- A Note on Relativity before Einstein - The first presentation of the Lorentz transformations, including the crucial time dilation, belongs to Larmor [1897]. [PDF]
- Beneath the Foundations of Spacetime - Special relativity can be derived with moving rulers in such a way that the astonishing connection between space and time can be clearly understood. [PDF]
- Breaking in the 4-vectors: the four-dimensional movement in gravitation, 1905–1910 - The four-dimensional language of physics originated with Poincaré, Minkowski, and Sommerfeld in their study of the geometric and symbolic expressions of gravitational action. 60 pages. [PDF]
- C-Ship - A short overview of special relativity, filled with relativistic ray traced images. Explains relativistic effects using a theoretical spaceship.
- Einstein Light - A multimedia tutorial on Special Relativity. The introductory level takes 10 minutes, but has links to over 40 explanatory pages giving greater depth and breadth.
- Einstein, Nordström and the Early Demise of Scalar, Lorentz Covariant Theories of Gravitation - Conventional thinking says that all Lorentz covariant gravitation theories are unacceptable. 74 pages. [PDF]
- Generalized relativistic velocity addition with spacetime algebra - The general problem of relativistic addition of velocities – and the successive application of noncollinear Lorentz boosts – is addressed. [PDF]
- Henri Poincaré and Relativity Theory - Who created the theory of relativity? This reference identifies the substantial contributions made to relativity theory by the mathematician Henri Poincaré. 254 pages. [PDF]
- Henri Poincaré: A Decisive Contribution to Special Relativity - Henri Poincaré set up all the basic concepts of special relativity several years before Einstein published On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies (Annalen der Physik vol XVII 1905 p. 891-921). This is the short version of the story.
- How Did Einstein Discover Special Relativity? - Dr. John Stachel speculates on how Einstein arrived at SRT. Dr. Stachel is Professor of Physics Emeritus and Director of the Center of Einstein Studies at Boston University.
- How Do You Add Velocities in Special Relativity? - Here is the formula for adding velocities in special relativity when motion occurs in a single direction.
- How Stuff Works: Special Relativity - The major principles of special relativity (SR) are discussed in an accessible way, via 5 segments, to help you understand the lingo and theories involved.
- Imaginary in all directions - There is a preferred algebra of quaternions and complex numbers that is ideally suited to express the equations of special relativity and classical electrodynamics. [PDF]
- Is Travel Faster Than Light Possible? - Individual photons, which tunnel through a quantum barrier, can apparently travel faster than light.
- Jim Doyle's Special Relativity Pages - A growing collection of pages on special relativity, including Special Relativity in under 15 Minutes!
- Lorentz Contraction and Accelerated Systems - Lorentz contraction in systems undergoing constant proper acceleration is proven to be completely self-consistent in the context of special relativity. [PDF]
- Michelson, FitzGerald and Lorentz: the origins of relativity revisited - It is argued that the beginning of relativity theory occurred in early 1889, when G. F. FitzGerald wrote a letter to Oliver Heaviside concerning a result the latter had just obtained from Maxwell's equations. [PDF]
- Minkowski, Mathematicians, and the Mathematical Theory of Relativity - Minkowski claimed scientific priority for a great, new, geometric theory of relativity at the Cologne lecture of 1908, based largely on the work of Poincaré. Poincaré was purposely excluded from the meeting. 42 pages. [PDF]
- Nothing but Relativity - There are many ways to derive the Lorentz transformation without invoking Einstein's constancy of light postulate. The path preferred in this paper restates a simple, established approach. [PDF]
- Poincaré and the Special Theory of Relativity - It is often not appreciated that it took many great minds to finally attain the point of view that is now called ‘the special theory of relativity’. [PDF]
- Quaternions in University-Level Physics Considering Special Relativity - The quaternions are an expansion of complex numbers and show close relations to numerous physically fundamental concepts (e.g. Pauli Matrices). [PDF]
- Relatively Simple - Special Relativity made Relatively Simple offers information and experiments about special relativity.
- Relativistic contraction - Relativists consider it a very important exercise to have students decide how to measure the length of a rapidly moving object.
- Relativistic force transformation - Formulas relating one and the same force in two inertial frames of reference are derived directly from the Lorentz transformation of space and time coordinates. [PDF]
- Relativistic Kinematics - This is how special relativity is taught by Dr. David Morin at Harvard University. 72 pages. [PDF]
- Relativity in its Historical Context - The discovery of special relativity was inevitable, given the momentous discoveries that preceded it.
- Relativity Tutorial - An introduction to relativity using space-time diagrams.
- Santa at Nearly the Speed of Light - An estimate of the speed and distances covered by Santa Claus on Christmas night. The physics is unassailable. The article is hosted on the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory website.
- Space Measurements on a Rotating Platform - The age-old puzzling problem of Lorentz contraction on a rotating platform, i.e., Ehrenfest's paradox, is explained in its proper mathematical context. [PDF]
- Special Relativity - A brief overview of the theory of special relativity, and how it pertains to particles at SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator)
- Special Relativity - This is chapter two of Christoph Schiller's 1000 page walk through the whole of physics, from classical mechanics to relativity, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, quantum theory, nuclear physics and unification. 61 pages. [PDF]
- Special Relativity - Tutorial explains about the postulates, paradox, simulaneity, time dilation, Lorentz transformation constructions, spacetime wheel, and the Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction. Page includes some animated illustrations.
- Special Relativity - A unit for an online relativity textbook explaining special relativistic mathematical physics.
- Special Relativity and Maxwell Equations - A self-contained summary of the theory of special relativity is given, which provides the frame for classical electrodynamics. 26 pages. [PDF]
- Special relativity article - From the free encyclopedia Wikipedia.
- Special relativity lecture notes - A standard introduction to special relativity where explanations are based on pictures called spacetime diagrams.
- Special Relativity simulator - Warp is a program that illustrates the appearance of fast moving objects due to special relativity.
- Student understanding of time in special relativity - A report on the ineffectiveness of standard university instruction in Einstein's concept of time by Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, and Stamatis Vokos. 22 pages. [PDF]
- Synchronization Gauges and the Principles of Special Relativity - Synchronization functions set the mathematical clocks represented by the Lorentz transformation and resetting these clocks mathematically only produces a theory equivalent to special relativity in predicting empirical facts. 57 pages. [PDF]
- The Twin Paradox in a Spatially Closed and Bounded Universe - Spatially compact spacetimes break global Lorentz invariance and define absolute inertial frames of reference.
- Time Dilation - The gamma factor and time dilation can be derived using a very simple clock.
- University Lectures on Special Relativity - Lecture notes on Special Relativity, prepared by J. D. Cresser, Department of Physics, Macquarie University. 44 pages. [PDF]
- Why No 'New Einstein'? - Followers of large well-supported research programs have lots of powerful senior scientists to promote their careers. People with the uncanny ability to ask new questions or recognize unexamined assumptions are often underappreciated. [PDF]