ANNOUNCEMENTS
Phys 310/Math 310 - January 2002

1/23/02

I have placed a copy of the notes for today's lecture on Relativistic Electromagnetism here. This document is in PDF format; contact me if you have any difficulty accessing it.

1/22/02

The schedule has been updated to reflect what we actually did in class.

1/16/02

I was asked about supplemental angles in class yesterday, and responded incorrectly. Here's the full scoop on hyperbolic angles:

• Hyperbolic angles are only defined between 2 spacelike lines, or between 2 timelike lines.
• In both cases, the angle is defined by radian measure along the (appropriate) unit hyperbola.
• The radian measure of a hyperbolic angle can thus be any real number.
• A hyperbolic "right angle" is spanned by 2 (distinct) vectors whose hyperbolic dot product is 0.
• This can only happen if one vector is spacelike and the other timelike.
• Hyperbolic right angles are therefore not really angles...
• Lightlike vectors have hyperbolic length 0, and are hence orthogonal to themselves!

1/15/02

The problems handed out in class today are optional. However, I encourage you to try a couple of them, and to ask me any questions you might have. You should also take a look at the first version of the twin paradox. (We will discuss the second in class.)

1/11/02

Please read Chapter 2 of my notes. Don't spend too much time on it -- we will cover this material on Monday -- but it will be helpful to have at least seen it before.

1/10/02

A list of some books (and a video) on special relativity can be found here. Griffiths and Taylor & Wheeler will hopefully be on reserve at the library.