Dynamics and Relativity (Paperback)

William David McComb

ISBN 10: 0198501129 / ISBN 13: 9780198501121

Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1999

About this Item

Paperback. Special relativity suffers from the myth that it is difficult. In order to overcome this barrier Dynamics and relativity presents an integrated treatment of classical mechanics and special relativity, by treating classical mechanics as Galilean relativity. This gives students the freedom to formulate a particular problem in one frame of reference and solve it in another, where it takes a simpler form. This strategy, which is central to specialrelativity, is applied to problems in classical mechanics, thus preparing the tools and thought patterns for a treatment of special relativity. Relativity suffers from the myth that it is difficult. In order to overcome this barrier, this book approaches the subject from the point of view of classical mechanics, and demonstrates that the theory of relativity is a natural extension of the familiar equations. It also presents the theory of special relativity, with examples and exercises. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780198501121

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Dynamics and Relativity (Paperback)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198501129
• ISBN 13: 9780198501121
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Dynamics and Relativity provides undergraduates in physics with an unusually accessible introduction to special relativity by emphasizing the connections between relativity and classical mechanics. The book begins by developing classical mechanics in a form that the author calls "Galilean Relativity," which emphasizes frames of reference. The author shows how a problem formulated in one frame of reference can then solved in another where the problem takes a simpler form. After applying this strategy to a number of classical problems, the author discusses the limitations of Galilean Relativity, particularly for handling Maxwell's equations, and then proceeds to develop Special Relativity while drawing extensively on the groundwork from the previous chapters. The book stresses conservation laws throughout and includes a final chapter that briefly outlines General Relativity.

About the Author

William David McComb is at University of Edinburgh.