A Problem-based Introduction To Special And General Relativity: Including Worked Problems And Discussions Of The Ehrenfest Paradox And The Maxwell Equations - Hardcover

Gollin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9819811503 ISBN 13: 9789819811502

Publisher: WSPC, 2025

Synopsis

It is Einstein's Theory of Relativity that braids space and time into a thread from which the fabric of existence is woven; it is Relativity that forces the existence of magnetism, and the Pauli Principle, and the biochemistry of living things. A Newtonian universe would be sterile. There is a fever-dream alienness to Einstein's theory, which offers students a first opportunity to see how profoundly different physical reality is from our familiar (and grossly inaccurate) classical picture. This divergence springs inescapably from a single, simple observation: the speed with which a beam of light travels through empty space is always, always, always 299,792,458 meters per second. It does not matter if the source of light is moving with respect to the measuring apparatus. The speed of light never changes. This book comprises fourteen units spanning Special and General Relativity. If used as a course textbook, the material can serve as the backbone of weekly meetings in which students work together in small groups (closely supervised by the instructor) to solve a number of simple problems, then to discuss the conclusions one can draw from the results. In this way, students will derive for themselves some of the surprising features of our post-classical reality. We will review mathematical techniques as required. Students will be expected to become comfortable using calculus to solve problems as necessary. Completion of each of the four longer problems presented at the end of each unit will require two or three hours.

About this title

About the Author

George D Gollin is a Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois. His research in experimental elementary particle physics has included participation in experiments at Fermilab, the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, and CERN. His scientific interests center on questions concerning the structure and origins of the equations describing the interactions between matter and energy, as well as the fundamental nature of space and time at very small distance scales.

Gollin's pedagogical work has included the creation of three project-based courses for the Illinois Physics curriculum and the inclusion of General Relativity into two required undergraduate physics courses. He designed, then served as founding director of the Illinois professional Masters in Instrumentation and Applied Physics.

Gollin's interest in international higher education, with particular attention towards the difficulties in oversight and regulation of unaccredited schools, led to his election to the Board of Directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in 2006. Between 2004 and 2008 Gollin assisted the "Operation Gold Seal" task force that dismantled the "St. Regis University" diploma mill, convicting its owners and employees of mail fraud and other felonies. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2009 to support research for a book about the case.

Edition details

• Publisher: WSPC
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9819811503
• ISBN 13: 9789819811502
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 368