# What pre-requisite knowledge is required to understand the Alcubierre equation?

Similar to here. I have decided to start the long journey to understanding higher levels of physics. My first goal is understanding the Alcubierre equation at a mathematical level.

I have a CS degree, but that was heavy with the computational mathematics and light on everything else, and for instance I have never done anything with the tanh() function mentioned in the Alcubierre Paper.

I should also note that my current plan was to do something along these lines (all by myself via the internet or the books I kept from college):

calculus -> newtonian mechanics -> electro-magnetism -> special relativity -> general relativity


This hasn't been updated with the content from the prereq's for understanding relativity post yet.

What other than relativity do I need to learn, to understand the Alcubierre equations?

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I think you should try to read the article and check what topics you need for understanding it. – Anuar Dec 2 '12 at 16:50