Introduction to Special Relativity by Smith, James Hammond -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Copyright Page Contents Preface Introduction 1. Classical Relativity and the Relativity Postulate

1-1. The Postulate of Relativity 1-2. Frames of Reference 1-3. Inertial Frames of Reference 1-4. The Conservation of Momentum in Different Frames of Reference 1-5. Absolute Velocity vs. Relative Velocity 1-6. The Relative Speed of Two Observers as Measured by Each of Them Exercises

2. Light Waves and the Second Postulate

2-1. Waves 2-2. Periodic Waves: Frequency and Wavelength 2-3. The Doppler Effect 2-4. Light is a Wave 2-5. Aberration of Light 2-6. Motion Through Space 2-7. The Michelson-Morley Experiment 2-8. The Second Postulate 2-9. Experimental Proof of the Second Postulate 2-10. A Corollary to the Second Postulate Exercises

3. Time Dilation: Proper and Improper time

3-1. Gedanken Experiments 3-2. Measurement of Proper and Improper Time Intervals 3-3. Do Moving Clocks Run Slow? 3-4. Is the Clock Mechanism Affected by Motion? 3-5. Real Experiments in Time Dilation Exercises

4. Length Measurements

4-1. Length Contraction 4-2. The Second Arm of the Michelson-Morley Apparatus 4-3. A Third Length Measurement 4-4. The Length Paradox and Simultaneity 4-5. Lengths Perpendicular to Their Motion Do Not Change 4-6. A Summary Exercises

5. Velocity and Acceleration

5-1. Adding Velocities 5-2. Emission of Light by Moving Objects 5-3. Acceleration 5-4. The Ultimate Speed 5-5. The Doppler Effect Exercises

6. The Twin Paradox

6-1. Statement of the Paradox 6-2. The Solution in Terms of Time Dilation 6-3. The Solution in Terms of “Heartbeats” 6-4. Solution in Terms of “Heartbeats” Counted by the Outbound Pilot 6-5. Discussion and Experiment Exercises

7. The Lorentz Transformation and Notation

7-1. The Lorentz Transformation 7-2. A Matter of Notation 7-3. Use of the Lorentz Transformation Exercises

8. Proper- or Four-Velocity

8-1. Two Kinds of Velocity 8-2. Addition of Velocities Formula for Proper Velocity 8-3. An Example Exercises

9. Momentum and Energy

9-1. Non-Relativistic Conservation of Momentum 9-2. How do we Choose a Relativistic Expression for Momentum? 9-3. Relativistic Momentum Conservation 9-4. A New Conservation Law—Energy 9-5. An Example 9-6. Momentum and Energy: A Summary 9-7. Relativistic Momentum and Energy—Experiment 9-8. An Example: A Symmetrical, Elastic Collision between Equal Mass Particles 9-9. An Example: A Head-on Elastic Collision 9-10. Energy and Momentum in Two Different Frames of Reference Exercises

10. Particles of Zero Mass

10-1. Light Flashes as “Particles” 10-2. Photons 10-3. Other Particles of Zero Mass 10-4. An Example: An Atom Absorbs Light 10-5. An Example: Decay of the K+ Meson Exercises

11. Center-of-Mass and Particle Systems

11-1. When is an Object at Rest? 11-2. Total Momentum and Energy of a Group of Particles 11-3. The Center-of-Mass Frame of Reference 11-4. Importance of Energy in the Center-of-Mass 11-5. An Example: A Collision between Equal Mass Particles Exercises

12. Four-Vectors

12-1. The Energy-Momentum Four-Vector 12-2. The Lorentz Transformation as a Rotation in Four Dimensions 12-3. Ordinary Scalars 12-4. Four-Scalar or Lorentz Invariants 12-5. Four-Vectors 12-6. An Example: Elastic Scattering of Equal Mass Particles Exercises

13. Electric and Magnetic Fields and Forces

13-1. Electric and Magnetic Fields between Plane Sheets of Charge 13-2. Moving Condensers 13-3. The Field of a Moving Point Charge 13-4. Gauss’s Law for a Moving Charge 13-5. Electrical Forces 13-6. Relativistic Force 13-7. Centripetal Force and Magnetic Deflection Exercises

Appendix A. Approximate Calculations in Relativity Appendix B. A Summary of Relativistic Formulas Appendix C. A Table of Particles Index