28 research outputs found
On Logical Analysis of Relativity Theories
The aim of this paper is to give an introduction to our axiomatic logical
analysis of relativity theories.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figure
A logic road from special to general relativity
We present a streamlined axiom system of special relativity in first-order logic. From this axiom system we ``derive'' an axiom system of general relativity in two natural steps. We will also see how the axioms of special relativity transform into those of general relativity. This way we hope to make general relativity more accessible for the non-specialist
Axiomatizing relativistic dynamics without conservation postulates
A part of relativistic dynamics (or mechanics) is axiomatized by simple and purely geometrical axioms formulated within first-order logic. A geometrical proof of the formula connecting relativistic and rest masses of bodies is presented, leading up to a geometric explanation of Einstein's famous E=mc^2. The connection of our geometrical axioms and the usual axioms on the conservation of mass, momentum and four-momentum is also investigated
Three Different Formalisations of Einsteinâs Relativity Principle
We present three natural but distinct formalisations of Einsteinâs special principle of relativity, and demonstrate the relationships between them. In particular, we prove that they are logically distinct, but that they can be made equivalent by introducing a small number of additional, intuitively acceptable axioms
A logic road from special relativity to general relativity
We present a streamlined axiom system of special relativity in first-order
logic. From this axiom system we "derive" an axiom system of general relativity
in two natural steps. We will also see how the axioms of special relativity
transform into those of general relativity. This way we hope to make general
relativity more accessible for the non-specialist
Twin Paradox and the logical foundation of relativity theory
We study the foundation of space-time theory in the framework of first-order
logic (FOL). Since the foundation of mathematics has been successfully carried
through (via set theory) in FOL, it is not entirely impossible to do the same
for space-time theory (or relativity). First we recall a simple and streamlined
FOL-axiomatization SpecRel of special relativity from the literature. SpecRel
is complete with respect to questions about inertial motion. Then we ask
ourselves whether we can prove usual relativistic properties of accelerated
motion (e.g., clocks in acceleration) in SpecRel. As it turns out, this is
practically equivalent to asking whether SpecRel is strong enough to "handle"
(or treat) accelerated observers. We show that there is a mathematical
principle called induction (IND) coming from real analysis which needs to be
added to SpecRel in order to handle situations involving relativistic
acceleration. We present an extended version AccRel of SpecRel which is strong
enough to handle accelerated motion, in particular, accelerated observers.
Among others, we show that the Twin Paradox becomes provable in AccRel, but it
is not provable without IND.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figure