Introduction |
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1 | (4) |
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Space--time diagrams and the foundations of special relativity |
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5 | (30) |
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The concept of a space--time |
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5 | (7) |
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Causality and the speed of light |
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12 | (12) |
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Relative motion in special relativity |
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24 | (11) |
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Fundamentals of measurement |
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35 | (14) |
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35 | (2) |
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37 | (4) |
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41 | (3) |
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World maps, world pictures, and radar maps |
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44 | (5) |
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Measurements in flat space--times |
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49 | (73) |
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49 | (10) |
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59 | (11) |
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70 | (6) |
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76 | (12) |
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88 | (8) |
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The whole package of kinematic effects |
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96 | (6) |
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102 | (18) |
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The consistency of physics |
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120 | (2) |
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The Lorentz transformation and the invariant interval |
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122 | (64) |
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The Lorentz transformation |
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122 | (17) |
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Space--time separation invariants |
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139 | (23) |
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Some flat-space universes |
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162 | (24) |
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186 | (54) |
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186 | (3) |
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Acceleration and gravitation: the principle of equivalence |
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189 | (6) |
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Freely falling motion and the meaning of geodesics |
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195 | (6) |
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The metric form and the metric tensor |
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201 | (5) |
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206 | (3) |
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209 | (8) |
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217 | (2) |
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Parallel propagation along a curve |
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219 | (3) |
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Further tests of Einstein's theory |
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222 | (4) |
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226 | (3) |
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Detection of gravitational waves |
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229 | (3) |
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Alternative theories and approaches |
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232 | (8) |
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Spherical and stellar collapse |
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240 | (24) |
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The Schwarzschild solution |
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240 | (9) |
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Spherical collapse to black holes |
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249 | (6) |
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255 | (2) |
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Black hole evaporation and thermodynamics |
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257 | (3) |
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Black hole candidates and ways of detecting them |
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260 | (4) |
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Simple cosmological models |
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264 | (49) |
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264 | (7) |
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The evolution of the universe |
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271 | (6) |
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277 | (7) |
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284 | (9) |
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The light cone, observational limits, and horizons |
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293 | (8) |
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Steady-state and inflationary universes |
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301 | (4) |
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305 | (3) |
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308 | (3) |
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311 | (2) |
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313 | (2) |
Afterword |
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315 | (53) |
Appendices |
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318 | (7) |
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B. Four-vectors and relativistic dynamics |
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325 | (16) |
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C. Four-vectors, electromagnetism, and energy-momentum conservation |
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341 | (27) |
Symbols used |
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368 | (1) |
Index |
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369 | |