new face of difficult mathematical physics of GR.
In astrophysics we have B. Carroll (orange book) in the same level and method of teaching (Just as a comparison).

[Joseph Carrabis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravitation and Spactime is a wonderful introduction, almost a "grammar" to Einsteinian concepts. If anything, I wish there was a bit more of a quantum (speculatory) crossover. I read two different editions of this book, neither recent, and each was quite good for their time.