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Easy lessons in Einstein

Chapter 5: And finally
By Edwin E. Slosson
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Science - Physics

About This Book

Aimed at educated lay readers, the book explains the basic concepts of special and general relativity through plain-language exposition and conversational analogies, presenting how measurements of space, time, and motion depend on the observer, how gravity can be understood as curvature of spacetime, and how mass and energy relate. It surveys supporting empirical tests such as light deflection by the sun and Mercury's anomalous perihelion, adds an article by the theory's author, and offers illustrations and a bibliography for further study.

And finally

IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE ABOUT THE EINSTEIN THEORIES

  • For the non-mathematical reader:
  • ABBOTT, EDWIN.
  • Flatland, by A Square. Boston, 1891.
  • An amusing way of leading up to the fourth dimension.
  • CAMPBELL, NORMAN.
  • The Commonsense of Relativity. Philosophical Magazine,
  • April, 1911.
  • CARR, WILDON.
  • The Metaphysical Implications of the Theory of Relativity.
  • Philosophical Review, Jan., 1915.
  • CARUS, PAUL.
  • The Principle of Relativity. Chicago: Open Court Publishing
  • Co., 1913.
  • COMSTOCK, D. F.
  • The Principle of Relativity. Science, May 20, 1910,
  • vol. 31, p. 767.
  • CUNNINGHAM, E.
  • Einstein’s Relativity Theory of Gravitation. Nature,
  • Dec. 4, 11, and 18, 1919.
  • An interesting non-mathematical discussion of the latest
  • phases of the theory.
  • EDDINGTON, A. S.
  • Einstein’s Theory of Space and Time. Contemporary
  • Review, Dec, 1919.
  • Good popular article.
  • EDDINGTON, A. S.
  • Gravitation. Scientific American Supplement, July 6 and
  • 13, 1918.
  • An excellent popular explanation by the leading British
  • disciple of Einstein.
  • EINSTEIN, A.
  • Time, Space, and Gravitation. Science, Garrison, 1920,
  • Jan. 3, n.s., vol. 51, p. 8-10.
  • My Theory. Living Age. Boston, 1920, vol. 304, p. 41-3,
  • Jan. 3.
  • FLAMMARION, CAMILLE.
  • Lumen. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1897.
  • Contains nothing about Einstein but presents the relativity
  • of time in fantastic form.
  • KEYSER, C. J.
  • Concerning the Figure and the Dimensions of the Universe
  • of Space. Science, June 13, 1913.
  • LODGE, SIR OLIVER.
  • The New Theory of Gravity. Nineteenth Century, Dec.,
  • 1919.
  • The Ether versus Relativity. Fortnightly Review, Jan.,
  • 1920.
  • Admirable article by a courteous opponent.
  • POINCARÉ, HENRI.
  • Science and Method; also contained in The Foundations
  • of Science. New York: The Science Press, 1913.
  • RUSSELL, BERTRAND.
  • The Relativity Theory of Gravitation. English Review,
  • Dec., 1919.
  • A clear explanation by one of the foremost of British
  • philosophers.
  • THOMSON, J.
  • Deflection of Light by Gravitation and the Einstein
  • Theory of Relativity. Scientific Monthly, Garrison, N. Y.,
  • 1920, vol. 10, p. 79-85, Jan.
  • VARIOUS WRITERS.
  • The Fourth Dimension Simply Explained. New York:
  • Munn and Co., 1910.
  • The essays submitted for a prize offered by the Scientific
  • American. Twenty-two mathematicians try their best to
  • justify the title and if they do not succeed it is not their
  • fault.
  • WETZEL, REINHARD A.
  • The New Relativity in Physics. Science, New York,
  • 1913. New ser., vol. 38, pp. 466-474.
  • Explains the relativity of time with diagrams and references
  • to the literature.
  • Other articles of general interest may be found in:
  • Science: July 16, 1909; May 20, 1910; June 20, 1913;
  • April 24, 1914; Dec. 5, 1919.
  • Scientific American Supplement: April 7, 1917; Dec. 17,
  • 1910.
  • London Nation: Nov. 14 and Dec. 27, 1919.
  • London Times: Nov. 8, 18, and 25, Dec. 4 and 19,
  • 1919.
  • London Nature: Almost every number in Nov., Dec., 1919,
  • Jan., Feb., 1920.
  • New York Times: Nov. 7 and 16, Dec. 21, 1919.
  • New York Sun: Nov. 10, 1919.
  • The New Republic: Jan. 21, 1920.

