Objectives and Homework for August 30, 2005.
[1] Know what is meant by the term “Inertial Reference Frame (IRF)”, and know how different IRFs may be related.
[2] Understand what is meant by the term “Galilean Transformation”. Hint: it's pathetic.
[3] Understand why Maxwell's Equations, coupled with the Galilean Transformation Law, require the existence of an “Ether”.
[4] Understand the Michelson-Morley Experiment, what it implies, and why. Be able to discuss the pros and cons of various interpretations of its results.
[5] Be able to write down (and hence apply!) the Lorentz Transformations.
[6] Know what the “Lorentz” or “Gamma” factor is.
[7] Know the fundamental postulate on which Einstein based his Special Theory of Relativity, and be able to use that postulate to derive and explain the following SR results:
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The relativity of simultaneity |
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The effect of time dilation |
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The effect of length contraction |
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The relativistic addition of velocities |
[8] Be able to discuss a few of the experimental verifications of Special Relativity.
[9] Be able to construct and interpret spacetime diagrams.
[10] Understand how the axes on a spacetime diagram are related for different inertial observers.
[11] Understand the terms “world line”, “past light cone”, and “future light cone”.
[12] Understand the term “causality”, and understand what it means for two events to be “causally connected”.
[13] Know what is meant by the invariant interval between two events, and realize that it is special because it is preserved by all Lorentz transformations.
[14] Understand what is meant by the terms “lightlike”, “spacelike”, and “timelike” when applied to spacetime intervals.
Homework for Friday, September 2, 2005.
[1] Read Sections 2.1 - 2.8 in Thornton and Rex.
[2] Do Problems 1, 11, 13, 16, 20, 35, & 37 at the end of Chapter 2 (pp. 75-76) in Thornton and Rex.