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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: C as speed limit
Message-ID: <759@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Nov-84 13:29:43 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.759
Posted: Thu Nov  8 13:29:43 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 05:35:41 EST
References: <1218@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 27

The fact that C is the limiting velocity ic a consequence of the
fact that any inertial observer measures the same value for C,
coupled with some very general ideas regarding the homogeneity
of space and time.  Others have presented discussions of this so
I will not pursue this.  BUT...

I have recently bought an excellent book, "Relativity Visualized",
by Lewis C. Epstein (must be ordered direct from the publisher, 
Insight Press, 614 Vermont St., San Francisco CA 94107).  It takes
a very intuitive, geometrical approach to both special and general
relativity, and has some unique discussions that are as clear and
easy to understand as any I have seen in the non-technical 
area.  I strongly recommend it to nonphysicists who would like
to understand the basic ideas of relativity better.

Epstein is also the author of "Thinking Physics", available from
the same publisher, a collection of challenging problems in
basic physics, mostly nonmathematical but intended to help
elementary physics students sharpen their physical intuition.
Some of them will even trip up the unwary expert.  This one
is also strongly recommended.
-- 
"When evolution is outlawed, only outlaws will evolve"
	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
	{allegra,ihnp4}!{ut-sally,noao}!utastro!bill	(uucp)
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