Special Relativity

  1. Spacetime: The Geometric View
    1. The Concept of Spacetime
      1. Unification of Space and Time
        1. Four-Dimensional Continuum
          1. Spacetime as Fundamental Arena
          2. Events in Spacetime
            1. Definition of an Event
              1. Point in Spacetime
                1. Coordinate Specification
                2. Coordinates in Spacetime
                  1. Spatial Coordinates
                    1. Temporal Coordinate
                3. The Spacetime Interval
                  1. Definition and Mathematical Formulation
                    1. Minkowski Metric
                      1. Interval Calculation
                      2. Invariance of the Spacetime Interval
                        1. Frame-Independent Quantity
                          1. Geometric Significance
                          2. Timelike, Spacelike, and Lightlike Intervals
                            1. Physical Interpretation
                              1. Causal Relationships
                                1. Particle Trajectories
                                  1. Light Signals
                              2. Minkowski Diagrams
                                1. Visualizing Spacetime
                                  1. Axes and Units
                                    1. Time Axis Representation
                                      1. Space Axis Representation
                                        1. Unit Conventions
                                      2. World Lines
                                        1. Representation of Particle Motion
                                          1. Stationary Objects
                                            1. Moving Objects
                                              1. Accelerated Motion
                                            2. The Light Cone
                                              1. Past Light Cone
                                                1. Causal Past
                                                  1. Observable Events
                                                  2. Future Light Cone
                                                    1. Causal Future
                                                      1. Influenceable Events
                                                      2. Elsewhere
                                                        1. Spacelike Separated Events
                                                          1. Simultaneous Events
                                                        2. Representing Simultaneity, Dilation, and Contraction
                                                          1. Lines of Simultaneity
                                                            1. Frame-Dependent Simultaneity
                                                              1. Tilted Time Axes
                                                              2. Visualizing Time Dilation
                                                                1. Clock Comparisons
                                                                  1. Proper Time Intervals
                                                                  2. Visualizing Length Contraction
                                                                    1. Spatial Measurements
                                                                      1. Simultaneity Effects

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                                                                4. The Lorentz Transformations

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                                                                6. Relativistic Mechanics