  • For the mathematical reader:
  • EINSTEIN, ALBERT.
  • Bases physiques d’une théorie de la gravitation. Société
  • Astronomique de France. Bulletin, Paris, 1917, Tome 31,
  • pp. 407-411.
  • Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie.
  • Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.
  • Sitzungsberichte, Berlin, 1904 (Juli-Dez.), pp.
  • 1030-1085.
  • Die Grundlagen der allgemeinen. Relativitätstheorie. Annalen
  • der Physik, Leipzig, 1916, Band 49, Folge 4, p. 769.
  • Ist die Trägheit eines Korpers von seinem Energieinhalt
  • abhängig? Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1905, Band 18,
  • Folge 4, pp. 639-644.
  • Lichtgeschwindigkeit und Statik des Gravitätionsfeldes.
  • Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1912, Band 38, Folge 4, pp.
  • 355-369.
  • Prinzipielles zur allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie. Annalen
  • der Physik, Leipzig, 1918, Band 55, Folge 4, pp. 241-244.
  • Uber das Relativitätsprinzip und die aus demselben
  • gezogenen Folgerungen. Jahrbuch der Radioaktivität und
  • Elektronik, Leipzig, 1908, Band 4, pp. 411-462.
  • Uber den Einfluss der Schwerkraft auf die Ausbreitung
  • des Lichtes. Annalen der Physik, Lypzig, 1911. Band 35,
  • pp. 898-908.
  • Uber die Möglichkeit einer neuen Prüfung des Relativitätsprinzips.
  • Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1907, Band 23,
  • pp. 197-208.
  • Uber die vom Relativitätsprinzip geforderte Trägheit der
  • Energie. Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1907, Band 23,
  • Folge 4, pp. 371-384.
  • Uber einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes
  • betreffendes heuristischen Gesichtspunkt. Annalen der
  • Physik, Leipzig, 1905, Band 17, Folge 4, pp. 132-148.
  • Zum gegenwärtigen Stande des Gravitätionsproblems.
  • Physikalische Zeitschrift, Leipzig, 1913, Band 14, pp. 1249-1266.
  • Zum Relativitäts Problem. Scientia, Bologna, 1914, vol.
  • 15, pp. 337-48.
  • Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Korper. Annalen der
  • Physik, Leipzig, 1905, Band 17, Folge 4, pp. 891-921.
  • Zur Theorie der Lichterzeugung und Lichtabsorption.
  • Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1906, Band 20, Folge 4, pp.
  • 199-206.
  • Spielen Gravitationsfelder im Aufbau der materiellen
  • Elementarteilchen eine wesentliche Rolle? Sitz. Preuss.
  • Akad. Wiss., April 10, 1919.
  • EINSTEIN, ALBERT, and MARCEL GROSSMAN.
  • Entwurf einer verallgemeinerten Relativitätstheorie und
  • einer Theorie der Gravitation. Zeitschrift für Mathematik
  • und Physik, Leipzig, 1914, Band 62, pp. 225-261.
  • EINSTEIN, LORENTZ and MINKOWSKI.
  • Relativitätsprinzip, Das. Eine Sammlung von Abhandlungen.
  • Mit Anmerkungen von A. Sommerfeld und Vorwort
  • von O. Blumenthal. Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1913,
  • 89 p. (Fortschritte der mathematischen Wissenschaften in
  • Monographien, Heft 2.)
  • A reprint of these three famous fundamental papers.
  • ABRAHAM, M.
  • Die neue Mechanik. Scientia, Bologna, 1914, vol. 15,
  • pp. 8-27.
  • Nochmals Relativität und Gravitation. Bemerkungen zu A.
  • Einsteins Erwiderung. Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1912,
  • Folge 4, vol. 39, pp. 444-448.
  • BACKLUND, A. V.
  • Zusammenstellung einer Theorie der klassischen Dynamik
  • und der neuen Gravitätionstheorie von Einstein. Arkiv för
  • mathematik, astronomie, och fysik, Stockholm, 1919, Band
  • 14, no. 11, 64 seite.
  • BATEMAN, H.
  • General Relativity Theory. Phil. Mag., Feb., 1909, vol.
  • 37.
