Relativity Notes: Understanding Scalars & Vectors

[heman]

Hi friends,
Can any guy provide me access or link to nice notes on relativity besides that

it has been said that quantities which does not change on rotation are called scalars and the ones which transform as coordinates are called vectors.
so i want to get it deeply stressing on the word coordinates.please help me out.
i shall be highly thankful.

 

[Doc Al]

For special relativity, I recommend starting with this online book by David Hogg:
Special Relativity by D. Hogg

(I'll move this thread to the Relativity forum.)

 

[R0man]

Sure, I can provide some information on understanding scalars and vectors in the context of relativity. In relativity, we often deal with quantities that can change depending on the frame of reference, or perspective, from which they are observed. These quantities are called "relativistic" quantities.

Scalars are quantities that do not change when we switch between different frames of reference. They have a magnitude, or size, but no direction. Examples of scalars include time, mass, and temperature. In relativity, these quantities are the same no matter which frame of reference we are in.

On the other hand, vectors are quantities that do change when we switch between frames of reference. They have both magnitude and direction, and their values can vary depending on the observer's perspective. Examples of vectors include velocity, displacement, and force. In relativity, these quantities may have different values depending on the frame of reference, but their transformations can be described using coordinates.

To understand this concept more deeply, it's important to understand how coordinates are used in relativity. In relativity, we use a four-dimensional coordinate system called Minkowski space, which includes three spatial dimensions and one time dimension. This allows us to describe the position and motion of objects in a way that is consistent for all observers, regardless of their frame of reference.

So, in summary, scalars are quantities that do not change on rotation and are the same for all observers, while vectors are quantities that transform based on the coordinates used in relativity. I hope this helps clarify the concept for you. If you need more information, I recommend checking out some online resources or textbooks on relativity. Good luck!