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Writing a new book on the classic subject of Special Relativity, on
which numerous important physicists have contributed and many books
have already been written, can be like adding another epicycle to
the Ptolemaic cosmology. Furthermore, it is our belief that if a
book has no new elements, but simply repeats what is written in the
existing literature, perhaps with a different style, then this is
not enough to justify its publication. However, after having spent
a number of years, both in class and research with relativity, I
have come to the conclusion that there exists a place for a new
book. Since it appears that somewhere along the way, mathem- ics
may have obscured and prevailed to the degree that we tend to teach
relativity (and I believe, theoretical physics) simply using
"heavier" mathematics without the inspiration and the mastery of
the classic physicists of the last century. Moreover current trends
encourage the application of techniques in producing quick results
and not tedious conceptual approaches resulting in long-lasting
reasoning. On the other hand, physics cannot be done a la carte
stripped from philosophy, or, to put it in a simple but dramatic
context A building is not an accumulation of stones As a result of
the above, a major aim in the writing of this book has been the
distinction between the mathematics of Minkowski space and the
physics of r- ativity."
In most undergraduate physics classes Special Relativity is taught
from a simplistic point of view using Newtonian concepts rather
than the relativistic way of thinking. This results in students
often finding it difficult to understand properly the new
approach/new ideas, and consequently to solve relativistic
problems. Furthermore, a number of books treat the theory using
advanced mathematics which is not necessary for the first approach
to the theory. This book is intended to serve two roles: a. To
treat a student in a systematic constructive way to the basic
structure of the theory and b. To provide a large number of solved
in-detail problems in the kinematics and dynamics of Special
Relativity. Concerning the first aim the book introduces the basics
of four-dimensional mathematics, i.e., Lorentz metric, relativistic
tensors, and prepares, through working examples, the transition to
General Relativity, which requires, besides the relativistic
concepts, the use of Differential Geometry and tensor analysis. The
presentation is concise and does not replace a book on Special
Relativity. Concerning the second intention the large number of
problems provides the necessary material which can be used in order
to familiarize the student with the relativistic
“world”. These problems can be used in the class by the
teachers either as working examples or as problem sheets. It will
be our pleasure if the book will be useful to both students and
teachers.
This textbook develops Special Relativity in a systematic way and
offers problems with detailed solutions to empower students to gain
a real understanding of this core subject in physics. This new
edition has been thoroughly updated and has new sections on
relativistic fluids, relativistic kinematics and on
four-acceleration. The problems and solution section has been
significantly expanded and short history sections have been
included throughout the book. The approach is structural in the
sense that it develops Special Relativity in Minkowski space
following the parallel steps as the development of Newtonian
Physics in Euclidian space. A second characteristic of the book is
that it discusses the mathematics of the theory independently of
the physical principles, so that the reader will appreciate their
role in the development of the physical theory. The book is
intended to be used both as a textbook for an advanced
undergraduate teaching course in Special Relativity but also as a
reference book for the future.
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