Introduction to the Relativity Principle

ISBN-13: 9780471998952 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 250 str.

Gabriel Barton; G. Barton

Opis

Relativity is one of the most fascinating core parts of the physics curriculum. Written with today's physics students in mind, this text provides a concise treatment of relativity as a natural part of dynamics. It presents theory and concepts accompanied by numerous examples and applications, all drawn from modern physics. Using elementary mathematics to aid comprehension, it contains modern experimental tests and applications, and provides worked examples and problems, along with hints for solving them.

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Spis treści

Preliminaries.

The Relativity Principle, and its Applications in Newtonian Physics.

Einstein′s Relativity Principle.

KINEMATICS.

Lorentz Transformations.

Invariant Intervals and Space–Time Diagrams.

Proper Time and Nonuniform Motion.

Four–Vectors.

Four–Acceleration.

MOMENTUM AND ENERGY.

Particle Dynamics: Momentum and Energy.

Natural Units, and the Prevalence of MeV.

Systems of Particles: Four–Momentum Conservation using Invariants.

WAVES.

Plane Waves.

Light Waves in Empty Space: Aberration and Doppler Effect.

Appendices.

Problems.

Index.

Blurb

Relativity, almost a hundred years old in its classic Einsteinian form, is one of the most fascinating threads running through science from Galileo′s day to ours. This book, based on a short course at the University of Sussex, presents relativity as a natural outgrowth of dynamics: the concepts are introduced through careful physical reasoning and simple mathematics, and are then applied over a wide range, well meshed with current undergraduate syllabuses. Features
∗ An accessible introduction through pre–Einstein relativity
∗ Scrupulously assessed experimental evidence (mostly modern)
∗ Elementary mathematics, aimed at a working acquaintance with kinematics, energy and momentum conservation, and the propagation of plane waves
∗ The book includes many carefully chosen examples and student problems
Introduction to the Relativity Principle is suitable for undergraduates studying physics, also as a preliminary to more formal courses designed for mathematicians.