The Manga Guide to Relativity

Preface

Welcome to the world of relativity!

Everyone wonders what relativity is all about. Because the theory of relativity predicts

phenomena that seem unbelievable in our everyday lives (such as the slowing of time and

the contraction of the length of an object), it can seem like mysterious magic.

Despite its surprising, counterintuitive predictions, Einstein’s theory of relativity has been

confirmed many times over with countless experiments by modern physicists. Relativity and

the equally unintuitive quantum mechanics are indispensable tools for understanding the

physical world.

In Newton’s time, when physicists considered velocities much smaller than the speed

of light, it was not a problem to think that the measurement of motion, that is, space and

time, were independent, permanent, and indestructible absolutes. However, by the end of

the 19th century, precise measurements of the speed of light combined with developments

in the study of electromagnetism had set the stage for the discovery of relativity. As a result,

time and space, which had always been considered to be independent and absolute, had to

be reconsidered.

That’s when Einstein arrived on the scene. Einstein proposed that time and space were

in fact relative. He discarded the idea that space and time were absolute and considered that

they vary together, so that the speed of light is always constant.

This radical insight created a controversy just as Galileo’s claim that Earth orbited the

Sun (and not vice versa) shocked his peers. However, once we ventured into space, it was

obvious that Earth was indeed moving.

In a similar way, relativity has given us a more accurate understanding of concepts

regarding the space-time in which we are living. In other words, relativity is the result of

asking what is actually happening in our world rather than saying our world should be a

particular way.

Although this preface may seem a little difficult, I hope you will enjoy the mysteries of

relativity in a manga world together with Minagi and his teacher, Miss Uraga. Finally, I’d like

to express my deep gratitude to everyone in the development bureau at Ohmsha; re_akino,

who toiled over the scenario; and Mr. Keita Takatsu, who converted it into such an interest-

ing manga.

Well, then. Let’s jump into the world of relativity.

Masafumi Yamamoto

June 2009

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RELATIVITY_03.indb 10 3/15/2011 3:25:43 PM

outrageous closing

ceremony

PROLOGUE

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2 prologue

Taigai Academy,

the last day

of schl

before

suer

The schl is

briing with antici-

pation of swiing at

the beach...camping...

and suer

love.

I realize that

your suer

vacation is about

to begin...

Therefore!

Headmaster

Rase Iyaga

I'm giving this year's

junior cla a special

present so that you

can enjoy your suer

break even more.

What's he trying to

pu? The headmaster

is such a crp!

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outrageous closing ceremony 3

And here

it is!

Your fate is now

in my hands!

Math

English

Fr

research

Relativity

none

WHAT?!

This suer, you'

have the oortunity

to study whichever

subject the dart hits.

Do you understand?

He's got to be

kiing!

N-no way! Wait!

If Yashiki throws,

he' surely hit

"None" since he's

the star pitcher.

That's right! Surely,

if "Windmi Yashiki"

does it...

heh

heh

Okay.

Here we go!

Oh no!

Headmaster Iyaga

wi be doing it!

The Whl of Destiny!

w

h

i

r

r

R

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