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Special Relativity (Fall 2017)
General: ( This webpage is updated gradually) - Last Update 31 January 2018
This is a B.Sc. course, which will be held in Physics Department of Sharif University of Technology.
Class Time: Saturdays and Mondays 15:00 - 16:30
Place: TBA
Office Hours: Sundays and Tuesdays 9:00 - 10:00 (Or by appointment - Email: baghram@sharif.edu)
Registered students:
About the Course:
This is an introductory course on Special Relativity. The aim is to understand one of the greatest science achievements in humankind history, understand the structure of space and time when the gravity is absent.
Teacher Assitants:
Miss Nilofar Vardian Email address: niloofarvardian@gmail.com
Mr. Farshad Kamalinejad Email address: farshad.kamalinejad@gmail.com
TA Class Group 1: Mondays 13:30 - 15:00 Mr. Farshad Kamalinejad Place: Physics I
TA Class Group 2: Tuesdays 12:30 - 13:30 Mr. Farshad Kamalinejad Place: Partovi
TA Class Group 3: Tuesdays 13:30 - 15:00 Miss Nilofar Vardian Place: Partovi
Grading:
Mid-term 1 : 4 points YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS HERE. Monday 30 October 2017 / 8 Aban 1396 @ 15:00 - 16:30
Mid-term 2: 5 points YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS HERE. Monday 4 December 2017 / 13 Azar 1395 @ 15:00 - 16:30
Assignments: 4 points YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS HERE.
The score is calculated by setting A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, delays = -1 and the total score is \Sigma(# A * 4 + #B *3 + #C *2 + #D) / 24 + 1.0*quiz
Projects and Class Activity: 1.0 point Presentation date: (Must be a very high quality project)
Presentation Day: Monday 4 Day 1396
Final Exam: 7 points YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS HERE. Sunday 1 Bahman 96 - 21 January 2018 @ 9:00
Total grade: from 21.0 YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL GRADING HERE
Suggested Reading:
Main guidline: Class Lecture Notes
& Relativity: Special general and Cosmology: Wolfgang Rindler 2006
نسبیت خاص- شهرام خسروی و رضا منصوری انتشارات دانشگاه صنعتی شریف 1389
Introduction to Classical Mechanics: David Morin Cambridge University Press 2008
Basic Relativity, R.A. Mould, 1994, chapter 1,2,3
Special Relativity: An Introduction with 200 Problems and Solutions: Michael Tsamparlis, springer 2010
Special Relativity, David W. Hoggs, 1997, whole lecture
Special Relativity : A. P. French 1968
Classical Electrodynamics, J.D. Jackson, 1999 third edition Chapter 11.6 and 11.7
Spacetime and Geometry: Introduction to General Relativity, Sean Carroll, Addison Wesley 2004 Chapter 1 -2
Introducing Einstein's Relativity, Ray d'Inverno, Oxford University Press- Chapter 5
Classical Mechanics: Goldstein, Poole and Safko, Addison Wesley 2002 Chapter 7
Gravitation: Foundation and Frontiers T.Padmanabhan, Cambridge University Press: 2010 Chapter 1
For Classical Field Theory and Special Relativity you can refer to:
1) A modern introduction to quantum field theory by Michele Maggiore Oxford University Press - 2005
2) An Introduction to Quantum Field Theory by Daniel V. Schroeder and Michael Peskin (1995)
3) David Tong: Lectures on Quantum Field Theory - Cambridge University
For Mathematical basis of Tensors calculus
1) Mathematical Physics: A Modern Introduction to Its Foundations by Sadri Hassani (1999)
2) The Geometry of Physics by Theodore Frankel (1997)
Lecture Notes
Introduction to Tensor Calculus by Kees Dullemond & Kasper Peeters
Lecture Notes on Electrodynamic and Special Relativity by David Tong
Lectrure Notes and Presentations:
Classical Field Theory and Special Relativity
Lorentz Group and Thomas Precession
Time Line of Lectures:
Lecture 1: ( Saturday - 16 Sep 2017)
a) An introduction to the class routines and regulations, grading and etc… b) A historical perspective on the concept of space – time c) Newtonian Mechanics, Absolute space and Time, Galilean Transformations d) Beyond Newtonian absoluteness
Lecture 2: ( Monday - 18 Sep 2017)
In thsi lecture we study the Maxwellian EM theory and we discuss about the propagation of light as the propagation of EM field. Then we introduce the concept of ether, where we come up with the need of absolute space time filled with this unknown staff. Then we showed how the Galiliean transformations are not suitable for EM equations in Initial frames. (We discuss the life and work of Mach )
Lecture 3: (Saturday - 23 Sep 2017)
In this lecture we propose the two axioms of special relativity and we obtained the Lorentz transformation for the standard configuration.
