The Wonderful World of Relativity
A precise guide for the general reader
1st Edition
Published on 6. October 2011
249 pages
978-0-19-100485-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides a lively and visual introduction to Einstein's theory of relativity. It brings to life the excitement of this fascinating subject, for an audience including young people at school (post-16) and the general public with an interest in modern physics. It is different from existing books in that is uses many diagrams and simple equations (the reader is carefully guided through them), and richly rewards the reader with beautiful mathematical and physical insights. It begins by introducing spacetime, in the familiar context of low velocities. It then shows how Einstein's theory forces us to understand time in a new way. Paradoxes and puzzles are introduced and resolved, and the book culminates in a thorough unfolding of the relation between mass and energy. The book draws on the author's many years of experience in writing articles and reviews for a non-expert readership, and presenting physics to school pupils.
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03/2017
Oxford University Press
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10/2011
Oxford University Press
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Person
Andrew M. Steane was born in Bath, England (1965) and educated at Christ's Hospital school and Oxford University. He has been Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford since 2002 and has been a Visiting Professor at various institutes. Steane was awarded the Maxwell Medal and Prize of the Institute of Physics in 2000 for his work on quantum error correction. He has given numerous public lectures and school demonstrations in physics, and in the interaction of science and Christian faith. He is the author of 'Relativity Made Relatively Easy' (OUP, 2012) and 'Faitful to Science: The Role of Science in Religion' (OUP, 2014).
Content
- 1: Introduction
- 2: A preview: the Laws of Motion
- 3: Something odd is happening all around us
- 4: Spacetime
- 5: Reference frames and coordinates
- 6: The basic principles of Relativity
- 7: Foundations re-explored.
- 8: Navigating in spacetime
- 9: Faster than light
- 10: Introduction to momentum and energy
- 11: Conclusion
