First Steps in Space-Time

A Brief Introduction to Special Relativity

Ed Macaulay

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Paperback

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English

CRC Press
11 June 2025

Series: Discovering Physics

First Steps in Space-Time: A Brief Introduction to Special Relativity provides an accessible, authentic, and readable introduction to the theory of special relativity. The academic level of the book builds only on skills that would be covered in a GCSE maths course, such as Pythagoras's theorem, and rearranging equations, and no prior knowledge of relativity (or physics) is assumed. The key benefits of the work are to bridge the gap between popular science books and university textbooks, and make the theory of relativity as broadly accessible as physically possible. The book allows the reader to discover and appreciate that relativity is not an intractable esoteric curiosity, but a beautiful and succinct theory that profoundly shaped the course of history and our interpretation of our day-to-day lives.

This book is ideal for readers with an interest in physics and a little working knowledge of maths, who have studied mathematics at about A-level standard: professionals such as accountants, bankers, doctors, economists, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists and teachers, or high school students who might be considering studying physics or a related subject at university.

By: Ed Macaulay
Imprint: CRC Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032908380
ISBN 10: 1032908386
Series: Discovering Physics
Pages: 88
Publication Date: 11 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Ed Macaulay is a lecturer in Physics and Data Science at Queen Mary University of London, where he's keen on making physics more accessible. His research background is in cosmology and dark energy, and he has interests in outreach and Physics Education Research. He is originally from London, and he has an MSci in Physics from Imperial College, London, and a DPhil in Astrophysics from the University of Oxford.

Reviews for First Steps in Space-Time: A Brief Introduction to Special Relativity

This is a lovely book on one of the most profound theories of the modern physics. Ed Macaulay has taken an incredibly gentle approach to introducing the main concepts, using the bare essential of mathematics to construct the scaffolding of, what often seems like, bizarre phenomena which arise if one embraces the Special Theory of Relativity. The pacing is just right, one idea at a time, suitably backed up by a calculation and with the consequences clearly laid out. He takes pleasure in writing it clearly and concisely but is also inspired by the narrative style of another era making it a real pleasure to read. - Professor Pedro Ferreira, University of Oxford, May 2025