Special relativity

A.P. French0393097935, 9780393097931

A self-contained introduction to special relativity for students who have completed an introduction to classical mechanics. The book covers the transition from Newtonian to Einsteinian behaviour for electrons, the relativistic expressions for mass, momentum and energy of particles. Later chapters cover the Lorentz transformations, the laws of kinematics and dynamics according to special relativity. The approach taken is traditional in that it does not rest heavily on electromagnetic theory. However, the final chapter deals with some of the insights that relativity can provide with regard to the relationship between electricity and magnetism. “Real” examples are used and there are problems for students to tackle. Answers are given. This book should be of interest to undergraduate courses in introductory physics and physical sciences.