The pedagogical value of the four-dimensional picture: I. Relativistic mechanics of point particles

In this paper we outline two subjects of relativistic mechanics: (i) the set of allowable world lines, and (ii) the origin of the relativistic law of dynamics governing point particles. We show that: (i) allowable world lines in the classical theory of particles and fields are quite simple geometric...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inEuropean journal of physics Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 25012 - 9
Main Author Kosyakov, B P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IOP Publishing 01.03.2014
Subjects
Dynamics
four-dimensional picture
Law
Newton second law
Origins
Particles (of physics)
relativistic mechanics
Relativistic particles
Three dimensional
Trajectories
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:In this paper we outline two subjects of relativistic mechanics: (i) the set of allowable world lines, and (ii) the origin of the relativistic law of dynamics governing point particles. We show that: (i) allowable world lines in the classical theory of particles and fields are quite simple geometric objects as opposed to their associated three-dimensional trajectories; and (ii) Newton's second law requires neither modification nor generalization, it should only be smoothly embedded in the four-dimensional geometry of Minkowski spacetime to yield the dynamical law for relativistic particles.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0143-0807
1361-6404
DOI:10.1088/0143-0807/35/2/025012