Relativity and its roots

Download Relativity and its roots PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (987 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Relativity and its roots by : Banesh Hoffmann

Download or read book Relativity and its roots written by Banesh Hoffmann and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Relativity and Its Roots

Download Relativity and Its Roots PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Courier Corporation
ISBN 13 : 0486150119
Total Pages : 189 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (861 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Relativity and Its Roots by : Banesh Hoffmann

Download or read book Relativity and Its Roots written by Banesh Hoffmann and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2012-04-30 with total page 189 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Entertaining, nontechnical demonstrations of the meaning of relativity theory trace development from basis in geometrical, cosmological ideas of the ancient Greeks, plus work by Kepler, Galileo, Newton, others. 1983 edition.

Relativity and Its Roots

Download Relativity and Its Roots PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Courier Corporation
ISBN 13 : 9780486406763
Total Pages : 194 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (67 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Relativity and Its Roots by : Banesh Hoffmann

Download or read book Relativity and Its Roots written by Banesh Hoffmann and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Entertaining, nontechnical demonstrations of the meaning of relativity theory trace development from basis in geometrical, cosmological ideas of the ancient Greeks, plus work by Kepler, Galileo, Newton, others. 1983 edition.

The Roots of Special Relativity

Download The Roots of Special Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136709096
Total Pages : 419 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (367 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Roots of Special Relativity by : Peter Galison

Download or read book The Roots of Special Relativity written by Peter Galison and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-13 with total page 419 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern science has changed every aspect of life in ways that cannot be compared to developments of previous eras. This four-volume set presents key developments within modern physical science and the effects of these discoveries on modern global life. The first two volumes explore the history of the concept of relativity, the cultural roots of science, the concept of time and gravity before, during, and after Einstein's theory, and the cultural reception of relativity. Volume 3 explores the impact of modern science upon global politics and the creation of a new kind of war, and Volume 4 details the old and new efforts surrounding the elucidation of the quantum world, as well as the cultural impact of particle physics. This reprint collection pools the best scholarship available, collected from a large array of difficult to acquire books, journals, and pamphlets. Each volume begins with an introductory essay, written by one of the top scholars in the history of science. Students and scholars of modern culture, science, and society will find these volumes a veritable research gold mine.

The Roots of Special Relativity

Download The Roots of Special Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1136709169
Total Pages : 420 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (367 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Roots of Special Relativity by : Peter Galison

Download or read book The Roots of Special Relativity written by Peter Galison and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-13 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern science has changed every aspect of life in ways that cannot be compared to developments of previous eras. This four-volume set presents key developments within modern physical science and the effects of these discoveries on modern global life. The first two volumes explore the history of the concept of relativity, the cultural roots of science, the concept of time and gravity before, during, and after Einstein's theory, and the cultural reception of relativity. Volume 3 explores the impact of modern science upon global politics and the creation of a new kind of war, and Volume 4 details the old and new efforts surrounding the elucidation of the quantum world, as well as the cultural impact of particle physics. This reprint collection pools the best scholarship available, collected from a large array of difficult to acquire books, journals, and pamphlets. Each volume begins with an introductory essay, written by one of the top scholars in the history of science. Students and scholars of modern culture, science, and society will find these volumes a veritable research gold mine.

The Road to Relativity

Download The Road to Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691175810
Total Pages : 257 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (911 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Road to Relativity by : Hanoch Gutfreund

Download or read book The Road to Relativity written by Hanoch Gutfreund and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2017-05-09 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An annotated facsimile edition of Einstein's handwritten manuscript on the foundations of general relativity This richly annotated facsimile edition of "The Foundation of General Relativity" introduces a new generation of readers to Albert Einstein's theory of gravitation. Written in 1915, this remarkable document is a watershed in the history of physics and an enduring testament to the elegance and precision of Einstein's thought. Presented here is a beautiful facsimile of Einstein's original handwritten manuscript, along with its English translation and an insightful page-by-page commentary that places the work in historical and scientific context. Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn's concise introduction traces Einstein's intellectual odyssey from special to general relativity, and their essay "The Charm of a Manuscript" provides a delightful meditation on the varied afterlife of Einstein's text. Featuring a foreword by John Stachel, this handsome edition also includes a biographical glossary of the figures discussed in the book, a comprehensive bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and numerous photos and illustrations throughout.

