Discovering Relativity for Yourself

Discovering Relativity for yourself explains Einstein's Theory of Relativity to readers who are daunted by the standard mathematical approach to that profound theory.

Lilley (Author)

9780521297806, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 31 March 1981

440 pages
23.2 x 15.6 x 1.1 cm, 1.76 kg

Discovering Relativity for yourself explains Einstein's Theory of Relativity to readers who are daunted by the standard mathematical approach to that profound theory. For twenty years Sam Lilley taught this subject to adults with no science background. Now he has written an explanation of the theory that demands no prior knowledge of mathematics or physics beyond an ability to do simple arithmetic. The first quarter of the book uses no more than arithmetic and a little simple geometry to introduce some of the main concepts of the theory, as well as discussing an impressive experimental test, which comes down strongly in its favour. When eventually further progress demands use of algebra and other mathematical techniques, these are carefully explained in a way that makes them accessible to absolute beginners, using many new and unorthodox methods.

1. Getting started
2. Rough and ready Relativity
3. The dilation of time
4. Three clocks and a pair of twins
5. Starting again
6. Space-time diagrams
7. Time and distance 'over there'
8. Co-ordinate systems
9. Combining speeds
10. Causality and the speed of light
11. The nature of spacetime
12. Interval
13. Old friends revisited
14. The scales of the spacetime diagram
15. The radar point of view
16. Relations between the radar and time–distance systems
17. Constant acceleration
18. Dynamics - mass, momentum, force
19. The mass-energy relation
20. The effect of acceleration on time measurement
21. Time as experienced by a constant acceleration traveler
22 Time and distance measurements of a constant acceleration observer
23. The Principle of Equivalence
24. The metric
25. Introducing geodesics
26. How to find ordinary geodesics
27. Inverse square law gravity
28. Curved spacetime
29. The metric around the Sun
30. Light and gravity
31. The scandal about Mercury
32. How Einstein did it
33. A few conclusions.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH]