Synopses & Reviews
This textbook offers a concise but thorough treatment of the theory of special relativity for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Assuming no prior knowledge of relativity, the author elaborates the underlying logic and describes the subtleties and apparent paradoxes. The text also contains a large number of problems which cover the basic modes of thinking and calculating in special relativity. Emphasis is placed on developing the student's intuitive understanding of space-time geometry along with the necessary methods of four-tensor calculus, though three-dimensional methods are also described. This updated new edition contains additional examples and problems, and the chapter on relativistic mechanics of continua has been substantially rewritten.
Review
"...thoughtfully integrates theorists who argue that impartiality must be universal with those who suggest that impartiality is not a desirable goal."--Choice
Synopsis
This book elaborates the underlying logic, dwells on the subtleties and apparent paradoxes, and also contains a large collection of problems which should just about cover all the basic modes of thinking and calculating in special relativity.
Table of Contents
PART I: The Foundations of Special Relativity 1. Introduction
2. Schematic Account of the Michelson-Morley Experiment
3. Inertial frames in Special Relativity
4. Einstein's Two Axioms for Special Relativity
5. Coordinates. The Relativity of Time
6. Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation
7. Properties of the Lorentz Transformation
PART II: Relativistic Kinematics
8. Introduction
9. Length Contraction
10. The Length Contraction Paradox
11. Time Dilation
12. The Twin Paradox
13. Velocity Transformation
14. Transformation of Linear Acceleration
PART III: Relativistic Optics
15. Introduction
16. The Drag Effect
17. The Doppler Effect
18. Aberration and the Visual Appearance of Moving Objects
PART IV: Spacetime
19. Introduction
20. Spacetime and Four-Tensors
21. The Minkowski Map of Spacetime
22. Rules for the Manipulation of Four-Tensors
23. Four-Velocity and Four-Acceleration
24. Wave Motion
PART V: Relativistic Particle Mechanics
25. Introduction
26. The Conservation of Four-Momentum
27. The Equivalence of Mass and Energy
28. Some Four-Momentum Identities
29. Relativistic Billiards
30. The Center of Momentum Frame
31. Threshold Energies
32. De Broglie Waves
33. Photons
34. The Angular Momentum Four-Tensor
35. Three-Force and Four-Force
36. Relativistic Analytic Mechanics
PART VI: Relativity and Electromagnetism
37. Introduction
38. The Formal Structure of Maxwell's Theory
39. Transformation of e and b. The dual field.
40. Potential and Field of an Arbitrarily Moving Charge
41. Field of a Uniformly Moving Charge
42. The Electromagnetic Energy Tensor
43. Electromagnetic Waves
PART VII: Relativistic Mechanics of Continua
44. Introduction
45. Preliminaries. External and Internal Forces
46. The Augmented Momentum and Mass Densities
47. The Equations of Continuity and of Motion
48. The Mechanical Energy Tensor
49. Perfect Fluids and Incoherent Fluids
50. Integral Conservation Laws