[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/sci/ - Science & Math

View post   
File: 640 KB, 640x1136, image.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
8833528 No.8833528 [Reply] [Original]

What's the prerequisite mathematical knowledge for a hobbyist intending to go through general & special relativity?
Also what are the best introductory texts?

>> No.8833551

>>8833528
Basic calculus will suffice for Special Relativity. Basic linear algebra too if you want to do 4-vector stuff.

General Relativity requires Riemann Geometry and PDEs.

>> No.8833556

Differential Geometry.

>> No.8833566
File: 93 KB, 180x228, jonesy.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
8833566

relativity does not require any kind of fancy math beyond multivariable calculus and linear algebra. All of the tensor analysis which is required is usually developed within the text itself.

physically though, you'll probably get the most out of relativity if you know enough classical physics and electromagnetism. Having a familiarity with the maxwell theory as well as knowing the variational approach to field theories would be really useful.

>> No.8834218

>>8833551
>>8833566
>calculus for SR
wat, all you need is some trig and a tiny bit of linear algebra.

>>8833528
in any case, anyone with highschool math knows all the math needed for SR.

>> No.8834400

>>8834218
>wat, all you need is some trig and a tiny bit of linear algebra.


Only if you want to just be handed a list of equations. To actual understand where they come from you need calculus.

>> No.8834406

>>8834400
>To actual understand where they come from you need calculus.
you can derive all (or most) of SR using trig, why would you need calculus to understand it then?