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Chapter 27

Special Relativity

Book Version 3
By Boundless
Boundless Physics
Physics
by Boundless
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Section 1
Introduction
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Gallilean-Newtonian Relativity

Galilean invariance or Galilean relativity states that the laws of motion are the same in all inertial (or non-accelerating) frames.

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Einstein's Postulates

Special relativity is based on Einstein's two postulates: the Principle of Relativity and the Principle of Invariant Light Speed.

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The Speed of Light

The speed of light in vacuum is a universal physical constant crucial to many areas of physics.

Section 2
Consequences of Special Relativity
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Simultaneity

The relativity of simultaneity is the concept that simultaneity is not absolute, but depends on the observer's reference frame.

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Time Dilation

Time dilation is an actual difference of elapsed time between two events as measured by observers moving relative to each other.

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Effects of Time Dilation: The Twin Paradox and the Decay of the Muon

The twin paradox is a thought experiment: one twin makes a journey into space and returns home to find that twin remained aged more.

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Length Contraction

Objects that are moving undergo a length contraction along the dimension of motion; this effect is only significant at relativistic speeds.

Section 3
Relativistic Quantities
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Relativistic Addition of Velocities

A velocity-addition formula is an equation that relates the velocities of moving objects in different reference frames.

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Relativistic Momentum

Relativistic momentum is given as $\gamma m_{0}v$ where $m_{0}$ is the object's invariant mass and $\gamma$ is Lorentz transformation.

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Relativistic Energy and Mass

In special relativity, as the object approaches the speed of light, the object's energy and momentum increase without bound.

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Matter and Antimatter

Antimatter is composed of antiparticles, which have the same mass as particles of ordinary matter but opposite charge and quantum spin.

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Relativistic Kinetic Energy

Relativistic kinetic energy can be expressed as: $E_{k} = \frac{mc^{2}}{\sqrt{1 - (v/c)^{2})}} - mc^{2}$ where $m$ is rest mass, $v$ is velocity, $c$ is speed of light.

Section 4
Implications of Special Relativity
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Shifting the Paradigm of Physics

Special relativity changed the way we view space and time and showed us that time is relative to an observer.

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Four-Dimensional Space-Time

We live in four-dimensional space-time, in which the ordering of certain events can depend on the observer.

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The Relativistic Universe

Gravity is a geometrical effect in which a metric matrix plays a special role, and the motion of objects are altered by curved space.

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Special Relativity
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