If you have ever wanted to understand the fundamentals of relativity, then this edition of how stuff works will be incredibly interesting to you. Irrespective of the light source, the speed of light in a vacuum is the same in any other space. 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. Optional problems in the use of the calculus of variations as applied to lagragian mechanics and other problems in the extremization of path integrals. The special theory deals with a world in which gravity is very weak, and the general theory deals with a world where gravitational effects are considerable. Although there are many consequences of special relativity, this complex theory consists of only two postulates. On the relativity of the conception of distance 11. Experimental confirmation of this theory in 1919 brought einstein world fame. In this course we will seek to understand einstein, especially focusing on the special theory of relativity that albert einstein, as a twentysix year old.
Special relativity theory srt has two postulates, one stating that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, and the other stating that the. Relativity both the special and general theories, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics are the three major theories on which modern physics is based. Newtonian physics and special relativity 1 1 relativity principles and gravitation 3. The hueristic value of the theory of relativity 15. Special relativity is taught to physics sophomores at johns hopkins university in a series of eight lectures. Special relativity read p98 to 105 the principle of special relativity. The theory of special relativity was introduced first and was later considered to be a special case of the more comprehensive theory of general relativity.
From it a number of other unifications followed, such as the unification of energy and mass expressed by the equation e mc2 2. The theory of relativity can be broken down into two parts. Special relativity is based on two postulates out of which einstein built the entire theory by logical deduction 1,3. This theory is known as the doubly special relativity dsr and it proposes a new observerindependent scalelength. An introduction to the special theory of relativity. The universe can be viewed as having three space dimensions updown, leftright, forwardbackward and one time dimension. 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 theory of relativity is traditionally broken into two parts, special and general relativity. Nov 21, 2017 special relativity is not a theory about light, it is a theory about space and time, but it was the strange behaviour of light that first alerted scientists to the possibility that the universe had an unexpected geometry.
We will probably have a lecture or two to introduce his general theory as well, but the principal focus will be on special relativity, which we will study in quite a bit of detail. Documents and settingsphilip harrismy documentsteaching. Beginning with the behaviour of light and all other electromagnetic radiation, the theory of special relativity draws conclusions. The special theory we shall deliberately ignore the chronological development of the theory 1, and start directly from the answer. The theory of special relativity was developed by albert einstein in 1905, and it forms part of the basis of modern physics. The eulerlagrange equations and constants of the motion. First imagine a man in an enclosed chamber oating in deep space far removed from stars and other appreciable mass. Special theory of relativity or special relativity is a physical theory which states the relationship between space and time.
The heuristic value of the theory of relativity 15. Einsteins theory of special relativity localized behavior of objects in inertial frames of reference, generally only relevant at speeds very near the speed of light. Lecture 3 covers minkowski diagrams, simultaneous events and causally connected events, as well as velocity. Lorentz transformations the transformation equations used to calculate the coordinate changes under special relativity. Special theory of relativity provides a discussion of the special theory of relativity. Special theory of relativity postulates of special relativity. Laws of physics must be the same in all inertial reference frames. Einstein june 30, 1905 it is known that maxwells electrodynamicsas usually understood at the present timewhen applied to moving bodies, leads to asymmetries which do not appear to be inherent in the phenomena.
Rehseis 83, rue broca 750 paris the most famous of albert einsteins papers of 1905 is undoubtedly the one concerning the theory of relativity. Relativity is also the limiting case of another theory quantum. This principle, called galilean relativity, is kept in einsteins theory of relativity. These postulates cannot be satisfied using the galilean equations. Special relativity provides a framework for translating physical events and laws into forms appropriate for any inertial frame of reference. Special theory of relativity postulates of special. Along with quantum mechanics, relativity is central to modern physics. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference. Like in the case of special relativity, the key physical ideas of the new theory, called general relativity, were developed by einstein via \thought experiments and below we describe some of them. The laws of physics are the same in every nonaccelerating reference frame. Lecture 2 covers length contraction and time dilation.
