Einstein’s 1920 Book

RELATIVITY: THE SPECIAL AND GENERAL THEORY

Written by A. Einstein (1879-1955)

Translated by ROBERT W. LAWSON

First published by Henry Holt and Company, New York (1920)

.

CONTENTS

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 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

  1. Special and General Principle of Relativity
  2. The Gravitational Field
  3. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity
  4. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory?
  5. A Few Inferences from the General Theory of Relativity
  6. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference
  7. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum
  8. Gaussian Co-ordinates
  9. The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum
  10. The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity Is not a Euclidean Continuum
  11. Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity
  12. 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

  1. Cosmological Difficulties of Newton’s Theory
  2. The Possibility of a “Finite” and Yet “Unbounded” Universe
  3. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity

Appendices

  1. Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation
  2. Minkowski’s Four-Dimensional Space (“World”)
  3. The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity

.

I shall be commenting on this book one chapter at a time.

By vinaire, on January 1, 2019 at 8:43 PM, under Physics. No Comments
Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
%d bloggers like this: