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Relativity: The Special and the General Theory - Paperback | Diverse Reads

Relativity: The Special and the General Theory

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An easy to understand collection of the ideas of one of the greatest scientists of the twentieth century including the idea he is most known for, the theory of relativity

Redesigned inside and out to have a fresh, appealing look, this new edition of a classic Crown Trade Paperback is a collection of Einstein's own popular writings on his work and describes the meaning of his main theories in a way virtually everyone can understand.

ISBN-13: 9780517884416

Media Type: Paperback

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group

Publication Date: 06-06-1995

Pages: 208

Product Dimensions: 5.20(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.50(d)

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century, was born in Ulm, Germany, to German-Jewish parents. He published his first great theories in Switzerland in the early 1900s while working as a patent clerk.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Part I The Special Theory of Relativity
1 Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions 3
2 The System of Co-ordinates 6
3 Space and Time in Classical Mechanics 10
4 The Galileian System of Co-ordinates 12
5 The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense) 14
6 The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics 18
7 The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity 20
8 On the Idea of Time in Physics 23
9 The Relativity of Simultaneity 27
10 On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance 30
11 The Lorentz Transformation 32
12 The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion 37
13 Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau 40
14 The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity 44
15 General Results of the Theory 46
16 Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity 51
17 Minkowski's Four-dimensional Space 56
Part II The General Theory of Relativity
18 Special and General Principle of Relativity 61
19 The Gravitational Field 65
20 The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity 68
21 In what Respects are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory? 72
22 A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity 75
23 Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference 79
24 Euclidean and non-Euclidean Continuum 83
25 Gaussian Co-ordinates 87
26 The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum 91
27 The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity is not a Euclidean Continuum 94
28 Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity 97
29 The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity 100
Part III Considerations on the Universe as a Whole
30 Cosmological Difficulties of Newton's Theory 107
31 The Possibility of a "Finite" and yet "Unbounded" Universe 110
32 The Structure of Space according to the General Theory of Relativity 115
Appendices
1 Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation [Supplementary to Section 11] 117
2 Minkowski's Four-dimensional Space ("World") [Supplementary to Section 17] 124
3 The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity 126
(a) Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury 127
(b) Deflection of Light by a Gravitational Field 129
(c) Displacement of Spectral Lines towards the Red 132
4 The Structure of Space according to the General Theory of Relativity [Supplementary to Section 32] 136
5 Relativity and the Problem of Space 139
Bibliography 159
Index 161