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3: Kinematics in Special Relativity

  • Page ID
    17309
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    • 3.1: Spacetime Diagrams
      Our focus now turns to generalizing the analysis of the many relativistic effects that we uncovered with thought experiments. We begin this quest with a nice graphical technique.
    • 3.2: Lorentz Transformation
      So far we have achieved results one at a time, through thought experiments. Here we will develop a more general mathematical framework to link inertial frames in relative motion which will work for the results we have already obtained, as well as any other new ideas that might come along.
    • 3.3: Velocity Addition
      Having the lorentz transformation pays immediate dividends by giving us a means for rescuing us from another potential paradox. Things start to get a little complicated though, as this deals with three things in relative motion.
    • 3.4: Electricity and Magnetism
      The title of Einstein's original paper on special relativity in 1905 was "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies." We take a moment to discuss the basic premise of this paper.


    This page titled 3: Kinematics in Special Relativity is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Tom Weideman directly on the LibreTexts platform.

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