I am currently a 3rd year undergraduate electronic engineering student and I am very interested in physics. I have completed a course in dynamics, calculus I, calculus II and calculus III.
I have often read articles on general relativity and in the mathematics, specifically associated with integration, I have seen a "differential element" looking object; ds^2. What is this object?
I would also appreciate it if anyone could explain what a metric in mathematics/physics is and in what topics of these subjects is it used.
I have no knowledge in general relativity or tensor calculus other than what I read and have only self studied very basic special relativity.
All answers regarding this would be greatly appreciated.