» MIT OpenCourseWare » Physics » Introduction to Special Relativity, January (IAP) 2003

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SES #	MAIN TOPICS	SUB TOPICS


1	Introduction: Intuition and Familiarity in Physical Law


	Relativity before Einstein	Inertial Frames Non-inertial Frames Galilean Relativity Form Invariance of Newton's Laws The Galilean Transformation


2	Relativity before Einstein(cont'd)	The Galilean law for Addition of Velocities Two Examples of the Usefulness of Galilean Relativity: Example I: Getting Wet in the Rain Example II: Collisions of Equal Mass Particles


	Light and Electromagnetism	Particle and Wave Interpretations of Light Measurement of the Speed of Light Maxwell's Theory of Electromagnetism, Light as an Electromagnetic Phenomenon, and the Triumph of the Wave Theory of Light Aether as the Medium in which Light Waves Propagate


3	The Search for the Aether	Properties of the Aether The Michelson-Morley Experiment Aether Drag, Stellar Aberration, and the Collapse of the Aether Theory


	Precursors of Einstein	Lorentz and Poincare Lorentz Contraction The Lorentz Invariance of Electromagnetism


	The Principles of Relativity	Einstein's Postulates The Resolution of the Michelson-Morley Experiment The Need for a Transformation of Time (beginning)


4	The Principles of Relativity (cont'd)	The Need for a Transformation of Time (finish)


	Intertial Frames, Clocks and Meter Sticks Reconsidered	Setting up Measurements in Inertial Frames Synchronizing Clocks Infinite Families of Inertial Frames


	The Lorentz Transformation	The Need for a Transformation between Inertial Frames The Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation


5	The Lorentz Transformation (cont'd)	Space Time Diagrams I


	Some Immediate Consequence	Relativity of Simultaneity Spacetime, World Lines, Events Lorentz Transformations of Events


	The Algebra of Lorentz Transformations	Beta, Gamma, and the Rapidity Analogy to Rotations Inverse Lorentz Transformations


6	The Algebra of Lorentz Transformation (cont'd)	Analogy to Rotations Inverse Lorentz Transformations


	Length Contraction and Time Dilation	Simple Derivations Reciprocity Examples -- Duality between Length Contraction and Time Dilation


7	Length Contraction and Time Dilation (cont'd)	Careful Comparisons and the "Reality" of Length Contraction


	Intervals, Causality, etc.	Invariance of the Interval under Lorentz Transformation Spacelike, Timelike, and Lightlike Intervals Causality: the Future, the Past, and Elsewhere Coordinates for Minkowski Space


	The Differential Form of the Lorentz Transformation


8	Addition of Velocities	Parallel and Perpendicular The Speed of Light is the Limit


	Transformation of Angles	Static Angles: Transforming Geometry Dynamical Angles: Transforming Rectilinear Motion Stellar Aberration a la Special Relativity


	The Relativistic Doppler Effect	Frequencies Longitudinal and Transverse Doppler Effects Comparison with the Non-relativistic Doppler Effect


9	The Relativistic Doppler Effect(cont'd)	Doppler Effect at Arbitrary Angles Examples of Doppler Effects


	The Visual Appearance of Rapidly Moving Objects


	The Plevaulter Paradox and the Failure of Rigidity	Naive Analysis Resolution: Careful Tracking of "Events" Special Relativity and Rigidity


	The Seaplane and the Hole in the Ice	The View from the Ice The View from the Plane


10	Apparent Motion Beyond c	Landing Lights The Searchlight Effect


	Acceleration in Special Relativity	Lorentz Transformation of Acceleration The Proper Acceleration Hyperbolic Motion Space Travel


	The Iceboat Paradox	The View from the Ice The View from the Boat: Lorentz Transformation of Force


11	The Twin Paradox	The Simple Form Experimental Confirmation Confusion and Resolution


12	Constructing Relativistic Energy and Momentum	Derivation from a Physical Construction Rest Mass Reality of the Rest Energy The Relativistic Relation between Energy, Momentum, and Mass


13	Constructing Relativistic Energy and Momentum (cont'd)	Examples of Mass <-> Energy Massless Particles The Pressure of Light


	Relativistic Decays and Collisions	A->2B in the A Rest Frame


14	Relativistic Decays and Collisions (cont'd)	Photon Emission and Absorption Doppler Shift and the Mossbauer Effect Insert: Review of Inertial Frames


15	Relativistic Decays and Collisions (cont'd)	Compton Effect and Quantum Mechanics


	Transformation Properties under Lorentz Transformations	Invariants and Things That Change The Instantaneous Rest Frame Proper Time as a Lorentz Invariant Four-vectors Definitions via Transformation Properties The Four Vector in Minkowski Space


	The Four Velocity -- Another Four Vector


16	The Lorentz Transformation of Energy and Momentum	The Energy-Momentum Four Vector Examples of Lorentz Transformation of Energy and Momentum


	The Invariant Scalar Product	The Invariant Interval as an Operation on Four-vectors The Invariant Product of Four-Momenta Simplifying Kinematics for Decays and Collisions


17	The Invariant Scalar Product (cont'd)	More Decays and Collisions Compton Scattering Again


	Einstein Notation and Relativity in Metric Space


18	The Incompleteness of Special Relativity	Non-inertial Frames A General Principle of Relativity


	The Equivalence of Inertial and Gravitational Mass	Newton's Law of Gravity Gravitational "Charge" and Intertial Mass The Gravitational Field Gravity as Another Manifestation of Inertia


	The Principle of Equivalence	Einstein's Elevator and Other Intertial Frames Gravity and Acceleration


19	Consequences of the Equivalence Principle	The Gravitational Redshift The Pound-Rebka Experiment and Sirius B The Bending of Light in a Gravitational Field


	Considerations on a Spinning Disk	Gavitational Dilation When Time Stops: the Schwartzschild Radius and Black Holes Curvature and Non-Euclidean Geometry

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