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Elementary Relativistic Physics

v1.1.1 / 01 nov 03 / TOC / greg goebel / public domain

* In 1905, Albert Einstein published his "Special Theory of Relativity", a simple and elegant hypothesis that seemed to turn common sense on its head, showing that time varied with velocity, and that nothing could exceed the speed of light. Yet Special Relativity was quickly accepted, and led to the much more subtle and far-reaching "Theory of General Relativity".

This document describes Special Relativity in moderate detail and provides an overview of General Relativity. Familiarity with elementary algebra, geometry, and classical physics is required. Results of calculations are provided to three significant figures.

[1.0] Special Relativity

• [1.1] THE ETHER WIND / DOPPLER SHIFT
  
• [1.2] EINSTEIN'S POSTULATE
  
• [1.3] TIME DILATION
  
• [1.4] LENGTH CONTRACTION
  
• [1.5] RELATIVISTIC SIMULTANEITY & SPACETIME PARADOXES
  
• [1.6] THE TWIN PARADOX
  
• [1.7] THE TWIN PARADOX REVISITED (1)
  
• [1.8] THE TWIN PARADOX REVISITED (2)
  

[2.0] Further Concepts In Relativity

• [2.1] THE THREE-WAY PARADOX
  
• [2.2] RELATIVISTIC MASS INCREASE / MASS-ENERGY EQUIVALENCE
  
• [2.3] A FEW SUBTLETIES
  
• [2.4] RELATIVITY IN PRACTICE
  
• [2.5] GENERAL RELATIVITY
  
• [2.6] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY