The wonderful world of relativity : a precise guide for the general reader / Andrew M. Steane.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Steane, Andrew M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Relativity (Physics)--Popular works.

Relativity (Physics).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (viii, 240 p. ) ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Summary:

This title provides a lively and visual introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity. It brings to life the excitement of this fascinating subject, for an audience including young people at school and the general public with an interest in modern physics.

This book provides a lively and visual introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity. It brings to life the excitement of this fascinating subject, for an audience including young people at school (post-16) and the general public with an interest in modern physics. It is different from existing books in that is uses many diagrams and simple equations (the reader is carefully guided through them), and richly rewards the reader with beautiful mathematical and physical insights. Itbegins by introducing spacetime, in the familiar context of low velocities. It then shows how Einstein's theory forces us to understand time in a new way. Paradoxes and puzzles are introduced and resolved, and the book culminates in a thorough unfolding of the relation between mass and energy. Thebook draws on the author's many years of experience in writing articles and reviews for a non-expert readership, and presenting physics to school pupils.

Contents:

Cover

Contents

1. Introduction

2. A preview: the Laws of Motion

2.1 Relative and absolute

2.2 The laws of motion

Part 1 Introducing space and time

3. Something odd is happening all around us

3.1 A shower of muons

3.2 The light from the stars

3.3 The Maxwell equations

3.4 Conclusion

4. Spacetime

4.1 Time

4.2 Spacetime diagrams

4.3 Tick tock

5. Reference frames and coordinates

5.1 Informal introduction

5.2 Frames of reference

5.3 Coordinates on spacetime diagrams

5.4 Sonar and the Doppler effect for sound

5.5 Conclusion

Part 2 Special Relativity

6. The basic principles of Special Relativity

6.1 The Postulates of Relativity

6.2 Simultaneity

6.3 Time dilation

6.4 Space contraction

6.5 Conclusion so far

7. Foundations re-explored

7.1 Golden nugget 1: time dilation

7.2 Golden nugget 2: relativistic Doppler effect

7.3 Golden nugget 3: addition of velocities

8. Navigating in spacetime

8.1 The pole and barn paradox

8.2 The bug and the rivet

8.3 Calibrating spacetime diagrams

8.4 The twin paradox

8.5 Voyaging in spacetime: inertial motion and proper time

8.6 The glider and the hole

8.7 The birthday party

9. Faster than light

9.1 Faster than light list

9.2 Light speed is information speed

9.3 Equivalence of two versions of light speed Postulate

10. Introduction to momentum and energy

10.1 Einstein's box

10.2 Momentum

10.3 Energy

10.4 The photon rocket

11. Conclusion

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-100485-5

OCLC:

958568369