Special Relativity and How it Works

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John Wiley & Sons, Jul 21, 2008 - Science - 652 pages
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Based on his successful work "Special Relativity and Motions Faster than Light", Moses Fayngold has written a thorough presentation of the special theory of relativity. The unique feature of the textbook is its two-leveled structure helping students to master the material more effectively: the first level presents a qualitative discussion of a problem, while the second one contains its rigorous treatment. Fayngold points out the connection between fundamental principles and known phenomena. In three new chapters on 'Relativity at Work' (Electromagnetism, Optics, Quantum Mechanics), he not only shows what relativity is, but also how it works. The scope of new material extends to include a chapter on Causality and on Applied Relativity, including astrophysical and accelerator topics. Backed throughout by numerous examples and exercises.
 

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Contents

Light and Relativity
17
The Velocities Play
47
SpaceTime
65
Special Relativity and How it Works Moses Fayngold
125
Problems
185
Copyright 2008 WILEYVCH Verlag GmbH Co KGaA Weinheim
191
Relativistic Paradoxes
267
Miracles of a Spinning World
351
Relativity and Causality
497
Applied Relativity
571
A Bit of General Relativity
595
Appendix A State Function and the Continuity Equation
615
Dimensionality of Diracs Matrices
621
Appendix F Cause and Effect
627
Appendix G Permittivity and Refractive Index
637
References
643

Theory of Relativity is the Theory of Absoluteness
397
Quantum Mechanics
425
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

4-momentum 4-vector 4-velocity acceleration according accordingly Alice angle angular momentum atom axes axis boost capacitor characteristics classical components consider coordinates corresponding Coulomb's density described detector determined direction disk distance Earth effect electric field electromagnetic electron equal Equation experiment expression Figure force frequency geometrical gravitational horizontal inertial reference frame infinite initial instant interaction interval kinetic energy Lorentz contraction Lorentz factor Lorentz transformation magnetic field measured mechanics motion nonrelativistic nonzero object observed obtain optical orbit oscillations particle particle's perpendicular photon physical plane position possible potential produce proper length pulse quantum radiation reference clock relativistic mass represented respect rest energy rest frame rest mass result rotation scalar Section signal simultaneously space space-time spaceship spatial special relativity speed of light spin stationary superluminal surface tachyon tardyon tensor theory of relativity Tom's train trajectory vector velocity wave function world line zero

About the author (2008)

Moses Fayngold is Special Lecturer at the Physics Department of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he is also involved in the research activities of the Multi-Disciplinary Optical Science and Engineering Program. He has been lecturing for some 20 years on special relativity, both to non-specialized audiences in public planetariums as well as to undergraduate and graduate students.

Bibliographic information

QR code for Special Relativity and How it Works
TitleSpecial Relativity and How it Works
Physics textbook
AuthorMoses Fayngold
EditorMoses Fayngold
Editionillustrated
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons, 2008
ISBN3527406077, 9783527406074
Length652 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Science / Physics / General
Science / Physics / Relativity
  
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