1968•Physics EducationOpen access
Special relativity via mechanics
W. G. V. Rosser
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Abstract
It is illustrated how relativistic mechanics can be developed from experiments without introducing the Lorentz transformations. From the experimental result that the limiting speed of accelerated electrons is the speed of light, it is postulated that the numerical value of the limiting speed of accelerated particles has the same numerical value in all inertial reference frames. Together with the principle of relativity this postulate can be used to develop the Lorentz transformations.
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