An introduction to general relativity

Provides an introduction to general relativity. After a review of Cartesian tensor notation and special relativity, the concepts of Riemannian differential geometry are introduced. More emphasis is placed on an intuitive grasp of the subject and a calculation facility than on a rigorous mathematical exposition. General relativity is then presented as a relativistic theory of gravity reducing in the appropriate limits to Newtonian gravity or special relativity. The Schwarzschild solution is derived and the gravitational red-shirt, time dilation and classic tests of general relativity are discussed. There is a brief account of gravitational collapse and black holes based on the extended Schwarzschild solution. Other vacuum solutions are described, motivated by their counterpart in linearized general relativity. The book ends with chapters on cosmological solutions to the field equations.--