Elementary Approach to Special Relativity

Elementary Approach to Special Relativity
Author: Helmut Günther
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 350
Release: 2020-05-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811531684

This book presents an alternative representation of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, which makes Special Relativity much more comprehensible. Moreover, one will come across a fundamental relationship between the Special Theory of Relativity and the mechanics of space lattice. In all previous formulations, the Einsteinian special principle of relativity, in one or the other form is used as the starting point for Special Relativity. In correspondence to this principle, one takes it as granted apriori, that all observers independent of their uniform motion to each other measure one and the same propagation velocity of a light signal. This book is thought of as a lecture for physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists and concentrates on the students of these fields. The book should reach a broad circle of interested readers from the fields of natural sciences and philosophy and provide and invigorating experience for engineers.

Very Special Relativity

Very Special Relativity
Author: Sander Bais
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2007
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780674026117

Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, first published in 1905, radically changed our understanding of the world. Familiar notions of space and time and energy were turned on their head, and our struggle with Einstein's counterintuitive explanation of these concepts was under way. The task is no easier today than it was a hundred years ago, but in this book Sander Bais has found an original and uniquely effective way to convey the fundamental ideas of Einstein's Special Theory. Bais's previous book, The Equations, was widely read and roundly praised for its clear and commonsense explanation of the math in physics. Very Special Relativity brings the same accessible approach to Einstein's theory. Using a series of easy-to-follow diagrams and employing only elementary high school geometry, Bais conducts readers through the quirks and quandaries of such fundamental concepts as simultaneity, causality, and time dilation. The diagrams also illustrate the difference between the Newtonian view, in which time was universal, and the Einsteinian, in which the speed of light is universal. Following Bais's straightforward sequence of simple, commonsense arguments, readers can tinker with the theory and its great paradoxes and, finally, arrive at a truly deep understanding of Einstein's interpretation of space and time. An intellectual journey into the heart of the Special Theory, the book offers an intimate look at the terms and ideas that define our reality.

Introduction to Special Relativity

Introduction to Special Relativity
Author: James H. Smith
Publisher: Courier Dover Publications
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2016-03-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0486808963

By the year 1900, most of physics seemed to be encompassed in the two great theories of Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. Unfortunately, there were inconsistencies between the two theories that seemed irreconcilable. Although many physicists struggled with the problem, it took the genius of Einstein to see that the inconsistencies were concerned not merely with mechanics and electromagnetism, but with our most elementary ideas of space and time. In the special theory of relativity, Einstein resolved these difficulties and profoundly altered our conception of the physical universe. Readers looking for a concise, well-written explanation of one of the most important theories in modern physics need search no further than this lucid undergraduate-level text. Replete with examples that make it especially suitable for self-study, the book assumes only a knowledge of algebra. Topics include classical relativity and the relativity postulate, time dilation, the twin paradox, momentum and energy, particles of zero mass, electric and magnetic fields and forces, and more.

The Geometry of Special Relativity

The Geometry of Special Relativity
Author: Tevian Dray
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 151
Release: 2012-07-02
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1466510471

The Geometry of Special Relativity provides an introduction to special relativity that encourages readers to see beyond the formulas to the deeper geometric structure. The text treats the geometry of hyperbolas as the key to understanding special relativity. This approach replaces the ubiquitous γ symbol of most standard treatments with the appropriate hyperbolic trigonometric functions. In most cases, this not only simplifies the appearance of the formulas, but also emphasizes their geometric content in such a way as to make them almost obvious. Furthermore, many important relations, including the famous relativistic addition formula for velocities, follow directly from the appropriate trigonometric addition formulas. The book first describes the basic physics of special relativity to set the stage for the geometric treatment that follows. It then reviews properties of ordinary two-dimensional Euclidean space, expressed in terms of the usual circular trigonometric functions, before presenting a similar treatment of two-dimensional Minkowski space, expressed in terms of hyperbolic trigonometric functions. After covering special relativity again from the geometric point of view, the text discusses standard paradoxes, applications to relativistic mechanics, the relativistic unification of electricity and magnetism, and further steps leading to Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The book also briefly describes the further steps leading to Einstein’s general theory of relativity and then explores applications of hyperbola geometry to non-Euclidean geometry and calculus, including a geometric construction of the derivatives of trigonometric functions and the exponential function.

