Special
Relativity

Spring 2015
course
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assignments

  due Mon Jan 26

Reading Assignment-1/26/2015

This week in class we will discuss Chapter one of the book "It's About time" by N. David Mermin. Your assignment consists of:
Carefully read the chapter. This means don't read it as novel, but take time to analyze the text. Stop at the end of every paragraph and reflect on the concepts presented. Spend time and particular care in understanding how to apply the principle of relativity. Highlight any new "technical" words.
At the End of the reading:
You must use care in your writing; select the content carefully, summarize it using clear writing, and write in a legibly and organized manner (I will accept assignments electronically as well). Write your name on each page of your assignment!
  due Mon Feb 2

Reading Assignment-2/2/2015

Reading Chapter 1 & 2 of the book "It's About time" by N. David Mermin.

Here is the Assignment 2 (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

  due Mon Feb 9

Reading Assignment-2/9/2015

During this class we will review how to combine small velocities, we will discuss some of the main concepts presented in Chapter 3, and we will start to discuss Chapter 4. We will probably spend more time discussing Chapter 4 during the following week.
Reading up to the end of page 38 (stop after formula 4.17), including Chapter 3, if you did not read it yet (the past week, I mistakenly wrote 1&2 instead than 2&3, but I gave you the assignment on 2&3). In Chapter 4 there is a very long demonstration, your main work is try to understand it to the best of your ability.
Your written assignment is: Describe without using formulas the procedure the book uses to find the velocity addition rule. i.e. Imagine explaining this part of chapter 4 to someone that is not reading this book.
 

snow day exercises

See email
  due Mon Feb 16

Reading Assignment-2/16/2015

  due Mon Feb 23

Reading Assignment-2/23/2015

Some resources that could help you:
Time dilation:
Length contraction:
Simultaneity:

 

Reading Assignment-3/02/2015

There is no new reading for this monday. Please, use this time to review and submit any of the missing assignments. The mid-tem is moved to the fourth (it is a Wednesday)
  due Wed Mar 4

MID-TERM

We don't meet on Wednesday, you can leave your assignment under my door, or submit it online. I will send you the assignment by email on Feb the 26th.
  due Mon Mar 9

Reading Assignment-3/09/2015

Reading Chapter 7.
Here is the 5th assignment (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

  due Mon Mar 30

Reading Assignment-3/30/2015

Reading Chapter 8.
Here is the 6th assignment (you need to login to be able to see it!!)
  due Mon Apr 6

Reading Assignment-4/6/2015

Reading Chapter 9.
Here is the 7th assignment (you need to login to be able to see it!!)
  due Mon Apr 13

Reading Assignment-4/13/2015

Reading Chapter 10 stop at page 126 (at the sentence "...it is plied to a moving pole.")
Written assignment: Describe in your own words figures 10.10, 10.11 and 10.14.
  due Mon Apr 20

Reading Assignment-4/20/2015

Reading Chapter 10 stop at page 132. Chapter 11 up to page 154 end of the first paragraph.

Here is the 9th assignment (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

  due Mon Apr 27

Reading Assignment-4/27/2015

Reading finish chapter 11 (stop at page 164)
10th assignment TBD

  due Mon May 4

Reading Assignment-5/4/2015

Reading chapters 12 & 13
Here is the 10th assignment (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

  due Fri May 8

Final

final (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

 

Reviewing material

At this link you can find some practice problems (you need to login to be able to see it!!)

Some resources that could help you:
Time dilation:
Length contraction:
Simultaneity:
Tutorial:
Notes on Special relativity:
Games:

 

Final Grade

http://cs.marlboro.edu/ courses/ spring2015/relativity/ special/assignments
last modified Friday May 15 2015 10:35 am EDT