Special Relativity

Science > Physics > Relativity > Special Relativity

• Relatively Simple - http://web.wt.net/~cbenton/relativity.htm
• Special Relativity made Relatively Simple offers information and experiments about special relativity.
• Special Relativity - http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/theory/relativity.html
• A brief overview of the theory of special relativity, and how it pertains to particles at SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator)
• Jim Doyle's Special Relativity Pages - http://www.btinternet.com/~j.doyle/sr/sr1.htm
• A growing collection of pages on special relativity, including Special Relativity in under 15 Minutes!
• How Stuff Works: Special Relativity - http://www.howstuffworks.com/relativity.htm
• The major principles of special relativity (SR) are discussed in an accessible way, via 5 segments, to help you understand the lingo and theories involved.
• Special Relativity - http://www.geocities.com/zcphysicsms/sr.htm
• A unit for an online relativity textbook explaining special relativistic mathematical physics.
• Wikipedia: Special Relativity - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/special_relativity
• Online encyclopedia article.
• Special Relativity Lecture Notes - http://www.phys.vt.edu/~takeuchi/relativity/notes
• A standard introduction to special relativity where explanations are based on pictures called spacetime diagrams.
• Relativistic Contraction - http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfadd/1160/ch27sprl/aplrntz.html
• Relativists consider it a very important exercise to have students decide how to measure the length of a rapidly moving object.
• Relativity Tutorial - http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/relatvty.htm
• An introduction to relativity using space-time diagrams.
• How Do You Add Velocities in Special Relativity? - http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/relativity/sr/velocity.html
• Here is the formula for adding velocities in special relativity when motion occurs in a single direction.
• University Lectures on Special Relativity - http://www.physics.mq.edu.au/~jcresser/phys378/lecturenotes/specialrelativitynotes.pdf
• Lecture notes on Special Relativity, prepared by J. D. Cresser, Department of Physics, Macquarie University. 44 pages.
• Special Relativity - http://www.motionmountain.net/c-2-clsc.pdf
• This is chapter two of Christoph Schiller's 1000 page walk through the whole of physics, from classical mechanics to relativity, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, quantum theory, nuclear physics and unification. 61 pages.
• Synchronization Gauges and the Principles of Special Relativity - http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0409105
• Synchronization functions set the mathematical clocks represented by the Lorentz transformation and resetting these clocks mathematically only produces a theory equivalent to special relativity in predicting empirical facts. 57 pages.
• Quaternions in University-Level Physics Considering Special Relativity - http://arxiv.org/ftp/physics/papers/0308/0308017.pdf
• The quaternions are an expansion of complex numbers and show close relations to numerous physically fundamental concepts (e.g. Pauli Matrices).
• Santa at Nearly the Speed of Light - http://www.fnal.gov/pub/ferminews/santa/
• An estimate of the speed and distances covered by Santa Claus on Christmas night. The physics is unassailable. The article is hosted on the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory website.
• A Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation From a Simple Definition of Time - http://www.everythingimportant.org/relativity/special.pdf
• The fundamental equations of special relativity are derived with only high school algebra and toy universes consisting of moving rulers.
• Einstein Light - http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/
• A multimedia tutorial on Special Relativity. The introductory level takes 10 minutes, but has links to over 40 explanatory pages giving greater depth and breadth.
• Time Dilation - http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/2000spring/phy232/lectures/relativity/dilation.html
• The gamma factor and time dilation can be derived using a very simple clock.
• Special Relativity - http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/sr/sr.shtml
• Tutorial explains about the postulates, paradox, simulaneity, time dilation, Lorentz transformation constructions, spacetime wheel, and the Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction. Page includes some animated illustrations.
• Generalized Relativistic Velocity Addition with Spacetime Algebra - http://arxiv.org/ftp/physics/papers/0511/0511247.pdf
• The general problem of relativistic addition of velocities – and the successive application of noncollinear Lorentz boosts – is addressed.
• Special Relativity and Maxwell Equations - http://www.csit.fsu.edu/~berg/teach/phy4241/lectures/relativity1.pdf
• A self-contained summary of the theory of special relativity is given, which provides the frame for classical electrodynamics. 26 pages.
• E=mc² - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/e%3dmc%c2%b2
• An article from the Wikipedia encyclopedia.
• The Structure of Space-Time Transformations - http://projecteuclid.org/dienst/ui/1.0/summarize/euclid.cmp/1103858408
• This theorem by H. J. Borchers and G. C. Hegerfeldt proves that the constancy of light velocity alone implies the Lorentz group (up to dilatations).
• Geometric Algebra for Physicists - http://assets.cambridge.org/052148/0221/sample/0521480221ws.pdf
• This is chapter 1 of a book by Chris Doran and Anthony Lasenby on geometric algebra, which is the natural mathematics of spacetime.