  • Applies the theory to life and mind.
  • BRILLOUIN, MARCEL.
  • Propos Sceptiques au Sujet du Principe de Relativité.
  • Scientia, Bologna, 1913, vol. 13, pp. 10-26.
  • BROSE, HENRY L.
  • Einstein’s Theory of Relativity (non-math. form). Lecture
  • published in pamphlet by B. H. Blackwell. Noted in
  • English Mechanic, Dec. 19, 1919.
  • CARMICHAEL, ROBERT DANIEL.
  • The Theory of Relativity. Mathematical Monographs,
  • no. 12. New York: John Wiley, 1913.
  • COBB, CHARLES W.
  • Relativity. Journal of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific
  • Method, Jan. 18, 1917.
  • CONWAY, A. W.
  • Relativity. Edin. Math. Tracts, no. 3, London, 1913.
  • CROMMELIN, A. C. D.
  • Results of the Total Solar Eclipse of May 29 and the
  • Relativity Theory. Science, vol. 50, pp. 518-520. Sci. Amer.
  • Supp., Dec. 6, 1919.
  • CUNNINGHAM, E.
  • Report on the Relativity Theory of Gravitation. London,
  • Green, 1915.
  • DEZUANI, ARMANDO.
  • Equilibrio relativo ed equazioni gravitazionali di Einstein
  • nel caso stazionario. Il nuovo cimento, Pisa, 1919, vol. 18,
  • pp. 5-25, July, 1919.
  • DONDER, T. DE.
  • Gravitational Tensors of Einstein’s Theory. Science Abstracts,
  • April 30, 1919.
  • DROSTE, J.
  • The Field of Moving Centers in Einstein’s Theory of
  • Gravitation. Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen.
  • Proceedings, Amsterdam, 1916, vol. 19, pp. 447-475.
  • The Field of a Single Center in Einstein’s Theory of
  • Gravitation and the Motion of a Particle in that Field.
  • Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Proceedings,
  • Amsterdam, 1916, vol. 19, pp. 197-218.
  • EDDINGTON, A. S.
  • Report on the Relativity Theory of Gravitation. London:
  • Fleetway Press, 1918. 91 p.
  • The only account of Einstein’s latest theory in English.
  • EDDINGTON, A. S., and OTHERS.
  • The Deflection of Light by Gravitation and the Einstein
  • Theory of Relativity. The Report of the British Eclipse
  • Expedition to the Royal Society. Scientific Monthly, Jan.,
  • 1920.
  • GROSSMAN, MARCEL.
  • Définitions, méthodes et problèmes mathématiques relatifs
  • à la théorie de la gravitation. Archives des Sciences
  • Physiques et Naturelles, Genève, Jan.-Juin, 1914, 4 période,
  • Tome 37, pp. 13-19.
  • GUILLAUME, E.
  • Theory of Relativity. Archives des Sciences, Dec., 1918,
  • vol. 46.
  • HUMM, R. J.
  • Energy Equations of General Theory of Relativity. Annalen
  • der Physik, 1919, vol. 58.
  • HUNTINGTON, EDWARD V.
  • A new approach to the theory of relativity. Festschrift
  • Heinrich Weber. Leipzig, 1912, pp. 147-169.
  • ISHIWARA, JUN.
  • Zur relativistischen Theorie der Gravitation. Tohoku Imperial
  • University. Science reports, ser. 1, Sendai, Japan,
  • vol. 4, pp. 111-160.
  • KAFKA, H.
  • Tensor Analysis. Annalen der Physik, 1919, vol. 58, pp.
  • 1-54.
  • KOTTLER, FRIEDRICH.
  • Uber die physikalischen Grundlagen der einsteinschen
  • Gravitätionstheorie. Annalen der Physik, Leipzig, 1918,
  • Band 56, Folge 4, pp. 408-462.
  • LARMOR, J.
  • Essence of Physical Relativity. Nat. Acad. Sci. Proc.,
  • vol. 4, Nov., 1918.
  • LAUE, RD. M.
  • Das Relativitätsprinzip. Braunschweig, 1911. 208 p.
  • LECORNU, LÉON.
  • La Mécanique. Paris: Flammarion, 1909.
  • LORENTZ, H. A.
  • Considerations élémentaires sur le principe de relativité.
  • Revue générale des sciences, Paris, 1914. Tome 25, pp.
  • 179-186.
  • La gravitation. Scientia. Bologna, 1914, vol. 6, pp. 28-59.
  • Das Relativitätsprinzip. 1914.
  • La Gravitation. Scientia, Bologna, 1914, vol. 16, pp. 28-59.
