Special Relativity: 1 Light, Time & What's Relative

by Robert Piccioni

Overview

Relativity and Quantum Mechanics are the two major pillars of 20th century physics, which together revolutionized our understanding of nature, utterly dismantling Newtonian physics that had been the gold standard of science for over 200 years, and introducing radically new concepts that defy human intuition. These theories may represent the greatest upheaval in the history of science.

This book is the first of several in the Everyone’s Guide Series devoted to Special Relativity.

We will discuss here: the Principle of Relativity, which you may be surprised to learn is not due to Einstein; the remarkable nature of light, which has a unique and critical role in our universe; Einstein’s motivations for the Special Theory; what is relative and what isn’t; and finally, a careful look at why time is relative, different for different observers, and why the question: “What time is it?” cannot be answered generally.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940016575506
Publisher:	Real Science Publishing
Publication date:	04/08/2013
Series:	Everyone's Guide Series , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	656 KB

About the Author

Dr. Piccioni has a B.S. in Physics from Caltech, a Ph.D. in High Energy Physics from Stanford University, was a faculty member at Harvard University and did research at the Stanford Linear Accelerator in Palo Alto, Calif.

Dr. Piccioni has studied with and done research with numerous Nobel Laureates. At Caltech, one of his professors was Richard Feynman, one of the most famous physicists of the 20th century, and a good family friend.

Dr. Piccioni has introduced cutting-edge science to numerous non-scientific audiences, including school children and civic groups. He was guest lecturer on a National Geographic/Lindblad cruise. He has given invited talks at Harvard, Caltech, UCLA, and Stanford University.