Relativity The Special and General Theory

by Einstein, Albert

• ISBN13: 9780486417141
• ISBN10: 048641714X
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-18
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Widely considered the greatest contribution to the philosophy of science, Einstein's theory of relativity has often been viewed as comprehensible only to highly trained scientists. This book, however, contains the great physicist's own explanation of both the special and the general theories, written for readers interested in the theory but not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics. Presenting the ideas in their simplest, most intelligible form, this three-part volume outlines the special theory, the general theory, and in a final part, offers considerations on the universe as whole.

Author Biography

In addition to conducting the research that culminated in his acclaimed theories of relativity, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) taught and lectured at universities around the world. Einstein received numerous awards and honorary doctorate degrees in science, medicine, and philosophy, and he remains a towering symbol of intellectual and imaginative achievement.

It's All Relative
Around 1950, Hayward Cirker, Founder and President of Dover Publications, wrote to Einstein and asked his approval to proceed with a Dover paperback reprint of the 1923 collection of original papers on relativity by Einstein himself and others (H. A. Lorentz, H. Weyl, and H. Minkowski), which had originally been published in England. Einstein was reluctant, wondering how much interest there could possibly be in this relic of his work from 30 or more years earlier. Cirker persisted, and Einstein finally agreed — the Dover edition of The Theory of Relativity has been in print ever since and has been followed by many other Dover books on relativity.

The papers reprinted in this original collection will always be for the serious student the cornerstone of their Einstein library: Michelson's Interference Experiment (H. A. Lorentz); Electromagnetic Phenomena in a System Moving with any Velocity Less Than That of Light (H.A. Lorentz); On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies (A. Einstein); Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon its Energy Content? (A. Einstein); Space and Time (H. Minkowksi with notes by A. Sommerfeld); On the Influence of Gravitation on the Propagation of Light (A. Einstein); and The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity (A. Einstein) found on pages 109–164 of this text; Hamilton's Principle and The General Theory of Relativity (A. Einstein); Cosmological Considerations on the General Theory of Relativity (A. Einstein); Do Gravitational Fields Play an Essential Part in the Structure of the Elementary Particles of Matter? (A. Einstein); and Gravitation and Electricity (H. Weyl).

In the Author's Own Words:
"How can it be that mathematics, being after all a product of human thought independent of experience, is so admirably adapted to the objects of reality?"

"What nature demands from us is not a quantum theory or a wave theory; rather, nature demands from us a synthesis of these two views which thus far has exceeded the mental powers of physicists."

"Do not be troubled by your difficulties with Mathematics, I can assure you mine are much greater." — Albert Einstein

Critical Acclaim for The Theory of Relativity:
"This book constitutes an indispensable part of a library on relativity." — Nature

Table of Contents

The Special Theory of Relativity
Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions	p. 1
The System of Co-ordinates	p. 5
Space and Time in Classical Mechanics	p. 9
The Galileian System of Co-ordinates	p. 12
The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense)	p. 14
The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities employed in Classical Mechanics	p. 19
The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity	p. 21
On the Idea of Time in Physics	p. 25
The Relativity of Simultaneity	p. 30
On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance	p. 34
The Lorentz Transformation	p. 36
The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion	p. 42
Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau	p. 45
The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity	p. 50
General Results of the Theory	p. 52
Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity	p. 58
Minkowski's Four-dimensional Space	p. 65
The General Theory of Relativity
Special and General Principle of Relativity	p. 69
The Gravitational Field	p. 74
The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity	p. 78
In what Respects are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity unsatisfactory?	p. 84
A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity	p. 87
Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference	p. 93
Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum	p. 98
Gaussian Co-ordinates	p. 103
The Space-time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity considered as a Euclidean Continuum	p. 108
The Space-time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity is not a Euclidean Continuum	p. 111
Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity	p. 115
The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity	p. 119
Considerations on the Universe as a Whole
Cosmological Difficulties of Newton's Theory	p. 125
The Possibility of a "Finite" and yet "Unbounded" Universe	p. 128
The Structure of Space according to the General Theory of Relativity	p. 135
Appendices
Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation	p. 139
Minkowski's Four-dimensional Space ("World") [Supplementary to Section XVII.]	p. 146
The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity	p. 148
Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury	p. 150
Deflection of Light by a Gravitational Field	p. 152
Displacement of Spectral Lines towards the Red	p. 155
Bibliography	p. 161
Index	p. 165
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