Phys 16 mechanics and special relativity harvard studocu. To demonstrate that time dilation is essential, we can consider the thought experiment of the light clock. This latter theory deals with the extension of the special theory to the case of the law of gravitation. In the rst part we discuss special relativity, focusing on the reexamination of the structure of time and space. We have already had occasion to note that maxwells trick impliedtacitly but inevitablythe abandonment of galilean relativity. Special relativity includes only the special case hence the name where the motion is uniform. General relativity generalises special relativity and newtons law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time, or spacetime. History is a part of all sciencei will mention some of the relevant events in the development of special relativity but there is no attempt to present the material in a historical way.
We will let u velocity of sound waves, v recession velocity of the source, t s the period of the wave at the source, t o the period of the wave as observed. The course will start with a selfcontained introduction to special relativity and then proceed to the more general setting of lorentzian manifolds. Special relativity is restricted to uniformly moving unaccelerated observers. In his special theory of relativity he replaced them by the new concept of spacetime. The full set of lecture notes come in around 160 pages and can be downloaded here. Later, einstein was able to further develop this theory, leading to what is known as the general theory of relativity. It is perhaps a little unfortunate that the word relativity immediately conjures up thoughts about the work of einstein. Cresser, department of physics, macquarie university. Free relativity books download ebooks online textbooks. Sep 25, 2014 in 1905, while only twentysix years old, albert einstein published on the electrodynamics of moving bodies and effectively extended classical laws of relativity to all laws of physics, even.
It is the set of linear transformations, x0 x4 1 l x 1. As i could understand you took the potential energy of. Maxwells theory, as well as the galilean and lorentz transformations are also discussed. In later lectures, we will consider general relativity, which generalizes these principles to accelerated frames and turns out to be our best current theory of gravity. In the first lecture of the course professor susskind introduces the original principle of relativity also known as galilean invariance and discusses inertial reference frames and simultaneity. Special relativity is the theory claiming that space and time exhibit a.
Shiva prasad start course visit official site course description. Albert einstein 1952 it will seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Documents and settingsphilip harrismy documentsteaching. Individual chapters and problem sheets are available below. The idea that a principle of relativity applies to the properties of the physical. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of pages and is available in paperback format. We have seen how this development came about it was born of maxwells desire to preserve charge conservation, and can readily appreciate its revolutionary signi. Lecture notes on special relativity department of physics. Lecture notes on special relativity macquarie university.
Time and space are two separate spaces and the movement in one space. In special relativity, the transformation group is what one could call the \velocity transformations, or lorentz transformations. The main characters of this science, non fiction story are. This is the first of a series of lectures on relativity. The problem with light maxwells equations in free space are and. Much of the material is at a level suitable for high school students who have had advanced placement in physics and. Pdf these are the lecture notes of an introductory course on special and general relativity given in 20. Background history, the lorentz transformations, spacetime, dynamics and kinematics, fourvectors, relativity and electromagnetism. These lecture notes on general relativity intend to give an introduction to all aspects of einsteins theory. Notes from professor leonard susskind video lectures publicly available on youtube. Lecture notes on special relativity download ebook pdf.
This file is the special relativity lecture of the wikiversity. In 1905, while only twentysix years old, albert einstein published on the electrodynamics of moving bodies and effectively extended classical laws of relativity to all laws of physics, even. In albert einsteins original pedagogical treatment, it is based on two postulates. In 1915 einstein published an additional theory, called the general theory of relativity. In this lecture and the next, we will go over some of the principles and applications of the special theory. Lecture notes 1 the doppler effect and special relativity. The lecture then moves to general relativity and how it encompasses newtons laws of gravity. Special relativity and electrodynamics spring, 2012 in 1905, while only twentysix years old, albert einstein published on the electrodynamics of moving bodies and effectively extended classical laws of relativity to all laws of physics, even electrodynamics. This course introduces the basic ideas and equations of einsteins special theory of relativity.
In the fall of 2006 i had been asked by several students if i knew a good book to read about tensors. This is an introductory course on newtonian mechanics and special relativity given to first year undergraduates. General relativity fall, 2012 the theoretical minimum. Chapter 24, section 241 common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. Consider a clock that, in its rest frame, consists of two stationary. This is a half a semester 20 lecture course on special theory of relativity, which revolutionized our concept of physics in the last century by unifying concept of space and time, electricity and magnetism and mass and energy.