Special Relativity: A First Encounter

Download Special Relativity: A First Encounter PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191620866
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (916 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Special Relativity: A First Encounter by : Domenico Giulini

Download or read book Special Relativity: A First Encounter written by Domenico Giulini and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2011-04-07 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Special relativity provides the foundations of our knowledge of space and time. Without it, our understanding of the world, and its place in the universe, would be unthinkable. This book gives a concise, elementary, yet exceptionally modern, introduction to special relativity. It is a gentle yet serious 'first encounter', in that it conveys a true understanding rather than purely reports the basic facts. Only very elementary mathematical knowledge is needed to master it (basic high-school maths), yet it will leave the reader with a sound understanding of the subject. Special Relativity: A First Encounter starts with a broad historical introduction and motivation of the basic notions. The central chapters are dedicated to special relativity, mainly following Einstein's historical route. Later chapters turn to various applications in all parts of physics and everyday life. Unlike other books on the subject, the current status of the experimental foundations of special relativity is accurately reported and the experiments explained. This book will appeal to anyone wanting a introduction to the subject, as well as being background reading for students beginning a course in physics.

Einstein Relatively Simple

Download Einstein Relatively Simple PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 9814525618
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (145 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Einstein Relatively Simple by : Ira Mark Egdall

Download or read book Einstein Relatively Simple written by Ira Mark Egdall and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2014-01-06 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Outstanding Academic Title for 2014" by CHOICE Einstein Relatively Simple brings together for the first time an exceptionally clear explanation of both special and general relativity. It is for people who always wanted to understand Einstein's ideas but never thought they could. Told with humor, enthusiasm, and rare clarity, this entertaining book reveals how a former high school drop-out revolutionized our understanding of space and time. From E=mc2 and everyday time travel to black holes and the big bang, Einstein Relatively Simple takes us all, regardless of our scientific backgrounds, on a mind-boggling journey through the depths of Einstein's universe. Along the way, we track Einstein through the perils and triumphs of his life — follow his thinking, his logic, and his insights — and chronicle the audacity, imagination, and sheer genius of the man recognized as the greatest scientist of the modern era. In Part I on special relativity we learn how time slows and space shrinks with motion, and how mass and energy are equivalent. Part II on general relativity reveals a cosmos where black holes trap light and stop time, where wormholes form gravitational time machines, where space itself is continually expanding, and where some 13.7 billion years ago our universe was born in the ultimate cosmic event — the Big Bang. Contents:Einstein Discovered: Special Relativity, E = mc2,and Spacetime:From Unknown to RevolutionaryThe Great ConflictThe Two PostulatesA New RealityThe Shrinking of TimeSimultaneity and the Squeezing of SpaceThe World's Most Famous EquationSpacetimeEinstein Revealed: General Relativity, Gravity, and the Cosmos:Einstein's Dream“The Happiest Thought of My Life”The Warping of Space and TimeStitching SpacetimeWhat is Spacetime Curvature?Einstein's MasterpieceThe Universe RevealedIn the Beginning Readership: Adults and young people all over the world who are curious about Einstein and how the universe works. Keywords:Einstein;Relativity;Special Relativity;General Relativity;Spacetime;Big Bang;Black Holes;Expansion of Space;Time Travel;E=mc2;Universe;Cosmos;Time Dilation;Length Contraction;Wormholes;Light Postulate;Length Contraction;Gravitational Time Dilation;Time Warp;Space Warp;Relativity Postulate;Lorentz Transformation;Light Clock;Relativity of Simultaneity;Twins Paradox;Equivalence Principle;Gravity;Spacetime Curvature;Spacetime Interval;Gaussian Co-Ordinates;Geodesic;Momenergy;The Einstein Equation;Schwarzschild Geometry;Bending of Starlight;Frame Dragging;Cosmic Microwave Background;Geometry of Universe;Flat Universe;Critical Density;Dark Matter;Dark Energy;Future of UniverseKey Features:Einstein Relatively Simple is the definitive book on Einstein's theories for the lay reader — one that is fun to read, comprehensive, and most important, understandableEinstein's ideas are explained in everyday languageThe book devotes eight chapters to special and a full eight chapters to general relativity. Most popular science books give general relativity only a brief mention or ignore it altogetherReviews: “This general relativity theory changed our views on the origin and on the ending (if any) of the universe … all topics that tickle the imagination of a general public and Egdall, bringing the reader to the point beyond general relativity, does not miss the opportunity to end his guided tour with a sparkling firework of these issues … it is an entertaining introduction for the layman, that brings the reader a very long way.” The European Mathematical Society “He covers the main topics of special and general relativity in a refreshing, personal way. This is a well-crafted, well-documented text with extensive endnotes, in which a bibliography is embedded. He introduces readers to his own unique entry into this very populous genre. Valuable for inquisitive nonscientists.” CHOICE “I'm crazy about it. It's the best presentation of relativity for non-scientists that I've seen.” Art Hobson Professor Emeritus of Physics University of Arkansas "The writing is jovial and energetic and holds the reader's attention. This book is a nice introduction to modern physics, with a great biography of Einstein included. This book is recommended for a lay reader with basic algebra skills; high school and beginning college physics students would find it easily accessible." Zentralblatt MATH

