Special Relativity

The specrel package is a Python 3 sandbox tool for understanding basic concepts in special relativity. Easily set up relativistic systems, perform Lorentz transformations, and create plots and animations through a relatively (get it?) simple API.

At a Glance

Spacetime Plots

The Relativity of Simultaneity

Faster-Than-Light Communication

Lorentz Transformations

Simple Spacetime Animations

Time Dilation

Length Contraction

Sequential, Multi-Part Spacetime Animations

The Ladder Paradox

The Twin Paradox

Dependencies

• Matplotlib for plot generation
• FFmpeg for video file writing (for saving animations)

Installation

The specrel package is meant for simple and/or interactive use. To install, run pip install specrel. If you want to save animations, you'll also have to install FFmpeg on your system.

If you don't want to use pip, you can also "install" the package directory manually by copying it to wherever you want to use it, or by adding the containing directory to the Python path (for example, with sys.path.append).

Usage

• For a walkthrough of how to use this package, see the guided tour.
  • Raw files.
• For general documentation, see the docs.
  • Raw files.
• For example code, see examples.

Acknowledgements

The visualization tools in this project are somewhat inspired by MinutePhysics's "Intro to Special Relativity" Course; the animated spacetime diagrams and Lorentz transformation animators in specrel serve a similar purpose to the "spacetime globe" (which is just an interactive spacetime diagram) employed throughout the course.

Knowledge of the details of special relativity comes from my own undergraduate education in physics.