Relativity
The Special and the General Theory - 100th Anniversary Edition
1st Edition
Published on 29. January 2019
328 pages
978-0-691-19358-8 (ISBN)
Description
A handsome annotated edition of Einstein's celebrated book on relativity
After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote Relativity. Intended for a popular audience, the book remains one of the most lucid explanations of the special and general theories ever written. This edition of Einstein's celebrated book features an authoritative English translation of the text along with commentaries by Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn that examine the evolution of Einstein's thinking and cast his ideas in a modern context. Providing invaluable insight into one of the greatest scientific minds of all time, the book also includes a unique survey of the introductions from past editions, covers from selected early editions, a letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein discussing the book, and a revealing sample from Einstein's original handwritten manuscript.
After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote Relativity. Intended for a popular audience, the book remains one of the most lucid explanations of the special and general theories ever written. This edition of Einstein's celebrated book features an authoritative English translation of the text along with commentaries by Hanoch Gutfreund and Jürgen Renn that examine the evolution of Einstein's thinking and cast his ideas in a modern context. Providing invaluable insight into one of the greatest scientific minds of all time, the book also includes a unique survey of the introductions from past editions, covers from selected early editions, a letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein discussing the book, and a revealing sample from Einstein's original handwritten manuscript.
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Persons
Hanoch Gutfreund is professor emeritus of theoretical physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he is also the academic director of the Albert Einstein Archives. Jürgen Renn is a director at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His books include The Genesis of General Relativity.
Content
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- Preface to the Paperback Edition
- Introduction
- Einstein as a Missionary of Science
- Einstein's Booklet: Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
- PART I : The Special Theory of Relativity
- 1. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions
- 2. The System of Co-ordinates
- 3. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics
- 4. The Galileian System of Co-ordinates
- 5. The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense)
- 6. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics
- 7. The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity
- 8. On the Idea of Time in Physics
- 9. The Relativity of Simultaneity
- 10. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance
- 11. The Lorentz Transformation
- 12. The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion
- 13. Theorem of the Addition of the Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau
- 14. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity
- 15. General Results of the Theory
- 16. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity
- 17. Minkowski's Four-Dimensional Space
- PART II: The General Theory of Relativity
- 18. Special and General Principle of Relativity
- 19. The Gravitational Field
- 20. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity
- 21. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory?
- 22. A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity
- 23. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference
- 24. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum
- 25. Gaussian Co-ordinates
- 26. The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum
- 27. The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity Is Not a Euclidean Continuum
- 28. Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity
- 29. The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity
- PART III: Considerations on the Universe as a Whole
- 30. Cosmological Difficulties of Newton's Theory
- 31. The Possibility of a "Finite" and Yet "Unbounded" Universe
- 32. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity
- Appendixes
- 1. Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation (Supplementary to Section 11) (1918)
- 2. Minkowski's Four-Dimensional Space ("World") (Supplementary to Section 17) (1918)
- 3. The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity (1920)
- 4. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity (Supplementary to Section 32) (1946)
- 5. Relativity and the Problem of Space (1953)
- A Reading Companion: Thirteen Commentaries
- Physics and Geometry (§§ 1-2)
- Mechanics and Space (§§ 3-6)
- Light Propagation and Time (§§ 7-9)
- Light Propagation and Space (§§ 10-12 and Appendix 1)
- Physics in Relativistic Space and Time (§§ 13-16)
- The World of Four Dimensions (§ 17 and Appendix 2)
- From Special to General Relativity
- Gravitation and Inertia (§§ 18-21)
- Acceleration, Clocks, and Rods (§§ 22-23)
- Gravitation and Geometry (§§ 24-27)
- Gravitation and General Relativity (§§ 28-29)
- The Challenge of Cosmology (§§ 30-32 and Appendix 4)
- The Relation between Theory and Experiment (Appendix 3)
- The Changing Concept of Space (Appendix 5)
- A History and Survey of Foreign-Language Editions
- The English Translation
- The French Translation
- The Italian Translation
- The Spanish Translation
- The Russian Translation
- The Chinese Translation
- The Japanese Translation
- The Polish Translation
- The Czech Translation
- The Hebrew Translation
- Concluding Remarks
- Appended Documents
- A Letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein
- A Sample Page of Einstein's Handwriting
- Manuscript of Appendix 3 of the Booklet
- Further Reading
- Index
