This Paperback Book item from W. H. Freeman was reviewed on 15-Oct-2008.
Search ISBN:0716723271 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Spacetime Physics Reference Book. Classifications : Physics Science & Mathematics New & Used Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General AAS Science & Mathematics New & Used Textbooks Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General AAS New & Us . Click the following link to view the cover of Spacetime Physics. Related topics: Physics. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General AAS. Custom Stores. Specialty Stores. Books. General AAS. Custom Stores. requestid: c9bb13c1-5e06-4828-8003-9045df3d1eed
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1) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. A fine introduction to the theory of Special Relativity using good visual descriptions along with clear understandable explanations and examples on a complex paradoxical subject. The writer appears to make a good effort to describe the concepts of the Special Relativity theory in a more descriptive, non mathematical way so that the concepts could be pictured in the mind geometrically more-so then mathematically, although he does use algebra and trigonometry to explain the fundamental concepts. But his use of algebra is only used sparingly to back up his more detailed geometric and visual presentations. His use of the term `free float frame´ instead of using the terms ´inertial´ or ´Lorentz´ reference frames (of reference) is one example of how his descriptions are geared towards a more visual and even kinaesthetic perspective rather then a mathematical one, a perspective that I particularly like since I much prefer to understand Einstein´s theories in a more fundamental picturesque way considering the fact that I have forgotten much of the mathematics that I learned in school years ago. I also found this style of presentation to be very helpful when the book explained the relation between event intervals (timelike, spacelike, lightlike) and the relativity of simultaneity.
The book sums up relativity very well in the inside dust jacket:
"Spacetime grips mass telling it how to move, and mass grips spacetime telling it how to curve"
¤ 2) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. A must for everyone who really wants to penetrate the mysteries of Einstein´s special relativity. In my opinion the principal merit of the book is an special emphasis on the intuitive space-time concept with a very simplified mathematical presentation, all without lessening the subject. Few maths needed. Generously illustrated ! Many conceptual questions make one think hard. Also many problems with solutions( Odd numbers only ). One ends with a firm grasp on special relativity. A very amazing book !!¤ 3) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. The aim of this book is to explain to one the essential of the theory of special relativity: The GEOMETRY of spacetime! Keyword: GEOMETRY. Those who give this book one or two stars because they think this book is too wordy or does not retain enough rigor simply do not see the simplicity and elegance in the authors´ presentation.
Yes. You don´t see complicated equations in this book because the ideas are, as I said, geometric. The authors even tell the reader not to pay too much attention to things like the Lorentz transformation because it conceals the intuitive geometric ideas. Everything in speical relativity can be done without appealing to any local coordinate frames because spacetime IS geometry, the quantities we are interested in are inheritedly covariant. This is all built into the theory of relavity.
And the paradoxes that arise when one first studies the subject can all be expalined by the relativity of simultaneity, which is again because space or time alone is not covariant but spacetime as a whole.
This book gives a concrete meaning to spacetime. Things like 4-vectors are not just something the physicists cook up to make their equations look better on paper; They have their very own existence.
As for the nontechnical language used in the book, I would have to say that any bright high school students can learn from this book.¤ 4) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. is the exercises.
If you work through all (or nearly all) the exercises, you will have confronted most of the conceptual paradoxes that have come up in the discussion on Special Relativity since 1905. You will not only have mathematical explanations for them, but will be able to explain them in an intuitive way.
(By "intuitive" I do not mean that they explanation will accord with Newtonian physics -- it can´t, as they often give different results. What I mean is that you will be able to reason out the way things will turn out without always having to do the algebra.)
On the other hand, if you just read through the text, the coverage might seem unnecessarily wordy and long. One will only find this discussion useful if you are really wrestling with the material, and trying to understand the apparent paradoxes.
Perhaps this explains why there seems to be a "hate it"/"love it" dichotomy among the reviewers of this book. However, those who are tempted to dismiss it as merely wordy should keep in mind that the principal author is John Wheeler, whom Richard Feynman regarded as having incredible physical insight. (Wheeler was Feynman´s thesis adviser.)¤ 5) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. Special Relativity (SR) is one of those subjects that require much thinking for maturating of ideas. I doubt even if many physicists really understand it. Of the many books written on this subject, Taylor and Wheeler´s blink as a jewel. I believe it has many advantages over most of other books. It is extremely slow paced, but not to the point of being tiresome (the reason for this will be explained below). Most texts of SR start with a lenghty "philosophical" or historical discussion, then get to the maths of it, but in such a way that one has the impression that something is not fitting into the whole structure. The reason for this is, I believe, that SR is much needed in modern theoretical and experimental physics, but most of its intricate details can be left over. In other words, physicists need SR as a tool, but do not, as a general rule, need to think over it. Taylor and Wheeler´s book is different. They know what is important, get directly to it (and this explains why, although being slow paced, is not tiresome), and fight the nuts and bolts of explaining in the most clear way up to date. You finish with the impression that you understood it. Good pedagogic machinery include questions and answers all over the book (some questions even somewhat silly, but who never thought about any of them before?), so you really feel that the writers are helping you and, most important, that they cared to write an understandable text. The book itself is appealing, appealing as most physics books are not, with a lot of pictures, boxes and quotes interspeded along the text. It is very pleasant reading, has every important information you need for SR as a working physicist (except the covariant formulation of electrodynamics, but this is not important as most of electrodynamical books treat this topic with all needed details, and the presentation of such a topic would find terrible difficulties for the organization of the text) and, most important, you will enjoy it and be able to read every page. One last note on the exercises. I thing nothing can be more educative for understanding SR than exercises like the ones you find there. They are not mathematically difficult, but as a general rule oblige you to think "four-dimensionally". They are the greatest fun of the book, and will make you really understand the meaning of SR. At this point, I must quote "Wheeler´s first moral principle": "Do not make a calculation until you know the answer". This is the theme for all those exercises and, indeed, a moral principle that most physicists should follow - think about Feynman!¤ 6) Paperback Book Spacetime Physics by W. H. Freeman. Edwin Taylor and John A. Wheeler-one of this century´s most distinguished physicists - have completely reorganised this popular and well known book to make it accessible to an even wider audience. New topics, imaginative problems, and exceptionally clever illustrations, combined with a compelling narrative and intellectual authority make this a classic text. It is an ideal text for undergraduate courses in special relativity and modern physics.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 12-Nov-2008, 07167232719780716723271, 840-3X0-350-630-350-710-290-8 
Spacetime Physics, Book, Image © W. H. Freeman
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