Theory of Relativity

Fayyazuddin, Riazuddin, Muhammad Jamil Aslam

• Publisher: WSPC
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9789814641913
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Astronomy & Astrophysics

This volume is to facilitate undergraduate and graduate students in theory of relativity and help them in their studies of High Energy Physics and Cosmology. The presentation has been kept simple and sufficient details have been provided in order to facilitate the understanding of the subject. The problems have also been selected to clarify the presentation and solutions of selected problems are given for better understanding of the contents.

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This volume is to facilitate undergraduate and graduate students in theory of relativity and help them in their studies of High Energy Physics and Cosmology. The presentation has been kept simple and sufficient details have been provided in order to facilitate the understanding of the subject. The problems have also been selected to clarify the presentation and solutions of selected problems are given for better understanding of the contents.

Request Inspection Copy

Contents:

• Special Theory of Relativity:
  • Galilean Transformations
  • Lorentz Transformations
  • Relativistic Mechanics
  • Lorentz Transformations (General Case)
  • Four Velocity: Minkowski Force
  • Covariant Form of Electrodynamics
  • Spin
  • Space Time Groups and Their Representations
• General Theory of Relativity: Riemannian Geometry; Curved Space-time:
  • Tensor Analysis and Affine Connection
  • Geodesic and Equivalence Principle
  • Curvature Tensor and Einstein's Field Equations
  • The Schwarzschild, Friedmann Robertson Walker (FRW) Metric

Key Features:

• Covers special theory of relativity, space-time groups and general theory of relativity in a concise way
• The mathematics is done in detail
• Solutions of some problems are included in the text

PART 1

Special Theory of Relativity

Chapter 1

GALILEAN TRANSFORMATIONS

1.1Introduction

Both gravity and electromagnetism are long range forces and can be detected on a macroscopic scale and that is why they were the first to have theories developed for them. Newton developed a theory of gravity in the 17th century and Maxwell did the same for electromagnetism in the 19th century: The two theories are basically in conflict. Maxwell theory defined a preferred velocity, the speed of light; whereas the Newtonian theory was invariant if the whole system was given any uniform velocity. It turned out that the Newtonian theory had to be modified to make it compatible with Maxwell theory. This was achieved by Einstein in 1905 in his special theory of relativity and in 1917 for his general theory of relativity. In the words of Einstein: “The special theory of relativity is an adaptation of physical principles to Maxwell-Lorentz electrodynamics. . . . The postulate of equivalence of inertial frames for the formulation of the laws of Nature is assumed to be valid for the whole of physics (special relativity principle). From Maxwell-Lorentz electrodynamics it takes the postulate of invariance of the velocity of light in a vacuum (light principle)”...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Preface
• Contents
• Special Theory of Relativity
• General Theory of Relativity: Riemannian Geometry; Curved Space Time
• Appendix
• Bibliography