Relativity for the questioning mind / Daniel F. Styer.
| Author/creator | Styer, Daniel F. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | Baltimore, Md. : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011. |
| Description | xiii, 184 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Moving. The paradox of the mirror -- Space, time, and motion -- The strange behavior of light -- Uncovering relativity. Time dilation -- The great race -- Length contraction -- Clock synchronization -- Exploring relativity. The case of the hungry traveler -- He says, she says -- Speed limits -- Speed addition -- Rigidity, straightness, and strength -- The twin paradox -- The pole in the barn -- Voyage to Spica -- Free-for-all -- Starting and stopping. General relativity -- A pair of clocks start moving -- Black holes -- The vista open to us. |
| Abstract | To those of us who are not mathematicians or physicists, Einstein's theory of relativity often seems incomprehensible, exotic, and of little real-world use. None of this is true. Dan Styer's introduction to the topic not only shows us why these beliefs are mistaken but also shines a bright light on the subject so that any curious-minded person with an understanding of algebra and geometry can both grasp and apply the theory. Styer explains the concepts undergirding relativity in language comprehensible to nonscientists yet precise and accurate enough to satisfy the most demanding professional. He demonstrates how the theory applies to various real-life situations with easy equations and simple, clear diagrams.--[book cover] |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| LCCN | 2010926450 |
| ISBN | 9780801897597 |
| ISBN | 0801897599 |
| ISBN | 9780801897603 (pbk.) |
| ISBN | 0801897602 (pbk.) |