The Theory of Relativity

by R.K. Pathria

This graduate-level text extends beyond mathematical derivations to elaborate on physical ideas underlying relativity, with a historical introduction and examinations of special theory (space-time transformations, four-dimensional formulations, mechanics, optics, electromagnetism), and general theory (space-time continuum, gravitation, experiments, and relativistic cosmology). Contents: Historical Introduction. Part 1 — The Special Theory: 1. Space-Time Transformations. 2. Four-Dimensional Formulation of the Theory. 3. Mechanics. 4. Optics. 5. Electromagnetism. Part 2 — The General Theory: 6. General Transformations in the Space-Time Continuum. 7. Geometrization of Gravitation. 8. Experimental Tests of Einstein's Theory of Gravitation. 9. Relativistic Cosmology. Appendices — Differential Geometry of a Curved Surface. 1974 edition.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Professor Raj Kumar Pathria is a theoretical physicist and an Urdu poet. Pathria is known for his work on Superfluidity in liquid helium, Lorentz transformation of thermodynamic quantities, a rigorous evaluation of lattice sums and finite-size effects in phase transitions.

Pathria is also the author of a well-known graduate text book on Statistical Mechanics, which has recently appeared in its third edition. He also wrote a book on Relativity that has been published in a Dover edition.