Publisher's Synopsis
Relativity Revealed: A Concrete Approach You Can Understand presents Einstein's special theory of relativity in clear and simple language. This book is intended for high school students who may have an interest in science, or for adults who simply want to know what relativity is all about. The material in the book was twice presented by the author, Prof. Ray C. Jones, in a series of popular public lectures at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Special relativity concerns the differences in physical quantities, such as time intervals, lengths and masses, that occur when measured by observers who are in constant speed motion relative to each other or to the objects being measured. Although relativity begins with simple statements about the speed of light and the nature of clocks, we soon find that it changes our perceptions of space and time and leads to an understanding of nuclear fission and fusion processes and the radiation of energy from the sun. This book, by an exceptional teacher, is a very good place to begin to learn of these things. In this book, Prof. Jones develops the major ideas of relativity from simple postulates about observations of the speed of light. The basic ideas are presented in simple language, but are then extended into a consistent logical framework with the aid of some minimal high school level mathematics. (The details of mathematical developments are presented in Appendices that will help to sharpen reader's skills.)
