Theory of Relativity

by Manning, Phillip

• ISBN13: 9781604132946
• ISBN10: 1604132949
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-10-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

The theory of relativity began as an idea by Galileo, a seventeenth-century astronomer, who wrote, "Motion exists relatively to things that lack it." This simple concept, when further explored by Albert Einstein, had astounding consequences. Einstein's first step toward a comprehensive theory of relativity established that not only was motion relative, but time and space were as well. He would follow up this discovery with the world's most famous equation: E = mc2. Ten years later, Einstein would again turn the scientific world upside down when he proclaimed that gravity is not a force, but a curvature of space-time. With this declaration, he had rewritten the most fundamental law of science. In Theory of Relativity, discover why some believe that this theory is the greatest scientific discovery ever made.

Author Biography

Phillip Manning is the author of six other books and more than 150 magazine and newspaper articles. His book Islands of Hope won the 1999 National Outdoor Book award for nature and the environment. Manning has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Table of Contents

Relative Motion and the Laws of Physics	p. 7
Maxwell Sees the Light	p. 20
Einstein's Miracle Year	p. 37
Relativistic Fallout	p. 50
The General Theory of Relativity	p. 66
Making the Case	p. 76
Black Holes	p. 90
The Twins, Relativity, and Beyond	p. 104
Glossary	p. 112
Bibliography	p. 117
Further Resources	p. 121
Picture Credits	p. 123
Index	p. 124
About the Author	p. 128
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

The theory of relativity began as an idea of Galileo, a 17 th -century astronomer, who wrote, Motion exists relatively to things that lack it. This simple concept, when further explored by Albert Einstein, had astounding consequences. Einstein's first step toward a comprehensive theory of relativity established that not only was motion relative, but time and space were as well. He would follow up this discovery with the world's most famous equation, E = mc 2 . Ten years later, Einstein would again turn the scientific world upside down when he proclaimed that gravity is not a force, but a curvature of space-time. With this declaration, he had rewritten the most fundamental law of science. In Theory of Relativity, discover why some believe that this theory is the greatest scientific discovery ever made.