Illustrated Special Relativity Through Its Paradoxes: Standard Edition: A Fusion Of Linear Algebra, Graphics, And Reality (spectrum)

This illustrated, full-color work shows that linear algebra is a natural language for special relativity. Requiring a minimum of expertise beyond basic matrix theory, the authors use full-color illustrations to introduce inertial frames and Minkowski diagrams that explain the nature of simultaneity, why faster-than-light travel is impossible, and the proper way to add velocities. We resolve the twin paradox, the train-in-tunnel paradox, the pea-shooter paradox and the lesser-known accommodating universe paradox and the bug-rivet paradox that shows how rigidity is incompatible with special relativity. Since Einstein, in his seminal 1905 paper introducing the theory of special relativity, acknowledged his debt to Clerk Maxwell, we fully develop Maxwell's four equations that unify the theories of electricity, optics, and magnetism.These equations also lead to a simple calculation for the frame-independent speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum. (Maxwell himself was unaware that light was a special case of electromagnetic waves.) Several chapters are devoted to early experiments of Roemer, Fizeau, and de Sitter in their efforts to measure the speed of light along with the Michelson-Morley experiment abolishing the necessity of a universal aether. The exposition is thorough, but not overly technical, and bountifully illustrated by cartoons. Supplemental interactive animations are found at Special-Relativity-Illustrated.com. This book is be suitable for a one-semester general-education introduction to special relativity. It is especially well-suited to self-study by interested laypersons or use as a supplement to a more traditional text. This accessible work, with its plethora of full-color illustrations by the author, shows that linear algebra --- actually, 2x2 matrices --- provide a natural language for special relativity. The book includes an overview of linear algebra with all basic definitions and necessary theorems. There are exercises with hints for each chapter along with supplemental animations at special-relativity-illustrated.com. Since Einstein acknowledged his debt to Clerk Maxwell in his seminal 1905 paper introducing the theory of special relativity, we fully develop Maxwell's four equations that unify the theories of electricity, optics, and magnetism. Using just two laboratory measurements, these equations lead to a simple calculation for the frame-independent speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum. ( Maxwell himself was unaware that light was a special electromagnetic wave. ) Before analyzing the paradoxes, we establish their linear algebraic context. Inertial frames become ( 2- dimensional vector spaces ) whose ordered spacetime pairs ( x , t ) are linked by line-of-sight linear transformations. These are the Galilean transformations in classical physics, and the Lorentz transformations in the more general relativistic physics. The Lorentz transformation is easily derived once we show how a novel swiveled line theorem, ( a geometric concept ) is equivalent to the speed of light being invariant for all observers a ( a physical concept ). Six paradoxes are all analyzed using Minkowski spacetime diagrams. These are (1) The Accommodating Universe paradox, (2) Time and distance asymmetry between frames, (3) The Twin paradox, (4) The Train-Tunnel paradox, (5) The Pea-Shooter paradox, and the lesser known (6) Bug-Rivet paradox. The Bug-Rivet paradox, animated by the author at Special-Relativity-Illustrated.com, presents another proof that rigidity is incompatible with special relativity . E = mc 2 finds a simple derivation using only the relativistic addition of speeds ( the Pea-Shooter paradox ), conservation of momentum, and a power series. Finally, three appendices contain the self-contained overview of linear algebra, key properties of hyperbolic functions used to add relativistic speeds graphically, and a deconstruction of a moving train that proves the non-intuitive fact that when a moving train pulls into a station, its front car is always younger than its rear car, even though the front car has been in the station for a longer time. Both this standard edition (red cover) and the Deluxe edition (blue cover) contain all the previous topics. The Deluxe edition (blue cover) will add 74 pages containing chapters on Illustrated Special Relativity shows that linear algebra is a natural language for special relativity. It illustrates and resolves several apparent paradoxes of special relativity including the twin paradox and train-and-tunnel paradox. Assuming a minimum of technical prerequisites the authors introduce inertial frames and use them to explain a variety of phenomena: the nature of simultaneity, the proper way to add velocities, and why faster-than-light travel is impossible. Most of these explanations are contained in the resolution of apparent paradoxes, including some lesser-known ones: the pea-shooter paradox, the bug-and-rivet paradox, and the accommodating universe paradox. The explanation of time and length contraction is especially clear and illuminating. At the outset of his seminal paper on special relativity, Einstein acknowledges the work of James Clerk Maxwell whose four equations unified the theories of electricity, optics, and magnetism. For this reason, the authors develop Maxwell's equations which lead to a simple calculation for the frame-independent speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum. (Maxwell did not realize that light was a special case of electromagnetic waves.) Several chapters are devoted to experiments of Roemer, Fizeau, and de Sitter to measure the speed of light and the Michelson-Morley experiment abolishing the aether. Throughout the exposition is thorough, but not overly technical, and often illustrated by cartoons. The volume might be suitable for a one-semester general-education introduction to special relativity. It is especially well-suited to self-study by interested laypersons or use as a supplement to a more traditional text This illustrated, full-color work shows that linear algebra is a natural language for special relativity. Requiring a minimum of expertise beyond basic matrix theory, the authors use full-color illustrations to introduce inertial frames and Minkowski diagrams that explain the nature of simultaneity, why faster-than-light travel is impossible, and the proper way to add velocities. We resolve the twin paradox, the train-in-tunnel paradox, the pea-shooter paradox and the lesser-known accommodating universe paradox and the bug-rivet paradox that shows how rigidity is incompatible with special relativity. Since Einstein, in his seminal 1905 paper introducing the theory of special relativity, acknowledged his debt to Clerk Maxwell, we fully develop Maxwell's four equations that unify the theories of electricity, optics, and magnetism. These equations also lead to a simple calculation for the frame-independent speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum. (Maxwell himself was unaware that light was a special case of electromagnetic waves.) Several chapters are devoted to early experiments of Roemer, Fizeau, and de Sitter in their efforts to measure the speed of light along with the Michelson-Morley experiment abolishing the necessity of a universal aether. The exposition is thorough, but not overly technical, and bountifully illustrated by cartoons. Supplemental interactive animations are found at Special-Relativity-Illustrated.com. This book is suitable for a one-semester general-education introduction to special relativity. It is especially well-suited to self-study by interested laypersons or use as a supplement to a more traditional text. "Assuming a minimum of technical expertise beyond basic matrix theory, the authors introduce inertial frames and Minkowski diagrams to explain the nature of simultaneity, why faster-than-light travel is impossible, and the proper way to add velocities. We resolve the twin paradox, the train-in-tunnel paradox, the pra-shooter paradox along with the lesser-known bug-rivet paradox that shows how rigidity is incompatible with special relativity. Since Einstein in his seminal 1905 paper introducing special relativity, acknowledged his debt to Clerk Maxwell, we fully develop Maxwell's four equations that unify the theories of electricity, optics, and magnetism. These equations also lead to a simple calculation for the frame independent speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum."--Cover mathematics Contents 10 I. A First Pass 18 II. Galilean Transformations of Frames 100 III. The Speed of Light is ConstantCh 113 IV. Lorentz Transformations of Frames 120 V. Graphic Resolutionof the Paradoxes 143 VI. Energy and MassCh 201 VII. The Mathematics of Waves and Light 215 VIII. Maxwell’s Equations 255 IX. Final Thoughts 351 X. Appendices 375 XI. Supplemental Material Online 405 Bibliography 464 Index 468