An Illustrated Guide to Relativity

Über das Produkt This unique book explains Einstein's special theory of relativity pictorially, using diagrams rather than equations. It maintains the logic and rigor necessary for physics students, yet is simple enough to be understood by non-scientists. The book also contains entertaining problems which challenge the reader's understanding of the materials covered. Kurzbeschreibung Aimed at both physics students and non-science majors, this unique book explains Einstein's special theory of relativity pictorially, using diagrams rather than equations. The diagrams guide the reader, step-by-step, from the basics of relativity to advanced topics including the addition of velocities, Lorentz contraction, time dilation, the twin paradox, Doppler shift, and Einstein's famous equation E=mc2. The distinctive figures throughout the book enable the reader to visualize the theory in a way that cannot be fully conveyed through equations alone. The illustrative explanations in this book maintain the logic and rigour necessary for physics students, yet are simple enough to be understood by non-scientists. The book also contains entertaining problems which challenge the reader's understanding of the materials covered. Presents A Step-by-step Explanation Of Einstein's Special Theory Of Relativity Through A Series Of Diagrams Rather Than Equations. Pt. I. Kinematics: Relativity Without Any Equations -- 1. Welcome To The World Of Relativity -- 2. Basics -- Questions About Motion -- Frames Of Reference -- Relativity Of Motion -- The Law Of Inertia -- Inertial And Non-inertial Frames -- What's So Special About Special Relativity? -- 3. Galilean Relativity -- Basic Questions -- Spacetime Diagrams -- The Galilei Transformation -- Addition Of Velocities -- Acceleration And Newton's Second Law -- 4. Einsteinian Relativity -- The Mystery Of The Speed Of Light -- Modification To The Spacetime Diagram -- The Problem -- The Solution -- Einstein's Argument -- The Solution, Continued -- Conservation Of Spacetime Volume -- The Lorentz Transformation -- The Low Velocity Limit Of The Lorentz Transformation -- Addition Of Velocities -- Dependence Of Inertia On Speed -- 5. Causality -- Before And After -- Paradox? -- Instantaneous Communication? -- Impossibility Of Faster Than Light Travel -- The Light-cone -- 6. Consequences -- Synchronization Of Clocks -- Time Dilation -- What Time Dilation Does Not Mean -- Lorentz Contraction -- What Lorentz Contraction Does Not Mean -- Twin Paradox -- Doppler Effect -- Red Shift -- Blue Shift -- Red Shift And The Expansion Of The Universe. Pt. Ii. Problems -- 8. Qualitative Problems -- Reading The Spacetime Diagram -- Street Lamps -- Supernovae -- Questions On Before And After -- The Hare And The Tortoise 1, 2, 3 -- The Starship And The Supernova -- Relativistic Sports -- Tagging Up In Baseball 1, 2 -- The Offside Rule In Soccer -- Lorentz Contraction -- Train And Tunnel -- The Starship And The Enemy Space Cruiser 1, 2 -- The Duel Of The Space Cruisers -- Trains In A Tunnel -- 9. Quantitative Problems -- Addition Of Velocities. Pt. Iii. Dynamics: Relativity With A Few Equations -- 10. The World's Most Famous Equation -- 11. The Problem -- 12. Newtonian Dynamics -- The Mass-momentum Vector -- The Impulse Vector -- Inertial Mass -- Newton's Second Law -- Newton's Third Law And The Conservation Of Mass-momentum -- 13. Relativistic Dynamics -- The Energy-momentum Vector -- The Energy-momentum Vector Of A Photon -- The Work-impulse Vector -- Conservation Of Energy-momentum -- E=mc2 -- Common Misconception About E=mc2 -- 14. Summary Of Pt. Iii. Tatsu Takeuchi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [254]) And Index. Unique book explaining Einstein's special theory of relativity through diagrams rather than equations, for physics students and non-science majors