Space Time and Electromagnetism
J. R. Lucas(Author)
Clarendon Press
Published on 1. June 1990
Book
Paperback/Softback
325 pages
978-0-19-852038-2 (ISBN)
Description
That space and time should be integrated into a single entity, spacetime, is the insight of the special theory of relativity, which leads us to regard spacetime as one of the fundamental categories in terms of which we make sense of the world around us. However, it is not the only one - causality is equally important, and at least as the special theory is concerned, not to be subsumed under a fundamentally geometrical form of explanation. The agent of propagation of causal influence is electromagnetic radiation. The light-cone is fundamental to the topology of spacetime. The authors find support for a rationalist approach to physics, rejecting a simple empiricist or positivist view of science.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
line figures, bibliography
ISBN-13
978-0-19-852038-2 (9780198520382)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
The unification of space and time; Relative to what?; Causal approaches; The communication argument; Derivations of the Lorentz transformation; Four-vector transformations; Counterparts, parity, conservation, and symmetry; Retrospect and review; Relativity and reality; The rationality of physics