Special Relativity

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What led me more or less directly to the special theory of relativity was the conviction that the electromotive force acting on a body in motion in a magnetic field was nothing but an electric field - Albert Einstein (1952)

Chapter 1 -Introduction

1. Principle of Relativity - [TBD]
2. Michelson-Morely Experiment - Description of the experiment and theory of operation of the Michelson-Morely interferometer.

Chapter 2 - Relativistic Kinematics

1. Light Clock - Derivation of time dilation using a Light Clock
2. Lorentz Contraction - Derivation of Lorentz contraction relation
3. Lorentz Contraction - Second Version
4. Lorentz Transformation - Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation equations
5. Velocity Transformation Rules - Transformation of velocity and g from S to S'
6. Acceleration Transformation Rules - Transformation of acceleration from S to S'
7. Spacetime - Explains the concept of spacetime, events, world-lines etc.
8. Spacetime Diagram - Example of a spacetime diagram
9. Relativistic Optics - The transformation of the reflection angle of a beam of light off a mirror is calculated
10. Uniformly Accelerating Particle - The trajectory of a uniformly accelerating particle is derived

Chapter 3 - Relativistic Dynamics

1. Lorentz 4-Vectors - The Lorentz 4-vector is defined using the position 4-vector as a prototype.
2. Lorentz Tensor - Definition of Lorentz tensor
3. Force Transformation - The transformation rules for the xyx components is derived
4. Inertial Mass - The concept of mass is defined and discussed as it pertains to special relativity
5. Invariant Mass - The concept of invariant mass is defined for both single particles and systems of particles.
6. Longitudinal and Transverse Mass - The relationship between force and longitudinal and transverse mass is derived.
7. Energy-Momentum Tensor - Describes the stress-energy-momentum tensor T.
8. Inertial Energy vs. Mass - An example is given where E/c² does not equal p/c.
9. Conservation of mass - The principle of the conservation is derived from the conservation of momentum law as a corollary. 
10. Center of mass - The center of mass is defined and explained for a discrete and continuous mass distributions.
11. Conservation Laws - The angular and linear momentum conservation theorems are derived 

Chapter 4 - Energy in Special Relativity

1. Relativistic Energy - Calculate the total energy of a relativistic particle using Lagrangian methods
2. Work Energy Theorem in Special Relativity - The expression for the kinetic energy and inertial energy are derived
3. Mass Energy Equivalence - Derivation of the Einstein's famous equation E = mc².
4. Energy and Momentum Transformation Rules - Mass, energy and momentum transformation rules are derived
5. Einstein's Box - Derives the inertia of energy from utilizing the center of mass theorem
6. Mass of a Rotating Cylinder - The rest mass of a rotating cylinder is found as a function of its non-rotating rest mass.
7. Rindler Article - Physics Today article in which Wolfgang Rindler spells out the benefits of velocity.
8. Einstein's 1905 Error - Discusses the error regarding transverse mass in Einstein's 1905 error.
9. Rindler-Denur Paradox - The Rindler-Denur paradox is described and then used to give an example of a radiating body.
10. Nuclear Fission - Example of conservation of mass during fission of Uranium.
11. Cyclotron - Calculate the trajectory of a charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field. 
12. Weight of a Moving Particle in SR - The weight of a moving body is derived using special relativity.

References to Journal Articles on the Concept of Mass in Relativity

Interesting Articles on Mass

1. On the Meaning of E = mc², Mendel Sachs, Int. J. Theo. Phys., Vol. 8(5) (1973)
2. Definitions of mass in special relativity, M.A.B. Whitaker, Physics Education, 1976
3. The mystery of mass-energy, J.W. Warren, Physics Education, January 1976
4. The Classical and Relativistic Concepts of Mass, Erik Eriksen, Kjell Voyenli, Foundations of Physics, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1976
5. A simple relativistic paradox about electrostatic energy, Wolfgang Rindler and Jack Denur, Am. J. Phys. 56(9), September 1988
6. Relativistic generalizations of mass, Bickerstaff, Patsakos, E.J.Phys., 16 (1995)
7. The mass of a gas of massless photons, H. Kolbenstvedt, Am. J. Phys. 63 (1), January 1995
8. Exerpts from Jammer's book on mass, Max Jammer, 1999

Debate on "Proper Mass" vs. "Relativistic Mass"

1. The Advantage of Teaching Relativity with Four-Vectors, Robert W. Brehme, Am. J. Phys., 36(10), October 1968
2. Does mass really depend on velocity, dad, Carl G. Adler, Am. J. Phys., 55(8) August 1987
3. The Concept of Mass, Lev Okun, Physics Today, June 1989
4. Putting to Rest Mass Misconceptions, Physics Today, May 1990
5. In defense of relativistic mass,  T.R. Sandin, Am. J. Phy., 59(11), November 1991
6. Relativistic Mass, Simon Carson, Letters to the Editor, Physics Educ., 33(6), 1998

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