Relativity: The Special and the General Theory
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This republication of Albert Einstein's introduction to his theory of relativity, written for the layperson, includes commentary by Robert Geroch (physics, University of Chicago) on the modern understanding of relativity, plus an introduction by Robert Penrose (mathematics, emeritus, Oxford University), framing Einstein's work within the history of science, and an essay on the cultural legacy of relativity theory by David C. Cassidy (natural sciences, Hofstra University). Einstein's preface, 32 chapters, and three appendices were originally published in 1920. The original version of Roger Penrose's introduction was first published in 2004 by The Folio Society Ltd. Annotation © 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Time He was unfathomably profound - the genius among geniuses who discovered, merely by thinking about it, that the universe was not as it seemed.
IntroductionRelativity : the special and general theory11Physical meaning of geometrical propositions52The system of co-ordinates93Space and time in classical mechanics134The Galileian system of co-ordinates165The principle of relativity (in the restricted sense)186The theorem of the addition of velocities employed in classical mechanics237The apparent incompatibility of the law of propagation of light with the principle of relativity258On the idea of time in physics299The relativity of simultaneity3410On the relativity of the conception of distance3811The Lorentz transformation4012The behaviour of measuring-rods and clocks in motion4713Theorem of the addition of velocities : the experiment of Fizeau5114The heuristic value of the theory of relativity5615General results of the theory5816Experience and the special theory of relativity6517Minkowski's four-dimensional space7218Special and general principle of relativity7719The gravitational field8220The equality of inertial and gravitational mass as an argument for the general postulate of relativity8621In what respects are the foundations of classical mechanics and of the special theory of relativity unsatisfactory?9222A few inferences from the general principle of relativity9523Behaviour of clocks and measuring-rods on a rotating body of reference10124Euclidean and non-Euclidean continuum10625Gaussian co-ordinates11126The space-time continuum of the special theory of relativity considered as a Euclidean continuum11627The space-time continuum of the general theory of relativity is not a Euclidean continuum11928Exact formulation of the general principle of relativity12329The solution of the problem of gravitation on the basis of the general principle of relativity12730Cosmological difficulties of Newton's theory13331The possibility of a "finite" and yet "unbounded" universe13632The structure of space according to the general theory of relativity143App. 1Simple derivation of the Lorentz transformation147App. 2Minkowski's four-dimensional space ("world")155App. 3The experimental confirmation of the general theory of relativity158Commentary171The cultural legacy of relativity theory225