Mechanics and special relativity phys 16 university. Relativity and unveil the fascinating properties of black holes, one of the most celebrated predictions of mathematical physics. February 14, 2008 the views of space and time which i wish to lay before you have sprung from the soil of experimental physics, and therein lies their strength. The book offers a logical development of special relativity from einsteins principle of relativity alone. Apr 26, 2012 in 1905, while only twentysix years old, albert einstein published on the electrodynamics of moving bodies and effectively extended classical laws of relativity to all laws of physics, even. Spacetime diagrams, spacetime, geometry introducing spacetime classically we have an absolute time, which can be viewed as a onedimensional euclidean space, r, plus an absolute threedimensional space, r3. It is in pdf format for convenient viewing as a fullscreen, structured presentation in a classroom. Lecture notes on general relativity matthiasblau albert einstein center for fundamental physics.
First discussion of minkowski diagrams, world lines. A common confusion for students of special relativity is between that which is real and that which is apparent. Realistically, what i think is really needed is a knowledge of the. Einstein explained that when two objects are moving at a constant speed as the relative motion between the two. Class ends with a questionandanswer period on a variety of topics in special relativity. Special relativity world scientific lecture notes in physics. Lecture notes relativity physics mit opencourseware. A frame moving with a constant velocity with respect to an inertial reference frame is itself inertial. Pdf lecture notes theory of relativity summer term 20. Special relativity and steps towards general relativity course. Amongst other things, this latter theory is essentially a theory of gravitation. The eulerlagrange equations and constants of the motion. A visual demonstration shows how spacetime undergoes curvature when mass is introduced.
General relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by albert einstein in 1916 and the current description of gravitation in modern physics. If you have hoped to understand the physics of lorentz contraction, time dilation, the twin paradox, and emc2, youre in the right place. Special relativity may be divided into 1you shouldnt feel too bad about having spent so much time learning about a theory thats just the limiting case of another theory, because youre now going to do it again. Lecture notes on special relativity, prepared by j. It uses encapsulated postscript versions of many wikimedia commons diagrams, using their. A clock moving relative to an inertial frame will \appear to run slow by a factor of p 1 1 v 2c. Astr 160 lecture 11 special and general relativity.
Phys 200 lecture 12 introduction to relativity open. The point will be both to recall what sr is all about, and to introduce tensors and related. It is the purpose of this book to provide an introduction to the special theory of relativity which is accessible to any stu dent who has had an introduction to general physics and some slight acquaintance with the calculus. If you have any comments or questions on these lecture notes, please email them to takeuchiatvtdotedu. The motion it explains is only if youre traveling in a straight line at a constant speed. Special relativity einstein 1905 based on two postulates. Carroll 1 special relativity and flat spacetime we will begin with a whirlwind tour of special relativity sr and life in. As soon as you accelerate or curve or do anything that changes the nature of the motion in any way special relativity ceases to apply. In 1905, albert einstein published the theory of special relativity, which explains how to interpret motion between different inertial frames of reference that is, places that are moving at constant speeds relative to each other. The first edition of the novel was published in 1916, and was written by albert einstein. Special relativity by philip harris objective of this book is to explain the principle of relativity.
This chapter is concerned with the special theory of relativity, which dates from 1905. History is a part of all sciencei will mention some of the relevant events in the development of special relativitybut there is no attempt to present the material in a historical way. Knuteson wishes to acknowledge that this course was originally designed and taught by prof. This effort was to lead to the formulation of a completely new theory of gravity. Special relativity read p98 to 105 the principle of special relativity. Relativity is also the limiting case of another theory quantum. These principles, and their consequences constitute the special theory of relativity. Particle physics aims to study structure of space, time and matter at its most fundamental. In physics, special relativity also known as the special theory of relativity is the generally accepted and experimentally confirmed physical theory regarding the relationship between space and time. The laws of nature look exactly the same for all observers in inertial reference frames, regardless of their state of relative velocity. This set of lecture notes is based principally upon material drawn from these sources.
From the two principles of special relativity, some important. The lecture begins with a historical overview and goes into problems that aim to describe a single event as seen by two independent observers. An introduction to the special theory of relativity. Concepturalstructureandunderlying physical ideas explored thoroughly and clearly, but perhaps not for the beginner. Click download or read online button to get lecture notes on special relativity book now. December 1997 lecture notes on general relativity sean m.
These notes materialized when i was asked to present some lectures on general rela. Optional problems in the use of the calculus of variations as applied to lagragian mechanics and other problems in the extremization of path integrals. Dear sir, this is regarding the special relativity lecture 2 where you formulated the wave equation for the waves in an elastic string as a part of introducing the concept of a field theory. Special relativity practice problems a textbook based on this website is now available from cambridge university press.
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