Special relativity is one of the high points of the undergraduate mathematical physics syllabus. Nick Woodhouse writes for those approaching the subject with a background in mathematics: he aims to build on their familiarity with the foundational material and the way of thinking taught in first-year mathematics courses, but not to assume an unreasonable degree of prior knowledge of traditional areas of physical applied mathematics, particularly electromagnetic theory. His book provides mathematics students with the tools they need to understand the physical basis of special relativity and...

These lectures were given to third-year mathematics undergraduates at Oxford in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The notes were produced originally in mimeographed form by the Mathematical Institute at Oxford in 1977, and in a revised edition in 1980. I have made further minor changes and corrections in this edition, and added some examples and exercises from problem sheets given out in lectures by Roger Penrose and Paul Tod. Special relativity provides one of the more interesting pedagogical challenges. This particular course was given to students with a strong mathematical background who...