Kinematics

Download Kinematics PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Johns Hopkins University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780801891359
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (913 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Kinematics by : Alberto A. Martínez

Download or read book Kinematics written by Alberto A. Martínez and published by Johns Hopkins University Press. This book was released on 2009-07-13 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The field of kinematics—the science of motion—has long been neglected and misrepresented. Despite rich traditions rooted in ancient times, modern physical kinematics never became a professional discipline. No journals or academic societies were founded to support its development and study and most physicists took the science of motion for granted. Yet some came to doubt its very principles, even denouncing its basic language—coordinate algebra—as an impediment to scientific progress. In this unique and comprehensive history of kinematics, Alberto A. Martínez rescues the forgotten roots of this field that led to Einstein's theory of special relativity. Using clear explanations and accessible language, he analyzes the development of kinematics; explains how mathematics, engineering, philosophy, and psychology pulled it in divergent directions; and discusses why modern kinematics inherited old and unresolved ambiguities. All students of physics and general science study basic kinematics. Martínez draws from an unparalleled wealth of sources to demonstrate why it is essential to the study and evolution of physics today.

Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology

Download Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 0521822807
Total Pages : 307 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (218 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology by : Jose Wudka

Download or read book Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology written by Jose Wudka and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2006-07-20 with total page 307 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Space-Time, Relativity, and Cosmology provides a historical introduction to modern relativistic cosmology and traces its historical roots and evolution from antiquity to Einstein. The topics are presented in a non-mathematical manner, with the emphasis on the ideas that underlie each theory rather than their detailed quantitative consequences. A significant part of the book focuses on the Special and General theories of relativity. The tests and experimental evidence supporting the theories are explained together with their predictions and their confirmation. Other topics include a discussion of modern relativistic cosmology, the consequences of Hubble's observations leading to the Big Bang hypothesis, and an overview of the most exciting research topics in relativistic cosmology. This textbook is intended for introductory undergraduate courses on the foundations of modern physics. It is also accessible to advanced high school students, as well as non-science majors who are concerned with science issues.

The Curious History of Relativity

Download The Curious History of Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 0691186758
Total Pages : 363 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (911 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Curious History of Relativity by : Jean Eisenstaedt

Download or read book The Curious History of Relativity written by Jean Eisenstaedt and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Black holes may obliterate most things that come near them, but they saved the theory of general relativity. Einstein's theory was quickly accepted as the true theory of gravity after its publication in 1915, but soon took a back seat in physics to quantum mechanics and languished for decades on the blackboards of mathematicians. Not until the existence of black holes by Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose in the 1960s, after Einstein's death, was the theory revived. Almost one hundred years after general relativity replaced Newton's theory of gravitation, The Curious History of Relativity tells the story of both events surrounding general relativity and the techniques employed by Einstein and the relativists to construct, develop, and understand his almost impenetrable theory. Jean Eisenstaedt, one of the world's leading experts on the subject, also discusses the theory's place in the evolution of twentieth-century physics. He describes the main stages in the development of general relativity: its beginnings, its strange crossing of the desert during Einstein's lifetime while under heated criticism, and its new life from the 1960s on, when it became vital to the understanding of black holes and the observation of exotic objects, and, eventually, to the discovery of the accelerating universe. We witness Einstein's construction of his theory, as well as the work of his fascinated, discouraged, and enthusiastic colleagues--physicists, mathematicians, and astronomers. Written with flair, The Curious History of Relativity poses--and answers--the difficult questions raised by Einstein's magnificent intellectual feat.