  • On Einstein’s theory of gravitation. Koninklijke Akademie
  • van Wetenschappen. Proceedings, Amsterdam, 1917-18,
  • vol. 19, pp. 1341-1369; vol. 20, pp. 2-34.
  • On Hamilton’s principle in Einstein’s theory of gravitation.
  • Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Proceedings,
  • Amsterdam, 1917, vol. 19, pp. 751-765.
  • LUNN, ARTHUR C.
  • Some functional equations in the theory of relativity.
  • American Mathematical Society. Bulletin, Lancaster, Pa.,
  • 1919, vol. 26, pp. 26-34.
  • MICHELSON, A. A., and MORLEY, E. W.
  • The Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous
  • Ether. American Journal of Science, 1887, vol. 34, p. 333.
  • See also: Astro-Physical Journal, vol. 37, pp. 100-193.
  • The report of the crucial experiments that upset the idea
  • of a stationary ether.
  • MINKOWSKI, HERMANN.
  • Relativitätsprinzip. Jahresbericht der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung.
  • Leipzig, 1915, Band, 24, pp. 1241-1244.
  • NORDSTRÖM, GUNNAR.
  • Einstein’s theory of gravitation and Herglotz’s mechanics
  • of continua. Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen.
  • Proceedings, Amsterdam, 1917, vol. 19.
  • NORDSTRÖM, G.
  • On the Energy of the Gravitation Field in Einstein’s
  • Theory. Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Proceedings,
  • Amsterdam, 1918, vol. 20, pp. 1238-1245.
  • PALATINI, A.
  • La Teoria di Relatività nel suo Sviluppo Storieo. Scientia,
  • Nov. and Dec., 1919 (in Italian and French).
  • PLANCK, MAX.
  • Zur Dynamik bewegter Systeme. Königlich Preussischen
  • Akademie der Wissenschaften. Sitzungberichte, Berlin, 1907,
  • pp. 542-570.
  • His theory.
  • PETZOLDT, J.
  • Does the Relativity Theory Exclude the Reality of Space
  • and Time? Deutsche Phys. Gesell., Dec. 30, 1918.
  • RITZ, W.
  • La gravitation. Scientia, Bologna, 1909, vol. 5, pp. 152-165.
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  • Relativity in astronomy. Popular Astronomy, Northfield,
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  • 92 p.
  • SITTER, W. DE.
  • On Einstein’s theory of gravitation, and its astronomical
  • consequences. Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices,
  • London, 1915-18, vol. 76, pp. 699-728; vol. 77, pp.
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  • On the relativity of rotation in Einstein’s theory.
  • Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Proceedings,
  • Amsterdam, 1917, vol. 19, pp. 527-532.
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  • latest hypothesis. Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen.
  • Proceedings, Amsterdam, 1917, vol. 19, pp.
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  • to Einstein’s theory. Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen.
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  • of Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation. Koninklijke Akademie
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  • The principle of generalized relativity and the displacement
  • of the Fraunhofer lines toward the red. Carnegie
  • Institution of Washington. Contributions of the Mount
  • Wilson Solar Observatory, Washington, vol. 7, no. 138.
  • TRESLIN, J.
  • The equations of the theory of electrons in a gravitation
  • field of Einstein deduced from a variation principle.
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  • Amsterdam, 1917, Band 19, pp. 892-896.
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  • Academy of Arts and Sciences, Nov., 1912, vol. 48, pp. 389-506.