Authors:
- Provides an original introduction to the geometry of Minkowski spacetime
- Gives concise guidance to solving problems of relativistic kinematics
- Contains problems of relativistic kinematics
- Solves the "Twin Paradox" for all kinds of motion
- Extensive use of hyperbolic and complex numbers
- Complete formalization of the kinematics in Minkowski space-time
- Shows that the kinematical consequences of special relativity are merely a manifestation of spacetime geometry
- Gives understanding of gravity as a manifestation of the curvature of spacetime
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Physics (SpringerBriefs in Physics)
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
This book provides an original introduction to the geometry of Minkowski space-time. A hundred years after the space-time formulation of special relativity by Hermann Minkowski, it is shown that the kinematical consequences of special relativity are merely a manifestation of space-time geometry.
The book is written with the intention of providing students (and teachers) of the first years of University courses with a tool which is easy to be applied and allows the solution of any problem of relativistic kinematics at the same time. The book treats in a rigorous way, but using a non-sophisticated mathematics, the Kinematics of Special Relativity. As an example, the famous "Twin Paradox" is completely solved for all kinds of motions.
The novelty of the presentation in this book consists in the extensive use of hyperbolic numbers, the simplest extension of complex numbers, for a complete formalization of the kinematics in the Minkowski space-time.
Moreover, from this formalization the understanding of gravity comes as a manifestation of curvature of space-time, suggesting new research fields.
Authors and Affiliations
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Rome, Italy
Francesco Catoni, Vincenzo Catoni
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, Matematica, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
Dino Boccaletti
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, Casaccia Research Centre, ENEA, Rome, Italy
Roberto Cannata, Paolo Zampetti
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Geometry of Minkowski Space-Time
Authors: Francesco Catoni, Dino Boccaletti, Roberto Cannata, Vincenzo Catoni, Paolo Zampetti
Series Title: SpringerBriefs in Physics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17977-8
Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Francesco Catoni 2011
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-17976-1Published: 11 March 2011
eBook ISBN: 978-3-642-17977-8Published: 07 May 2011
Series ISSN: 2191-5423
Series E-ISSN: 2191-5431
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: VIII, 116
Number of Illustrations: 28 b/w illustrations
Topics: Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics, Applications of Mathematics, Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory