Relativity: The Special and the General TheoryAn accesible version of Einstein's masterpiece of theory, written by the genius himself According to Einstein himself, this book is intended "to give an exact insight into the theory of Relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." When he wrote the book in 1916, Einstein's name was scarcely known outside the physics institutes. Having just completed his masterpiece, The General Theory of Relativity—which provided a brand-new theory of gravity and promised a new perspective on the cosmos as a whole—he set out at once to share his excitement with as wide a public as possible in this popular and accessible book. Here published for the first time as a Penguin Classic, this edition of Relativity features a new introduction by bestselling science author Nigel Calder. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
Contents
Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions | 7 |
The System of Coordinates | 10 |
Space and Time in Classical Mechanics | 13 |
The Galileian System of Coordinates | 15 |
The Principle of Relativity in the Restricted Sense | 16 |
The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics | 19 |
The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity | 20 |
On the Idea of Time in Physics | 23 |
In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory? | 67 |
A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity | 69 |
Behaviour of Clocks and MeasuringRods on a Rotating Body of Reference | 73 |
Euclidean and NonEuclidean Continuum | 76 |
Gaussian Coordinates | 79 |
The SpaceTime Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum | 83 |
The SpaceTime Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity Is Not a Euclidean Continuum | 85 |
Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity | 88 |
The Relativity of Simultaneity | 26 |
On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance | 29 |
The Lorentz Transformation | 31 |
The Behaviour of MeasuringRods and Clocks in Motion | 36 |
Theorem of the Addition of the Velocities The Experiment of Fizeau | 38 |
The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity | 42 |
General Results of the Theory | 44 |
Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity | 48 |
Minkowskis FourDimensional Space | 52 |
Special and General Principle of Relativity | 57 |
The Gravitational Field | 60 |
The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity | 63 |
The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity | 91 |
Cosmological Difficulties of Newtons Theory | 97 |
The Possibility of a Finite and Yet Unbounded Universe | 99 |
The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity | 103 |
Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation | 105 |
Minkowskis FourDimensional Space World | 111 |
The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity | 113 |
a Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury | 114 |
b Deflection of Light by a Gravitational Field | 116 |
c Displacement of Spectral Lines towards the Red | 118 |
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acceleration according æther astronomers body of reference centre chest classical mechanics co-ordinate system consideration constant corresponding definition disc distance earth eclipse Einstein electrodynamics embankment emitted energy equations Euclidean Continuum Euclidean geometry experience finite fixed stars Galileian system Gaussian co-ordinates gravitational field gravitational mass hold ideas imagine inertial mass laws of nature length light in vacuo little rods Lorentz transformation manner marble slab material points matter means measure measuring-rods and clocks Minkowski mollusc motion observer obtain orbit physical physicist planet position postulate of relativity principle of relativity propagation of light radius railway carriage ray of light reader reference-body regard rela result rigid body rotation Section simultaneous space-time continuum special relativity special theory spectral lines speed of light spherical square straight line surface system of co-ordinates theoretical theory of relativity three-dimensional tion train transmission of light universe validity velocity of light write to Penguin