Katherine Blundell
teaching
The notes below refer to the Special Relativity course for 1st year undergraduates reading Physics or Physics & Philosophy in Michaelmas Term 2011
Syllabus
-
Special theory of relativity restricted throughout to problems in
one space dimension. The constancy of the speed of light; simultaneity.
The Lorentz transformation (derivation not required).
Time dilation and length contraction. The addition of velocities.
Invariance of the space-time interval.
Energy, momentum, rest mass and their relationship for a single
particle. Conservation of energy and momentum. Elementary
kinematics of the scattering and decay of sub-atomic particles,
including the photon. Relativistic Doppler effect (longitudinal
only).
This is reproduced from the Oxford Physics undergraduate handbook.
Problem Sheets
- Problem Sheet 1
- Problem Sheet 2
- The Wonderful World of Relativity, Andrew M. Steane, (OUP, 2011 - hot off the press!!)
- Special Relativity, A P French, (MIT, Physics Series) [Nelson, 1968]
- Spacetime Physics, E F Taylor & J A Wheeler (Freeman, 1992) Several publishers including Nelson, Chapman & Hall.
- Introductory Special Relativity, W G V Rosser
- Lectures on Special Relativity, M G Bowler (Pergamon, 1986)
- Special Theory of Relativity, H Muirhead, (Macmillan)
- Introducing Special Relativity, W S C Williams (Taylor & Francis, 2002)
Schedule
| Day | Oxford Week | Gregorian calendar | Time | Location |
| Wed | 4 | 02-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Mon | 5 | 07-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Tues | 5 | 08-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Mon | 6 | 14-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Tues | 6 | 15-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Wed | 6 | 16-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Mon | 7 | 21-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Tues | 7 | 22-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Mon | 8 | 28-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |
| Tues | 8 | 29-Nov-2011 | 10-11 | Martin Wood LT |