Special Theory of Relativity: The Commonwealth and International Library: Selected Readings in PhysicsSpecial Theory of Relativity provides a discussion of the special theory of relativity. Special relativity is not, like other scientific theories, a statement about the matter that forms the physical world, but has the form of a condition that the explicit physical theories must satisfy. It is thus a form of description, playing to some extent the role of the grammar of physics, prescribing which combinations of theoretical statements are admissible as descriptions of the physical world. Thus, to describe it, one needs also to describe those specific theories and to say how much they are limited by it. The book is organized into two parts. The first part traces the historical development of the special theory of relativity, including Einstein's contribution, the elementary consequences of the Lorentz transformation, and applications in quantum theory. The second part contains extracts from various publications covering topics such as relative motion of the earth, and the luminiferous and dynamics of the electron. |
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aether angle angular momentum applied assume attracting body axis characteristic values characteristic vectors charge clocks coefficient components condition consider constant corresponding cylinder defined denote determined Dirac direction displacement distant event earth elastic electric electrodynamics electromagnetic electromotive force electron energy equations of motion experiment expression Extract follows formula fringes given gives Hamiltonian Hence hypothesis induction infinitesimal operators instant integral invariant irreducible K-STR linear Lorentz group Lorentz transformation magnetic field matrix Maxwell's Maxwell's equations means measured medium moving system Newton’s null vector observer obtain optics orthogonal P. A. M. Dirac particle phenomena Phys position present book principle principle of relativity proton quantities quantum mechanics rest result rotation scalar Section space space-like special relativity sphere stationary system system of co-ordinates theory tion trans translation tube unitary representations variables variational velocity of light wave equation wave function zero