- #1
Sobhan
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I can't understand the transformation can anyone explain it to me.and suggest a good book on it.
Understanding Lorentz Transformation: Explained and Recommended Readings
- Thread starter Sobhan
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around understanding Lorentz transformations, particularly in the context of special relativity. Participants seek clarification on the topic and recommendations for appropriate reading materials based on their varying levels of knowledge and educational backgrounds.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Homework-related
Main Points Raised
- One participant expresses difficulty in understanding Lorentz transformations and requests explanations and book recommendations.
- Another participant suggests that a foundational understanding from a textbook is necessary before seeking help on specific issues.
- Concerns are raised about the appropriateness of book recommendations based on the inquirer’s educational level and background.
- Several participants ask for more information regarding the inquirer's current studies, including the type of course and specific problems faced with Lorentz transformations.
- A participant mentions studying for an astronomy Olympiad, indicating a focus on cosmology, which may influence the type of resources needed.
- Recommendations for non-mathematical treatments of relativity are made, including a suggestion for a specific book suitable for high school students.
- Another participant shares a specific interest in kinematics within special relativity.
- A participant presents a thought experiment related to the relativity of simultaneity and seeks feedback on their understanding.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the best resources or methods for understanding Lorentz transformations, as opinions vary based on individual educational backgrounds and needs. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the most effective approach to learning the topic.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the lack of specific details about the inquirer's educational context and the varying levels of understanding among participants. There are unresolved questions about the specific problems faced with Lorentz transformations.
Who May Find This Useful
This discussion may be useful for high school students studying special relativity, educators seeking to understand student challenges, and individuals looking for book recommendations on the topic of Lorentz transformations and special relativity.
- #2
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You do realize that you are essentially asking people to write you part of a textbook? You will get a lot more out of Physics Forums if you read a real textbook first and then ask about anything specific which you find problematic or unclear.
- #3
Sobhan
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My problem is that I don't know a good book to read.
- #4
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What is a good book depends a lot on your current level in physics. A physics university student is going to find books written for people who have not seen physics since high school too simplistic and so on. You are really giving too little information.
Depending on your level, you might also have to come to terms with the fact that without several years of intensive studies, you may not really understand it.
Depending on your level, you might also have to come to terms with the fact that without several years of intensive studies, you may not really understand it.
- #5
George Jones
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Pursuing further Orodruin's tack ...
Where have you seen Lorentz transformations? In a sophomore/junior U.S. modern physics course (physicists call these boosts along the x-axis)? In a (post)grad course on quantum field theory? Somewhere else?
Where have you seen Lorentz transformations? In a sophomore/junior U.S. modern physics course (physicists call these boosts along the x-axis)? In a (post)grad course on quantum field theory? Somewhere else?
- #6
Sobhan
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There is a course in my school about the special relativity,and i can not use this transformation correctly to solve problems,so i wanted to have deeper studies on it.
- #7
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Sobhan said:
Again: please give more information! Is this a High School course which happens to cover some SR? Is this a college course about General Physics which covers some SR? Is this a dedicated SR course? In which grade are you?
What are the problems you're having with them. Can you give us a problem you cannot do and tell us why you cannot do it?
- #8
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Sobhan said:
But you have not even told us what kind of school you are going to, which makes it completely impossible for us to guess your level. If you want help you need to provide sufficient information, otherwise we would just be guessing wildly and people here are not the kind of people who like doing so.
- #9
Sobhan
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well i am going to high school and studying for astronomy Olympiad and one of the subjects i have got to go through is cosmology.
- #10
George Jones
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So I suspect you mean boosts restricted to one particular axis.
- #11
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You will then want a very non-mathematical treatment. You could try something like Relativity for poets by @bcrowell . It is a non-mathematical treatment of relativity which you can download for free.
@bcrowell : I just noticed you have a bad page break between pages 55 and 57. Page 56 is a set of figures and page 57 only contains the words "earth's surface", just thought you might want to know.
@bcrowell : I just noticed you have a bad page break between pages 55 and 57. Page 56 is a set of figures and page 57 only contains the words "earth's surface", just thought you might want to know.
- #12
Sobhan
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well what i want more is kinematics in special relativity
- #13
George Jones
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A short, good book that might be suitable for good high school students is "A Traveler's Guide to Spacetime: An Introduction to the Special Theory of Relativity" by Thomas Moore.
- #14
- #15
Sobhan
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Ia the above writing understandable?
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