Relativity for the Questioning Mind

Download Relativity for the Questioning Mind PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : JHU Press
ISBN 13 : 0801897599
Total Pages : 199 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (18 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Relativity for the Questioning Mind by : Daniel F. Styer

Download or read book Relativity for the Questioning Mind written by Daniel F. Styer and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2011-03 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To those of us who are not mathematicians or physicists, Einstein’s theory of relativity often seems incomprehensible, exotic, and of little real-world use. None of this is true. Daniel F. Styer’s introduction to the topic not only shows us why these beliefs are mistaken but also shines a bright light on the subject so that any curious-minded person with an understanding of algebra and geometry can both grasp and apply the theory. Styer starts off slowly and proceeds carefully, explaining the concepts undergirding relativity in language comprehensible to nonscientists yet precise and accurate enough to satisfy the most demanding professional. He demonstrates how the theory applies to various real-life situations with easy equations and simple, clear diagrams. Styer's classroom-tested method of conveying the core ideas of relativity—the relationship among and between time, space, and motion and the behavior of light—encourages questions and shows the way to finding the answers. Each of the book’s four parts builds on the sections that come before, leading the reader by turn through an overview of foundational ideas such as frames of reference, revelatory examples of time dilation and its attendant principles, an example-based exploration of relativity, and explanations of how and why gravity and spacetime are linked. By demonstrating relativity with practical applications, Styer teaches us to truly understand and appreciate its importance, beauty, and usefulness. Featuring worked and end-of-chapter problems and illustrated, nontechnical explanations of core concepts, while dotted throughout with questions and answers, puzzles, and paradoxes, Relativity for the Questioning Mind is an enjoyable-to-read, complete, concise introduction to one of the most important scientific theories yet discovered. The appendixes provide helpful hints, basic answers to the sample problems, and materials to stimulate further exploration.

The Divine Relativity

Download The Divine Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Yale University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780300028805
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (288 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Divine Relativity by : Charles Hartshorne

Download or read book The Divine Relativity written by Charles Hartshorne and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 1948-01-01 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Charles Hartshorne has set himself the task of formulating the idea of deity "to preserve perhaps even increase, its religious value, while yet avoiding the contradictions which seem inseparable from the idea of customarily defined." This is a brilliant attempt to redefine problems that have long challenged the Western world in its search for understanding both God and man. “The compact, closely reasoned book employs a skill in logic reminiscent of scholasticism at its best to refute traditional notions, scholastic and otherwise, of divine absoluteness, and to expound a conception of God which is both free of contradiction and religiously adequate. The position taken is described by Professor Hartshorne as surrelativism, or panentheism, and these terms indicate the two major emphases of the volume….He who follows its precise logic with the alertness it demands will have a clarifying and enriching experience.”—S. Paul Schiling, Journal of Bible and Religion “In what respects is God absolute and in what respects relative? Or is it meaningless to say that he is both? In a rigorously analytical study Professor Hartshorne explains why he thinks both statements are necessary….One comes from this book with new confidence in the ability of philosophy to attack religious problems and, through careful analysis, to reveal what as alone conceivable must be true.”—J.S. Bixler, Review of Religion “Hartshorne's work is a major achievement in religious thought because it strives to clear away errors that have been insuperable obstacles to religious search.”—Henry N. Wieman, The Philosophical Review “This book is not merely theoretical, as might be supposed; it has its practical application to the larger social issues of our time, including the problem of democracy.”—Jay William Hudson, Christian Register

Christianity Reformed From its Roots

Download Christianity Reformed From its Roots PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 0595472427
Total Pages : 340 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (954 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Christianity Reformed From its Roots by : Jairo Mejia

Download or read book Christianity Reformed From its Roots written by Jairo Mejia and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2008-03-24 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offering positive alternatives to open-minded believers and unbelievers alike, Christianity Reformed from Its Roots challenges the traditional beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church on God, Jesus, and the Bible. Using the text of the New Testament, theologian and philosopher Jairo Mejia challenges us to rediscover the real Jesus, a humble Peasant of Nazareth glorified by his resurrection. Mejia argues compellingly that a true concept of God is more vital today than ever before and can be understood by both agnostics and atheists-thus asserting that there is no contradiction between science and religion, but a smooth and fulfilling meshing of the two.