Understanding Relativity

Understanding Relativity
Author: Leo Sartori
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 384
Release: 1996-05-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0520916247

Nonspecialists with no prior knowledge of physics and only reasonable proficiency with algebra can now understand Einstein's special theory of relativity. Effectively diagrammed and with an emphasis on logical structure, Leo Sartori's rigorous but simple presentation will guide interested readers through concepts of relative time and relative space. Sartori covers general relativity and cosmology, but focuses on Einstein's theory. He tracks its history and implications. He explores illuminating paradoxes, including the famous twin paradox, the "pole-in-the-barn" paradox, and the Loedel diagram, which is an accessible, graphic approach to relativity. Students of the history and philosophy of science will welcome this concise introduction to the central concept of modern physics.

Relativity and Common Sense

Relativity and Common Sense
Author: Hermann Bondi
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 193
Release: 1964-01-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0486240215

This radically reoriented and popular presentation of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity derives its concepts from Newtonian ideas rather than by opposing them. It demonstrates that time is relative rather than absolute, that high speeds affect the nature of time, and that acceleration affects speed, time, and mass. Very little mathematics is required, and 60 illustrations augment the text.

FUNDAMENTALS OF SPECIAL AND GENERAL RELATIVITY, Revised Edition

FUNDAMENTALS OF SPECIAL AND GENERAL RELATIVITY, Revised Edition
Author: KRORI, K. D.
Publisher: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Total Pages: 341
Release:
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9388028686

Relativity, apart from quantum mechanics, is the greatest wonder in science, unfolded single-handedly in the 20th century by Albert Einstein. The scientist developed general relativity as a logical sequel to special relativity. This comprehensive book presents explication of the conceptual evolution and mathematical derivations of the theories of special and general relativity. The book follows an Einsteinian approach while explaining the concepts and the theories of relativity. Divided into 14 chapters, the revised edition of the book covers elementary concepts of Special relativity, as well as the advanced studies on General relativity. The recent theories like Kerr geometry, Sagnac effect, Vaidya geometry, Raychaudhuri equation and Gravitation physics vis-à-vis Quantum physics are presented in easy-to-understand language and simple style. In addition to it, the book gives an in-depth analysis on the applications of advanced theories like Vaidya-Krori-Barua solution from author’s own research works. Apart from that, the book also discusses some of the isotropic and anisotropic cosmological models, in detail. The salient topics discussed in the revised edition of the book are extrinsic curvature, detection of gravitational waves, early universe, evolution of a dead star into a white dwarf or a neutron star or a black hole, dark matter and dark energy. This book is intended for the undergraduate and postgraduate students of Physics and Mathematics. KEY FEATURES • Step-by-step derivation of equations • Easy demagogic approach • Review questions to widen the analytical understanding of the students

Special Relativity

Special Relativity
Author: Sadri Hassani
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 382
Release: 2017-05-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128104244

Special Relativity: A Heuristic Approach provides a qualitative exposition of relativity theory on the basis of the constancy of the speed of light. Using Einstein's signal velocity as the defining idea for the notion of simultaneity and the fact that the speed of light is independent of the motion of its source, chapters delve into a qualitative exposition of the relativity of time and length, discuss the time dilation formula using the standard light clock, explore the Minkowski four-dimensional space-time distance based on how the time dilation formula is derived, and define the components of the two-dimensional space-time velocity, amongst other topics. - Provides a heuristic derivation of the Minkowski distance formula - Uses relativistic photography to see Lorentz transformation and vector algebra manipulation in action - Includes worked examples to elucidate and complement the topic being discussed - Written in a very accessible style

The Special Theory of Relativity

The Special Theory of Relativity
Author: Helmut Günther
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 547
Release: 2019-09-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811377839

This book discusses in detail the special theory of relativity without including all the instruments of theoretical physics, enabling readers who are not budding theoretical physicists to develop competence in the field. An arbitrary but fixed inertial system is chosen, where the known velocity of light is measured. With respect to this system a moving clock loses time and a moving length contracts. The book then presents a definition of simultaneity for the other inertial frames without using the velocity of light. To do so it employs the known reciprocity principle, which in this context serves to provide a definition of simultaneity in the other inertial frames. As a consequence, the Lorentz transformation is deduced and the universal constancy of light is established. With the help of a lattice model of the special theory of relativity the book provides a deeper understanding of the relativistic effects. Further, it discusses the key STR experiments and formulates and solves 54 problems in detail.

The Geometry of Spacetime

The Geometry of Spacetime
Author: James J. Callahan
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2013-03-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1475767366

Hermann Minkowski recast special relativity as essentially a new geometric structure for spacetime. This book looks at the ideas of both Einstein and Minkowski, and then introduces the theory of frames, surfaces and intrinsic geometry, developing the main implications of Einstein's general relativity theory.