Lecture 4: ( Monday - 25 Sep 2017)
In this lecture, we review the concept of space and time measurments. Then we study the Lorentz transformation and discuss the concept of length contraction and time dilation. (We discuss the life and work of Hendrik Lorentz (18531928) )
Lecture 5 : ( Monday - 2 Oct 2017 )
In this lecture, we re-study the concept of length contraction and time dilation.
Lecture 6 : ( Saturday 7 Oct 2017 )
In this lecture, we study the concept of the space-time length and its invariance due to Lorentz invariance. Then we study the concept of calibrating hyperbolas.
Lecture 7 : ( Monday 9 Oct 2017)
In this lecture, we study the paradox of ladder and barn and we discuss it via Minkowski space diagrams.
Lecture 8 : ( Saturday 14 Oct 2017)
In this lecture, we study the paradox of ladder and barn and we discuss it via Minkowski space diagrams.
Lecture 9 : (Monday 16 Oct 2017)
In this lecture we discuss the concept of relative velocities in SR. The concept of rapidity and metric.
In this lecture we discuss the concept of relative velocities in SR. The concept of rapidity and metric.
In this lecture we study the special relativistic optic. The Fizeau experimentt, the Doppler effect and aberration is studied.
In this lecture we study the concept of the proper acceleration and general linear coordinate transformation which is used to define the derivative operators as a 4-vector.
In this lecture we study the concept of 4-acceleration then we discuss the constant accelerated observers and their implications.
In this lecture, we start the special relativistic dynamics. The concept of 4-momentum is introduced. Then we define the relativistic mass and Energy-mass equivalence is discussed. (We discuss the life adn work of Max Planck (1858-1947) )
In this lecture we study the concept of the 4-momentum conservation and as a specific example we study the Compton effect. Also we argue that the mass-energy relation can be used as a method to define the fundamental units of length/time and mass in terms of rest mass of proton (1GeV).
In this lecture we solve couple of examples for relativistic dynamics to become more familiar with the concepts of energy, relativistic kinetic energy and 4-momentum conservation. (We discuss the life and work of Arthur Compton (1892-1962) )
In this lecture we solve couple of example for special relativity, we focus on astrophysical jet problem.
In this lecture we will introduce the concept of 4-force and its relation with 4-acceleration and concept of power/work in SR. (Reference letter of Poincare and Marie Curie for Einstein)
The relativistic special relativity is discussed.
The official Holiday.
The relativistic special relativity is discussed. The concept of EM tensor is introduced, the Maxwell equation is rederived from SR point of view.
The electric and magnetic field of a charge is studied in two special relativistic coordinates. The energy-momentum tensor of Electromagnetism is discussed.
We study the concept of classical field theory and its special relativistic manifestation is discussed.
Noether theorem in classical field theory is dicussed. The field equation of Maxwell theory is obtained and the concept of Energy-Momentum tensor is stablished in classical relativistic field theory.
We review the previous two session of classical field theory. Also we discuss the concept of covariant and contravariant vectors via the mathematics of manifold, tangent space and ...
Thomas Precision of electrodynamics is discussed, the concept of non-inertial frames, instantaneous frames are studied. The we discuss the life of Albert Einstein through pictures.
Assignments
1) The Problem Set 1 Solution Problem Set 1
3) The Problem Set 3 Solution Problem Set 3
5) The Problem Set 5 Solution Problem Set 5
7) The Problem Set 7 Solution Problem Set 7
Assignments Corresponding to Special Relativity Course - Fall 2016
Essays - Projects:
The projects and essays for this course must be prepared in high quality in science and presentation. It must be match with standards of presentations. The grading for this part as it is optional is very strict. So do not put your time for this unless you are determined to do a high quality job.
Classic Papers:
Einstein paper on Special Relativity 1905 - In German and its English translation
Useful Links:
Introduction to Special Relativity by Bruce Knuteson : MIT course 2005 : click here
Relativity by Max Tegmak: MIT open course 2006: click here
Special Relativity course
taught in Standford by Susskind (Spring 2012):
click here