Tatsu Takeuchi - An Illustrated Guide to Relativity (2010)

An Illustrated Guide to Relativity

by Tatsu Takeuchi

# ISBN-13: 9780521141000
# Publisher: Cambridge University Press
# Publication year: 2010
# Pages: 266


Overview
========

Aimed at both physics students and non-science majors, this unique book explains Einstein's special theory of relativity pictorially, using diagrams rather than equations. The diagrams guide the reader, step-by-step, from the basics of relativity to advanced topics including the addition of velocities, Lorentz contraction, time dilation, the twin paradox, Doppler shift, and Einstein's famous equation E=mc=.

The distinctive figures throughout the book enable the reader to visualize the theory in a way that cannot be fully conveyed through equations alone. The illustrative explanations in this book maintain the logic and rigour necessary for physics students, yet are simple enough to be understood by non-scientists. The book also contains entertaining problems which challenge the reader's understanding of the materials covered.

Contents
========


Part I. Kinematics:
1. Introduction
2. Basics
3. Galilean relativity
4. Einsteinian relativity
5. Causality
6. Consequences
7. Summary of Part I

Part II. Problems:
8. Qualitative problems
9. Quantitative problems

Part III. Dynamics:
10. The world's most famous equation
11. The problem
12. Newtonian dynamics
13. Relativistic dynamics
14. Summary of Part III

Afterword
References
Index
Author
======

Tatsu Takeuchi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech. This book grew from the 'Highlights of Contemporary Physics' course he taught for many years. Primarily aimed at non-physics majors, it has been highly popular among physics students as well.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

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