Special Theory of Relativity (eBook)

The Commonwealth and International Library: Selected Readings in Physics

C. W. Kilmister (Autor)

D. ter Haar (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: PDF

2016 | 1. Auflage
310 Seiten
Elsevier Science (Verlag)
9781483137049 (ISBN)

Infos

Special Theory of Relativity provides a discussion of the special theory of relativity. Special relativity is not, like other scientific theories, a statement about the matter that forms the physical world, but has the form of a condition that the explicit physical theories must satisfy. It is thus a form of description, playing to some extent the role of the grammar of physics, prescribing which combinations of theoretical statements are admissible as descriptions of the physical world. Thus, to describe it, one needs also to describe those specific theories and to say how much they are limited by it. The book is organized into two parts. The first part traces the historical development of the special theory of relativity, including Einstein's contribution, the elementary consequences of the Lorentz transformation, and applications in quantum theory. The second part contains extracts from various publications covering topics such as relative motion of the earth, and the luminiferous and dynamics of the electron.

Inhalt

Front Cover 1
Special Theory of Relativity 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 6
Introduction 8
Acknowledgements 10
PART I 
12 
CHAPTER 1. Introduction: 1632—1905 14
CHAPTER 2. Einstein's Contribution 25
CHAPTER 3. Elementary Consequences of the Lorentz Transformation 
45 
CHAPTER 4. Applications in Quantum Theory 68
References 98
PART II 
100 
EXTRACT 1. Art. XXI. The Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous Ether 
102 
NOTES ON EXTRACT 2 115
EXTRACT 2. APPENDIX E: On Kinematic and Mechanical Modes of Representation of the Activity of the Aether 116
Mechanical Models and Illustrations 116
NOTES ON EXTRACT 3 129
EXTRACT 3. Electromagnetic Phenomena in a System Moving with any Velocity less than that of Light 
130 
NOTES ON EXTRACT 4 155
EXTRACT 4. The dynamics of the Electron 
156 
Introduction 156
§ 1. The Lorentz Transformation 161
§ 2. The Principle of Least Action 167
§ 3. The Lorentz Transformation and the Principle of Least Action 
177 
§ 4. The Lorentz Group 180
§ 9. Hypotheses Concerning Gravitation 183
NOTES ON EXTRACT 5 197
EXTRACT 5. On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies 198
I. Kinematical Part 199
II. Electrodynamical Part 214
NOTES ON EXTRACT 6 229
EXTRACT 6. On the Electric Effect of Rotating a Magnetic Insulatorin a Magnetic Field 
230 
NOTES ON EXTRACT 7 239
EXTRACT 7. Fresnel's Coefficient for Light of Different Colours (First Part) 
240 
NOTES ON EXTRACT 8 247
EXTRACT 8. The Quantum Theory of the Electron 248
§ 1. Previous Relativity Treatments 249
§ 2. The Hamiltonian for No Field 252
§ 3. Proof of In variance under a Lorentz Transformation 255
§ 4. The Hamiltonian for an Arbitrary Field 258
§ 5. The Angular Momentum Integrals for Motion in a Central Field 
260 
§ 6. The Energy Levels for Motion in a Central Field 262
NOTES ON EXTRACT 9 267
EXTRACT 9. Energies of Cosmic-ray Particles 268
Positively Charged Particles 269
Specific Ionization 270
Associated Tracks 272
Scattering of the Cosmic Particles 273
Energies 274
NOTES ON EXTRACT 10 277
EXTRACT 10. On Unitary Representations of the Inhomogeneous Lorentz Group 
278 
1. Origin and Characterization of the Problem 278
2. Comparison With Previous Treatments and Some Immediate Simplifications 
282 
3. Summary of Ensuing Sections 289
4. Description of the Inhomogeneous Lorentz Group 292
INDEX 308

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 27.10.2016
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Mechanik
• Themenwelt: Technik
• ISBN-13: 9781483137049 / 9781483137049