Syllabus introduction to special relativity physics mit. Special relativity, part of the wideranging physical theory of relativity formed by the germanborn physicist albert einstein. 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 special theory of relativity from stanford university. Its now been converted to adobes portable document format. Special relativity is not a theory about light, it is a theory about space and time, but it was the strange behaviour of light that first alerted scientists to the possibility that the universe had an unexpected geometry. Relativity both the special and general theories, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics are. Einstein correctly defined common sense as those prejudices that we acquire at an early age. Albert einstein 5 preface december, 1916 the present book is intended, as far as possible, to give an exact insight into the theory of relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view. In this edition the major principles of the theory are discussed in an accessible way so that you can. General relativity addresses the problem of accelerated motion and gravity. Fundamental laws of physics are identical for any two observers in uniform relative motion. In 1916, einstein published his theory of general relativity.
What is unique about these three theories, as distinct from say the theory of electromagnetism, is their generality. The speed of light is independent of the motion of the light source or observer. The cornerstone of the theory of special relativity is the principle of relativity. Special relativity is a theory of exceptional elegance. Lecture notes relativity physics mit opencourseware. It is in no sense a provisional theory and is largely compatible with quantum theory.
Experience and the special theory of relativity 17. This is theory is based on two postulates laws of physics are invariant. Later, einstein was able to further develop this theory, leading to what is known as the general theory of relativity. Scientists such as austrian physicist ernst mach and. This is why in an introduction to general relativity it is of. In 1915 he published his general theory of relativity. Much of the material is at a level suitable for high school students who have had advanced placement in physics and. After finishing his work in special relativity, einstein spent a decade. Einsteins postulates for the special theory of relativity. Special relativity einstein 1905 based on two postulates. What makes relativity important is that it entails a radical revision of our elementary ideas of space and time and in doing so leads to the even more radical theory of general relativity which comes into play when gravity is important. Einstein explained that when two objects are moving at a constant speed as the relative motion between the two. General relativity is a beautiful scheme for describing the gravitational. Einsteins theory of special relativity created a fundamental link between space and time.
Lecture notes on special relativity macquarie university. Any modern physicist knows that this theory imposes a strict and general constraint on the laws of nature. Introduction in spite of that, the theories of relativity are more than 100 years, it is universally recognized and is studied from the school desk, me it seems it would. The behaviour of measuringrods and clocks in motion. General relativity is a theory of gravitation that albert einstein developed between 1907 and 1915, with contributions from many others after 1915. Many of the consequences of the special theory of relativity are counterintuitive and violate common sense.
The theory of special relativity rests on two experimental facts. Special relativity is einsteins most famous theory. From quantum mechanics to the string nelia mann the principle of relativity. Einsteins theory of general relativity the more comprehensive theory, which treats gravity as. In it he provided a new theory of gravitation that included newtons theory as a special case.
Special relativityintroduction wikibooks, open books for. Einstein put forth special relativity, which explains motion at nearlight speeds. Amongst other things, this latter theory is essentially a theory of gravitation. There are two, theories of relativity, by einstein, the special theory of relativity or just special relativity, sr, and the general theory of relativity or just general relativity, gr. 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. Special relativity rensselaer polytechnic institute. His earlier theory of 1905 is now called the theory of special relativity, since it excluded accelerations. The general theory will not be dealt with in this course. Nowadays this theory is often used as a prototype for other, more intricate constructions to describe forces between elementary particles or other branches of fundamental physics. It turns out that special relativity is a a lot easier to.
Special relativity is limited to objects that are moving with respect to inertial frames of referencei. The completed formulation of the general theory of relativity was published in 1916 fig. Pdf special relativity of theory with invariant length. In this edition the major principles of the theory are discussed in an accessible way so that you can understand the lingo and the theories involved. Special relativityintroduction wikibooks, open books. Special relativity is mathematically selfconsistent, and it is an organic part of all modern physical theories, most notably quantum field theory, string theory, and general relativity in the limiting case of negligible gravitational fields. Take, for example, the reciprocal electrodynamic action of a magnet and a conductor.
The genesis of the theory of relativity olivier darrigol cnrs. 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. We shall see that many surprising consequences follow from this innocuous looking statement. Special relativity theory srt has two postulates, one stating that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, and the other stating that the speed of light is the constant 186,000 miles. In albert einsteins original treatment, it is based on two postulates.
335 674 785 954 781 1428 737 788 288 590 891 556 1131 1130 1488 705 325 158 1028 337 825 1299 886 443 1295 1025 1026 1631 184 152 1439 790 1330 1429 1455 1060 1497 1306 331 933 1216 1178 1097 439 467 657 549