Are we there yet, Mr Einstein?: Special Relativity - Couverture souple

Dzhus, S

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1981082263 ISBN 13 : 9781981082261

Editeur : Independently published, 2018

Synopsis

Einstein entitles his famous 1905 paper: ‘On the electrodynamics of moving bodies’. He introduces his work with the problem that electromagnetism used in the framework of Newtonian classical mechanics and absolute motion, lead to the true symmetries of the theory being hidden. As a consequence, the theory shows asymmetries which are not ‘inherent to the phenomena’. To reinstate the true symmetry of the laws of nature in the theory, he assumes two postulates: the Principle of Relativity of Galileo and the independence of the velocity of light in empty space from the state of motion of the emitting body – two statements which have held true against any attempt to disprove them by any experiment performed to the present day and ‘only apparently irreconcilable’ with each other. Einstein then embarks in a radical review of the ideas at the basis of kinematics (the study of motion of objects without reference to its causes), which will lead to a new way of transforming the coordinates of an event from one inertial frame of reference to another. In classical mechanics, the motion of a particle is defined as a function of time but Einstein’s new ideas define a temporal coordinate, which is not itself absolute but depends, in turn, on motion! Though the time coordinate is fully incorporated in the 4-D spacetime grid of his theory, it remains well distinct from the usual 3-D real space-coordinates, as it is imaginary (in the mathematical sense). This detail is important as it ensures the respect of the principle of causality in the theory. As a result of this new approach, two invariants emerge from Einstein’s theory: the speed of light and the distance between two events when defined in spacetime. At the end of his paper, in the section dedicated to electrodynamics, (the study of forces and torques and their effect on motion) Einstein applies his theory to the ‘Dynamics of the Slowly Accelerated Electron’ and demonstrates the well-known, by now ubiquitous, equation E=mc2. This book revisits his ideas following the requirements of an A level course, with the intent to broaden and extend these ideas beyond the curriculum.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2018
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1981082263
• ISBN 13: 9781981082261
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 147
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg