Introduction to Special Relativity-Resnick

237 Pages·2016·21.26 MB·English

by  Robert Resnick

Introduction
to

Special Relativity

Robart Resaick
fomor of Physien
enareler Polytechnic

John Wiley & Sons, lar, New York London Sydney

tb
‘Trudy Roesch

Ia. ving aonery

Preface

hie book can by feyanlat ab the frst part of a text on “modoon
physics" Indse tis ube beis forthe treatment of rlativty in uch w
fest that Tatu gow waiting with Rohert Eizherg, That test will bo the
Ubied and cochading vohimte of # turce on Sniudusteny plisics, the
fret two volumes of which f bave written wilh David Talay.
Hovervor he sseral in this Antrtuction to Spurl Melatvity W

creer afi aoe aml ca le a naan way Lathe Lv i
lewturtors physirs coune al Remanlaer. fur example, these chapbe
build wpa die Lackgrouet in eevtromguetiss and spon of the
allidayeRomiek test and proved the fall developnent of quactam
Physi. Applications of enlatiily us pertain areas, such ae highorergy
plyeies, are giv when, at im sur thind vulume. those atvar ane ple
sented Inter, There ave other ways to vee these ebwptern a8 ell Fur
fnetanee, they em be dutegemted caily with the classical material The
carly chapters 00 the experimsntal backsronnd nad kinomutieespeets
‘of elaivity could follow imrcdiatoly the development of Newtonian
mechanics, 43 could unc of dhe ecltivistic dynaming, whereas the elem
tromagictic aspect of elatvity cul follow the presentation of Mlns-
vwell's equations, Or, this hock could replace the brief und vkethy tele
nent tho formdations of relativity chaeseterete of mndern phys
‘counkes of the immediate part, Sl other usc will mggo dhomeclves
to physieieetuetors,

‘A good deal of eptionsl isteral fe prosentad heer not anly hemes
off intrinsic interest but ale to peri the inetractor to wary the length
aed depth of his erattuent, Th, sc separate apes, dere are sup-
plementary topice on the goumctrial representation of space-time, on
‘he tin pinadon, and on the priveipl: of cquivalenes and gonoral rela
Aivty, Also, im the body of the text. some muerial of un hictorica, an
asluynond, ira special walare be pimied im reduced ype far optional er,

Shatlurly, the problems wad thaoght quostions, nearly 251 fn nome
spun a wide range of content und Level af dificulty 50 that the impact of
the course cam bo rltered significantly hy the choice of

sow muy are atigned, Many referenect are cited inpetially te ensure
‘age sudents to road widely & relativity, The waiting fe expansive, dow
rst, 90 Unt the book is selt-coutaned. Pedagogic ada, such af eam
anary tables aud worked examples, ae ennpleyeu tu help the wtudent
to leuen on his owe,

fs ones ak
‘Weiting ts hou as een a labor of lore, Relativity ae ales bot
a lavorite
anh deer to decade ag, Franco Rageth impress the betuty of
fet upon mein a course at The Tohas pins Universtiy. Alo} wax

ret of axine, and Finetsin was one of the herose uf ty

rach inlyeneed by dhe polaivityieatunent in the clases ws acral bate
Df Peter Rergmann and of Welfgang Penutsky and Melbe Pbilipe be

wg my notes thrwugh suecesive draft. lassen tia, al pro
tion, Hlnse received constractive citicien om etic valuable asssaner
Teen many individuals, erpecially Richard Mbagli Kenneth rowan,
enjoin Chi, Burt Fishery, David Holliday, ued Roland Licktentei,

se Ying Tor her sl ad detinaton im tying

Saas gente ue Mes
he rary verses af tle water and ty the polishers, Joka Wiley aa

Shr, Tae Fie th

utstandang eamperatie, Ta ny wate ed Anashtens,

tise erhwaramon oer yee of

i 1 duties during Ue jeparat

nannseript wan inate posite

the Fuginroring Sehwol at Renilier for naricular develaprnent
Tis my eareet hype thot Eh effort ll anke relativity aecoble

te beginning stodonts and won in thems some oF the excitement thet

ing ie early habit, ny doxpert
tthe

pt hy a Ford Fowedaton grant (6

wks, By ele Fron sere

fe physon
Rubort Resnick

Buy, New Yoo

Faruary 1968
Contents

Capter |The Experimental Brekrounel

ff the Theory of Special Relativity 4
Incroession ‘
Galitesn Transfarmations 4
iwtonion Rebatvty a
tect omagunetion and Neweonian Relativity te
“Attnipe to Locate the Absolute Franny

the Afichelion-Morlay Esparinent a

16 Aterpts 1 Preceree the Comers af 9 Preferred Hiker
rosa: the Loconte-Fitsyorald Coauraction Hyutlusix 26
_Atteapt ta Prverve the Conosp! fe Prfirrd Khor

Frome: the Faker Drag Hspathasis 28
LA) Ateript 49 Modify Flocieadynoovies 2
1.9 the Postulates of Special Relaivty Theory 35
1.10 Linatein end the Origin of Relaticity Theory 3a

Chapter I Relativietie Kinexantice

BAL The Relativity of Sieutareiy 30
Berivotion ofthe Larentz Tennafimration Equations 56

Some Consequences of the Lorents Transformation
Eguctions oe

BA 4 Move Physical Look of the Matz Features of the
Lovente Transformation Equations 65
2S. The Cbeeroer in Relativity 7
Bob The Kelativstc dddion of Velocities »
Alnrraion andl Doppler Efect of Relativity at
he Commun Sense of Special Relativity ”
Relativitie Dynasties no
Mortanies wad Retutiity iw
The Newt to Kadefine Semen a
Relativistic Sonentun 4

Aterovtioa Pies of Mass i» Relativity we
(MG The Helatietde Fare Laws nn the Dams of

Single Partita ua
Bae The bpuivterce of ase sued Bary Be

7 The Transformation Proportion of Momentary,
Anas. Mavs, wn Force Ms
chapter IV. Relativity and Electromagnetiom ast

4A Introduction
42 The interdependence of Electric and SiagnetieFielts 158
AS The Teameformation for Fond
Ad the Field of o Uniformly Moving Point Charge
AS Forces and Fields neat Current Carrying Wire
46 Foroes between Moving Changes

7 The Jnvuriance of eatell's Equations
AR The Possible Limitations of Special Relatiits

we 188
Al Spam‘ime Vingrurs ra,
8.2 Sundiauety, Comiratinn, wd Dilton 193
Ae he Tin Qed ond Space Seperntion af Fene 198

201

zo
BAZ The Route Dependence of Proper Time 2a
RAS Space-Time Dingram of the “Twin Parador” mus
Bel Some Other Considerations 207
DS dn Experinensal Tet 2

enw und General Relaisity

A tndoetion

(2 The Principle of Fquiolence
GA The Grucitatianal Hed Skifi
C1 Gonueut Melatvity They

_Anvers te Brblen

Index mas
Tuteadoetion

Special Relatistty