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  • © 2016

The Special Theory of Relativity

Foundations, Theory, Verification, Applications

  • Presents a systematic description of more than 50 of the main relevant experiments
  • Includes detailed solutions of all the problems at the end of the book
  • Describes the historical development of the theory in detail
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics (ULNP)

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eBook USD 44.99
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Softcover Book USD 59.99
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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. Historical Introduction

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 1-45
  3. Prolegomena

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 47-59
  4. Relativistic Kinematics

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 61-95
  5. Applications of Relativistic Kinematics

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 97-138
  6. Optical Phenomena

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 139-162
  7. Relativistic Dynamics

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 163-211
  8. Applications of Relativistic Dynamics

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 213-242
  9. Minkowski’s Spacetime and Four-Vectors

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 243-272
  10. Electromagnetism

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 273-295
  11. Experiments

    • Costas Christodoulides
    Pages 297-320
  12. Back Matter

    Pages 321-480

About this book

This book offers a comprehensive, university-level introduction to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. In addition to the purely theoretical aspect, emphasis is also given to its historical development as well as to the experiments that preceded the theory and those performed in order to test its validity.
The main body of the book consists of chapters on Relativistic Kinematics and Dynamics and their applications, Optics and Electromagnetism. These could be covered in a one-semester course. A more advanced course might include the subjects examined in the other chapters of the book and its appendices.
As a textbook, it has some unique characteristics: It provides detailed proofs of the theorems, offers abundant figures and discusses numerous examples. It also includes a number of problems for readers to solve, the complete solutions of which are given at the end of the book.
It is primarily intended for use by university students of physics, mathematics and engineering. However, as the mathematics needed is of an upper-intermediate level, the book will also appeal to a more general readership.


Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Applied Math and Phys Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Costas Christodoulides

About the author

Costas Christodoulides
Professor Emeritus
Department of Physics
School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences
National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access