From Pythagoras to Einstein / by K. O. Friedrichs.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Friedrichs, K. O.

Series:

Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library ; no. 16

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pythagorean theorem.

Dynamics.

Relativity (Physics).

Vector analysis.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vii, 88 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Mathematical Association of America, 1965.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The main thread running through this somewhat unorthodox approach to the special theory of relativity is the Pythagorean theorem. It appears in its most elementary geometric form in the very beginning of this monograph. Then it reappears in algebraic garb, it is further modified and finally reinterpreted to play the role of one of the main characters in the special theory of relativity. The first four chapters are easily accessible to high school sophomores or juniors. The remaining part of the book may be a little difficult for students who never studied physics, although the author actually employs only the notion of impact and presupposes no background in physics. With the aid of the vector geometry introduced earlier, he leads the reader from the impact conservation laws to the famous formula e=mc^2.

Contents:

The Pythagorean theorem

Signed numbers

Vectors

Components and coordinates. Spaces of higher dimension

Momentum and energy. Elastic impact

Inelastic impact

Space and time measurement in the special theory of relativity

Momentum and energy in the special theory of relativity. Impact.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-88385-931-9

OCLC:

929120327