Relativity Visualized by Lewis Carroll Epstein (PDF)

Description

Perfect for those interested in physics but who are not physicists or mathematicians, this book makes relativity so simple that a child can understand it. By replacing equations with diagrams, the book allows non-specialist readers to fully understand the concepts in relativity without the slow, painful progress so often associated with a complicated scientific subject. It allows readers not only to know how relativity works, but also to intuitively understand it.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐In my opinion the theories of relativity are among the most interesting intellectual achievements in human history. They revolutionized physics and changed the way we think about physics, space, time, mass, energy, electromagnetism and essentially everything in nature. Despite that fact, the theories of relativity are deterministic and possible to visualize, and unlike Quantum Physics they are not statistical in nature and they don’t have a big issue with interpretation.I’ve been interested in this topic ever since I came across it as a high school student. Therefore I did not learn a lot about relativity from this book. I was more interested in the approach to explaining it, and I think his approach is a very good one.I’ve found that an explanation for relativity that lacks rigor and quantitative reasoning creates misconceptions. The reader may end up thinking he understands it when he doesn’t. I’ve also found that books that focus on deriving complex equations were not only unattainable to the layman but sometimes left the mathematically inclined student with a poor understanding of relativity as well. Lewis Carroll Epstein’s book “Relativity Visualized” seems to succeed in making relativity accessible to both the layman and those who are mathematically inclined. He explains the special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity using graphs, visual constructs, and logical puzzles that the reader solves for himself. In a sense he allows the reader to develop the theories of relativity on his own. He avoids equations and formulas but the reader will still discover more exactly what is going on.One thing that really impressed me with this book is its special focus on the difference between what you see/experience and what you measure. As an example, take two lights that flash at the same time (in your reference frame). They could appear to flash at different times if the distance between them is large. So you will see them flash at different times. However, if you time the light flashes and take the distance into account you can measure that they flashed at the same time (non-relativistic situation). In relativity the differences you measure between frames do not only arise from the distance the light travels or from Doppler Effects but also from the relativity of time and space as well, and Epstein explains the details without confusing the reader. He focuses a lot on simultaneity/non-simultaneity right from the very beginning, and in my opinion understanding relativistic non-simultaneity is crucial to understanding what is going on.The book also discusses the General Theory of Relativity. The General Theory of Relativity is often seen as completely off limits to the layman. It is typically explained using complex tensor calculus, differential geometry, and topology, or alternatively in a non-technical vague way that leaves the reader clueless. General Relativity was born out of an enigma. Special relativity had shown that energy and mass are the same things, so light has mass. A light beam traveling through a gravitational field must thus bend. However, that means that the side of the light closer to the mass will travel a shorter distance. From known properties of light (always a transverse/orthogonal wave) this means that the side of the light beam closer to the mass moves slower than the outer rim which would violate the constancy of the speed of light in vacuum. To solve this enigma Einstein had to introduce a time warp in gravitational fields. Later he discovered that this time warp would cause objects to fall towards the masses that caused the time warp and the practical effect of this turned out to be essentially identical to Newton’s theory of gravity and thus the mysterious force of gravity could be removed. Einstein also discovered that there is a warp effect on space which is negligible unless the speed of the objects is large (similar to magnetism for electric forces). The book helps you visualize all of this without using complex math.Lewis Carroll Epstein’s book contains unique pedagogic approaches, novel geometric representations of relativity, as well as engaging questions and answers. For this reason the book is fiercely protected by copy right law. On the negative side, his writing style is somewhat rigid and old fashioned, the drawings and the graphics are sometimes of low quality, and the book might be quite a bit of work for the layman reader, so it requires that you are really interested. However, overall this is a very rigorous, detailed, correct, and yet fairly entertaining book that I highly recommend.

⭐In the early 80s, for personal edification, I sought to gain a basic understand of relativity. I went through seven other books on the topic that I found at my public library and I could not make any real progress. At the time, it seemed that the other authors were telling me how smart they were and how I could never really understand this theory. Once I read Relativity Visualized, the amazing principles of relativity immersed my imagination and expanded my thought life. Epstein has a real gift for explaining difficult concepts and making them come alive in unique and useful ways. It provided the basic keys of understanding that has allowed me to understand those other books. I have continued my search for greater understanding ever since, but I will never forget the joy and excitement of first reading this book, which finally allowed me to stick my neck under the mystical tent of Einstein’s wonders.

⭐In attempting to learn Einstein’s theories of relativity (both special and general) I’ve accumulated pounds of books and DVD’s, and no kidding, this is the best one yet. Not only is this book better than all of the others combined, but it’s really all you need. As the title implies, the author uses primarily a visual approach to explain these theories.Most of the book deals with special relativity (linear-moving frames of reference with no forces at all acting on them), and I already had a pretty good handle on that. My motive in buying this book was that it also deals with general relativity (gravity) and none – absolutely none – of my other books or DVD’s covered that in any detail whatsoever.Now, just because this book seems (to me) to be complete and understandable, this does not mean it’s an easy ride – Mr. Epstein is excellent trail guide, but the trail is rough. There are equations, which means you’ll have to remember your high school algebra-I, but the equations are not all that bad. If my 66-year-old brain, over a half-century removed from high school, can make sense of these equations, I’m sure you’ll be fine.More importantly, many things that you have found intuitive and common-sense to this point are going to be significantly challenged as speeds become relativistic (i.e. a significant percentage of the speed of light). Don’t be surprised if you have to re-read chapters until you get the picture. Relativity is not intuitive and takes a lot of getting used to, but it’s achievable.In the arena of general relativity, this book really shines. Explaining general relativity on a two-dimensional page is next to impossible, so the author gives you some home experiments (paper, pen and scissors) where you can demonstrate the principles to yourself. The author’s explanations of this not-at-all-easy subject borders on genius. On your first read, you may bypass the experiments, but I’ll bet you get to them eventually. These experiments and explations are so clear, a high school senior could use them to build a legitimate science-fair project.As I went through the book, I checked to see if a) the author covered all the ground that my other media did and if b) he added to my knowledge. The author passed with flying colors for special relativity, and for general relativity this author provided almost ALL my knowledge.But there’s bad news. This book is no longer in print, and as of the time of this posting, not an awful lot of used copies are being offered. If you want to learn the concepts of relativity, or know someone who does, I’d get a copy fast, because I don’t think many owners of this book are going to be parting with it. In my case, this book will become part of my estate.

⭐My cousin gave me a copy of this like 30 years ago. It was so memorable and fantastic that when I couldn’t find my copy to give to my daughter, I bought a new one! Absolutely the best, most intuitive book on the subject (and I’ve read a LOT) – even for those with limited physics or no mathematical background.

⭐This is a fantastic book to help you visualise four-dimensional space-time and get your head around relativity, both special and general.

⭐This book effectively brings the complex and unintuitive concepts of Special and General Relativity to a level that the masses can grasp. Excellent read for anyone wanting a largely math-less introduction to the seemingly crazy (but true) ideas of Einstein. I loved this book.

⭐Stato del libro conforme a quanto descritto. Opera interessante per la sua natura eterodossa nell’ambito dell’insegnamento elementare della relatività speciale.

⭐Non ho mai trovato spiegata la relatività a chi non è avvezzo alle formule in modo così geniale.

⭐Great book but don’t order it here, I had to wait about 3 weeks longer than the estimated arrival date and when it arrived I also had to pay customs an additional 20€.

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