1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910791740103321

Autore

Friedrichs K. O (Kurt Otto), <1901-1983, >

Titolo

From Pythagoras to Einstein / / K.O. Friedrichs

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington : , : Mathematical Association of America, , 1965

ISBN

0-88385-931-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (vii, 88 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Anneli Lax New Mathematical Library ; ; no. 16

Disciplina

516.83

Soggetti

Pythagorean theorem

Dynamics

Relativity (Physics)

Vector analysis

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

The Pythagorean theorem -- Signed numbers -- Vectors -- Components and coordinates. Spaces of higher dimension -- Momentum and energy. Elastic impact -- Inelastic impact -- Space and time measurement in the special theory of relativity -- Momentum and energy in the special theory of relativity. Impact.

Sommario/riassunto

The main thread running through this somewhat unorthodox approach to the special theory of relativity is the Pythagorean theorem. It appears in its most elementary geometric form in the very beginning of this monograph. Then it reappears in algebraic garb, it is further modified and finally reinterpreted to play the role of one of the main characters in the special theory of relativity.   The first four chapters are easily accessible to high school sophomores or juniors. The remaining part of the book may be a little difficult for students who never studied physics, although the author actually employs only the notion of impact and presupposes no background in physics. With the aid of the vector geometry introduced earlier, he leads the reader from the impact conservation laws to the famous formula e=mc^2.