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The formalism developed in the previous chapter for transforming relationships between physical quantities when measurements are made with respect to observers moving at different velocities, works well when the relative velocities involved are not too large. On the other hand, if the relative velocities involved are significant fractions of the speed of light in vacuum, the (Galilean) transformations derived in Chapter 8 are found to violate a fundamental principle of physics – the ‘principle of relativity’.  This requires adopting more general relationships for such transformations (Lorentz transformations).  Some of the more important consequences are discussed in this chapter, including how the definitions of and relationships between dynamical quantities (such as momentum and energy) need to be generalised. Many of the results can appear radical and non-intuitive in the context of what one has learned about non-relativistic mechanics in earlier chapters.

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Chapter 9 problems.pdf

Answers to Chapter 9 problems