Special Relativity

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Mathematical Part

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 1-53

3. The Structure of the Theories of Physics

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 55-66

4. Newtonian Physics

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 67-86

5. The Foundation of Special Relativity

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 87-115

6. The Physics of the Position Four-Vector

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 117-154

7. Relativistic Kinematics

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 155-183

8. Four-Acceleration

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 185-252

9. Paradoxes

   • Michael Tsamparlis

   Pages 253-264

10. Mass – Four-Momentum

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 265-282

11. Relativistic Reactions

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 283-324

12. Four-Force

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 325-375

13. Irreducible Decompositions

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 377-393

14. The Electromagnetic Field

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 395-494

15. Relativistic Angular Momentum

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 495-519

16. The Covariant Lorentz Transformation

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 521-554

17. Geometric Description of Relativistic Interactions

    • Michael Tsamparlis

    Pages 555-588

18. Back Matter

    Pages 589-595

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Writing a new book on the classic subject of Special Relativity, on which numerous important physicists have contributed and many books have already been written, can be like adding another epicycle to the Ptolemaic cosmology. Furthermore, it is our belief that if a book has no new elements, but simply repeats what is written in the existing literature, perhaps with a different style, then this is not enough to justify its publication. However, after having spent a number of years, both in class and research with relativity, I have come to the conclusion that there exists a place for a new book. Since it appears that somewhere along the way, mathem- ics may have obscured and prevailed to the degree that we tend to teach relativity (and I believe, theoretical physics) simply using “heavier” mathematics without the inspiration and the mastery of the classic physicists of the last century. Moreover current trends encourage the application of techniques in producing quick results and not tedious conceptual approaches resulting in long-lasting reasoning. On the other hand, physics cannot be done a ´ la carte stripped from philosophy, or, to put it in a simple but dramatic context A building is not an accumulation of stones! As a result of the above, a major aim in the writing of this book has been the distinction between the mathematics of Minkowski space and the physics of r- ativity.

• EFE
• Four-acceleration
• Four-force
• Four-momentum
• Four-vector
• Lorentz transformation
• Minkowski space
• Relativity
• Special relativity
• differential geometry
• general relativity

• Dept. Astrophysics, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

  Michael Tsamparlis

Policies and ethics