An Illustrated Guide to Relativity

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. Cover......Page p0001.djvu Half-title......Page p0003.djvu Title......Page p0005.djvu Copyright......Page p0006.djvu Contents......Page p0007.djvu Preface to English edition......Page p0010.djvu Preface to Japanese edition......Page p0011.djvu Part I: Kinematics......Page p0013.djvu 1 Welcome to the world of relativity......Page p0014.djvu Notes......Page p0015.djvu 2.1 Questions about motion......Page p0016.djvu 2.2 Frames of reference......Page p0017.djvu 2.3 Relativity of motion......Page p0024.djvu 2.4 The Law of Inertia......Page p0026.djvu 2.5 Inertial and non-inertial frames......Page p0030.djvu 2.6 What's so "special'' about Special Relativity?......Page p0038.djvu Notes......Page p0040.djvu 3.1 Basic questions......Page p0042.djvu 3.2 Spacetime diagrams......Page p0046.djvu 3.3 The Galilei transformation......Page p0052.djvu 3.4 Addition of velocities......Page p0066.djvu 3.5 Acceleration and Newton's Second Law......Page p0068.djvu Notes......Page p0070.djvu 4.1 The mystery of the speed of light......Page p0071.djvu 4.2 Modification to the spacetime diagram......Page p0076.djvu 4.3 The problem......Page p0078.djvu 4.4 The solution......Page p0084.djvu 4.5 Einstein's argument......Page p0092.djvu 4.6 The solution, continued......Page p0097.djvu 4.7 Conservation of spacetime volume......Page p0100.djvu 4.8 The Lorentz transformation......Page p0106.djvu 4.9 The low velocity limit of the Lorentz transformation......Page p0120.djvu 4.10 Addition of velocities......Page p0122.djvu 4.11 Dependence of inertia on speed......Page p0128.djvu Notes......Page p0130.djvu 5.1 Before and after......Page p0132.djvu 5.2 Paradox?......Page p0134.djvu 5.3 Instantaneous communication?......Page p0136.djvu 5.4 Impossibility of faster than light travel......Page p0138.djvu Notes......Page p0140.djvu 6.1 Synchronization of clocks......Page p0142.djvu 6.2 Time dilation......Page p0144.djvu 6.3 What time dilation DOES NOT mean......Page p0150.djvu 6.4 Lorentz contraction......Page p0152.djvu 6.5 What Lorentz contraction DOES NOT mean......Page p0158.djvu 6.6 Twin paradox......Page p0160.djvu 6.7 Doppler effect......Page p0166.djvu 6.7.1 Red shift......Page p0168.djvu 6.7.2 Blue shift......Page p0170.djvu 6.7.3 Red shift and the expansion of the universe......Page p0172.djvu 7 Summary of Part I......Page p0174.djvu Part II: Problems......Page p0177.djvu 8.1.1 Street lamps......Page p0178.djvu 8.1.2 Supernovae......Page p0180.djvu 8.2.1 The hare and the tortoise 1......Page p0182.djvu 8.2.2 The hare and the tortoise 2......Page p0184.djvu 8.2.3 The hare and the tortoise 3......Page p0186.djvu 8.2.4 The starship and the supernova......Page p0188.djvu 8.3.1 Tagging up in baseball 1......Page p0190.djvu 8.3.2 Tagging up in baseball 2......Page p0192.djvu 8.3.3 The offside rule in soccer......Page p0194.djvu 8.4.1 Train and tunnel......Page p0196.djvu 8.4.2 The starship and the enemy space cruiser 1......Page p0198.djvu 8.4.3 The starship and the enemy space cruiser 2......Page p0200.djvu 8.4.4 The duel of the space cruisers......Page p0202.djvu 8.4.5 Trains in a tunnel......Page p0204.djvu 8.2.1 The hare and the tortoise 1 – solution......Page p0206.djvu 8.2.4 The starship and the supernova – solution......Page p0207.djvu 8.3.3 The o.side rule in soccer – solution......Page p0208.djvu 8.4.3 The starship and the enemy space cruiser 2 – solution......Page p0209.djvu 8.4.5 Trains in a tunnel–solution......Page p0210.djvu Notes......Page p0211.djvu 9.1 Addition of velocities......Page p0212.djvu Part III: Dynamics: Relativity with a few equations......Page p0219.djvu Notes......Page p0221.djvu 11 The problem......Page p0222.djvu 12.1 The mass–momentum vector......Page p0224.djvu 12.2 The impulse vector......Page p0230.djvu 12.3 Inertial mass......Page p0232.djvu 12.4 Newton's Second Law......Page p0234.djvu 12.5 Newton’s Third Law and the conservation of mass–momentum......Page p0236.djvu Notes......Page p0240.djvu 13.1 The energy–momentum vector......Page p0242.djvu 13.2 The energy–momentum vector of a photon......Page p0248.djvu 13.3 The work–impulse vector......Page p0252.djvu 13.4 Conservation of energy--momentum......Page p0256.djvu 13.5 E=mc2......Page p0258.djvu 13.6 Common misconception about E=mc2......Page p0260.djvu Notes......Page p0261.djvu 14 Summary of Part III......Page p0263.djvu Afterword......Page p0264.djvu References......Page p0266.djvu Index......Page p0267.djvu 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