• Commutative Hypercomplex Special Relativity - http://home.comcast.net/%7ecmdaven/special.htm
• Einstein's special relativity is formulated in terms of 4-D commutative hypercomplex mathematics. The traditional results are obtained, but some additional effects are suggested.
• Relativistic Force Transformation - http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0507099
• Formulas relating one and the same force in two inertial frames of reference are derived directly from the Lorentz transformation of space and time coordinates.
• Lorentz Contraction and Accelerated Systems - http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0301050
• Lorentz contraction in systems undergoing constant proper acceleration is proven to be completely self-consistent in the context of special relativity.
• On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies - http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/einstein/specrel/www/
• Albert Einstein's first paper on relativity, translated here from Annalen der Physik vol XVII 1905 p. 891-921, is of historical interest.
• Deriving Relativistic Momentum and Energy - http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0402024
• Expressions for momentum and energy of a relativistic particle may be derived from the composition law for velocities along one spatial dimension.
• Deriving Relativistic Momentum and Energy. II. - http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0504095
• The usual relativistic expressions for momentum and kinetic energy are generalized from the one-dimensional to the three-dimensional case.
• Nothing but Relativity - http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0302045
• There are many ways to derive the Lorentz transformation without invoking Einstein's constancy of light postulate. The path preferred in this paper restates a simple, established approach.
• The Twin Paradox in a Spatially Closed and Bounded Universe - http://www.everythingimportant.org/relativity/general.htm
• Spatially compact spacetimes break global Lorentz invariance and define absolute inertial frames of reference.
• Sagnac Effect, Twin Paradox and Space-Time Topology - http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0403111
• When viewed with an alternative synchronization convention, the Sagnac effect on a rotating disk is purely topological and the rim of the disk is essentially an inertial system.
• Space Measurements on a Rotating Platform - http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0309020
• The age-old puzzling problem of Lorentz contraction on a rotating platform, i.e., Ehrenfest's paradox, is explained in its proper mathematical context.
• Imaginary In All Directions - http://arxiv.org/abs/math-ph/0309061
• There is a preferred algebra of quaternions and complex numbers that is ideally suited to express the equations of special relativity and classical electrodynamics.
• The Special Theory of Relativity - http://astro.physics.sc.edu/selfpacedunits/unit56.html
• Self-tutorial with short essays, questions and answers.
• Wikipedia: Introduction to Special Relativity - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/introduction_to_special_relativity
• Encyclopedia article giving a brief outline of the basic concepts of special relativity (including simple formulas).
• Understanding Special Relativity - http://www.rafimoor.com/english/sre.htm
• Brief explanation of special relativity, using no more than high-school level mathematics; includes an account of the twin paradox, some remarks on faster-than-light travel, and some material on relativistic mechanics. By Rafi Moor.
• Relativistic Kinematics - http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic245778.files/icm_chap11.pdf
• This is how special relativity is taught by Dr. David Morin at Harvard University. 72 pages.
• Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation - http://www2.physics.umd.edu/~yakovenk/teaching/lorentz.pdf
• This derivation uses the group property of the Lorentz transformations, which means that a combination of two Lorentz transformations also belongs to the class Lorentz transformations.
• A Special Relativity Paradox: The Barn and the Pole - http://www.math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/relativity/sr/barn_pole.html
• The answer to the famous barn and the pole paradox is that the two doors are never closed at the same time in the runner's frame of reference.
• The Doppler Shift Equation For An Accelerating Frame of Reference - http://www.everythingimportant.org/sda/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=969
• The exact equation for the Doppler shift in a uniformly accelerating rocket is derived in two different ways. The first method depends on a functional equation and Einstein’s approximation. The second approach is a direct application of several familiar equations in the relativity of uniformly accelerated motion.
• Simple Derivation of the Special Theory of Relativity Without the Speed of Light Axiom - http://arxiv.org/abs/0710.3398
• Special relativity may be derived just from assuming isotropy, homogeneity and a principle of relativity, without the need to consider the speed of light.
• The Lecture Notes of Dr. R. D. Field - http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~rfield/phy3063/
• The online physics course notes for Physics 3063, by Professor Rick Field, University of Florida, is a good summary of many of the useful formulas used in special relativity.
• On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies (Part A: Kinematics) by Albert Einstein - http://www.sigmapisigma.org/radiations/2005/electrodynamics_fall05.pdf
• In this annotated version of Einstein's paper, the author attempts to express Einstein's insights in familiar notation and fills in some of Einstein's many missing intermediate steps.
• Uniform Acceleration - http://www.ph.utexas.edu/~gleeson/noteschapter13.pdf
• This paper analyzes several simple uniform acceleration problems, including the paradox of John Bell.