Explorations in Linguistic Relativity

Download Explorations in Linguistic Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Benjamins Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9027283753
Total Pages : 387 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (272 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Explorations in Linguistic Relativity by : Martin Pütz

Download or read book Explorations in Linguistic Relativity written by Martin Pütz and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2000-04-15 with total page 387 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: About a century after the year Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941) was born, his theory complex is still the object of keen interest to linguists. Rencently, scholars have argued that it was not his theory complex itself, but an over-simplified, reduced section taken out of context that has become known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that has met with so much resistance among linguists over the last few decades. Not only did Whorf present his views much more subtly than most people would believe, but he also dealt with a great number of other issues in his work. Taking Whorf’s own notion of linguistic relativity as a starting point, this volume explores the relation between language, mind and experience through its historical development, Whorf’s own writing, its misinterpretations, various theoretical and methodological issues and a closer look at a few specific issues in his work.

Conceptual Evolution of Newtonian and Relativistic Mechanics

Download Conceptual Evolution of Newtonian and Relativistic Mechanics PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9811062536
Total Pages : 122 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (11 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Conceptual Evolution of Newtonian and Relativistic Mechanics by : Amitabha Ghosh

Download or read book Conceptual Evolution of Newtonian and Relativistic Mechanics written by Amitabha Ghosh and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-10-30 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an introduction to Newtonian and relativistic mechanics. Unlike other books on the topic, which generally take a 'top-down' approach, it follows a novel system to show how the concepts of the 'science of motion' evolved through a veritable jungle of intermediate ideas and concepts. Starting with Aristotelian philosophy, the text gradually unravels how the human mind slowly progressed towards the fundamental ideas of inertia physics. The concepts that now appear so obvious to even a high school student took great intellectuals more than a millennium to clarify. The book explores the evolution of these concepts through the history of science. After a comprehensive overview of the discovery of dynamics, it explores fundamental issues of the properties of space and time and their relation with the laws of motion. It also explores the concepts of spatio-temporal locality and fields, and offers a philosophical discussion of relative motion versus absolute motion, as well as the concept of an absolute space. Furthermore, it presents Galilean transformation and the principle of relativity, inadequacy of Galilean relativity and emergence of the spatial theory of relativity with an emphasis on physical understanding, as well as the debate over relative motion versus absolute motion and Mach's principle followed by the principle of equivalence. The natural follow-on to this section is the physical foundations of general theory of relativity. Lastly, the book ends with some new issues and possibilities regarding further modifications of the laws of motion leading to the solution of a number of fundamental issues closely connected with the characteristics of the cosmos. It is a valuable resource for undergraduate students of physics, engineering, mathematics, and related disciplines. It is also suitable for interdisciplinary coursework and introductory reading outside the classroom.

It’s About Time: Elementary Mathematical Aspects of Relativity

Download It’s About Time: Elementary Mathematical Aspects of Relativity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN 13 : 1470436698
Total Pages : 403 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (74 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis It’s About Time: Elementary Mathematical Aspects of Relativity by : Roger Cooke

Download or read book It’s About Time: Elementary Mathematical Aspects of Relativity written by Roger Cooke and published by American Mathematical Soc.. This book was released on 2017-02-28 with total page 403 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book has three main goals. First, it explores a selection of topics from the early period of the theory of relativity, focusing on particular aspects that are interesting or unusual. These include the twin paradox; relativistic mechanics and its interaction with Maxwell's laws; the earliest triumphs of general relativity relating to the orbit of Mercury and the deflection of light passing near the sun; and the surprising bizarre metric of Kurt Gödel, in which time travel is possible. Second, it provides an exposition of the differential geometry needed to understand these topics on a level that is intended to be accessible to those with just two years of university-level mathematics as background. Third, it reflects on the historical development of the subject and its significance for our understanding of what reality is and how we can know about the physical universe. The book also takes note of historical prefigurations of relativity, such as Euler's 1744 result that a particle moving on a surface and subject to no tangential acceleration will move along a geodesic, and the work of Lorentz and Poincaré on space-time coordinate transformations between two observers in motion at constant relative velocity. The book is aimed at advanced undergraduate mathematics, science, and engineering majors (and, of course, at any interested person who knows a little university-level mathematics). The reader is assumed to know the rudiments of advanced calculus, a few techniques for solving differential equations, some linear algebra, and basics of set theory and groups.