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Relativity: The Special and General Theory

Chapter 1: Relativity: The Special and General Theory
By Albert Einstein
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About This Book

The book explains the concepts and experimental bases of special relativity, clarifying space, time, simultaneity, Lorentz transformations, and practical effects on measuring rods and clocks. It then generalizes to a theory of gravitation based on the equivalence principle, describing gravity as curvature of space-time, introducing non-Euclidean geometry and coordinate methods, and sketching the resulting field relations. Final sections consider cosmological models, the global structure of space-time, and observational consequences that follow from treating gravitation geometrically.

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Title: Relativity: The Special and General Theory

Author: Albert Einstein

Translator: Robert W. Lawson

Release date: October 1, 2009 [eBook #30155]
Most recently updated: May 2, 2023

Language: English

Original publication: Methuen & Co Ltd,, 1924

Credits: Robert Hux

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RELATIVITY: THE SPECIAL AND GENERAL THEORY ***


Relativity: The Special and General Theory

by Albert Einstein

Authorised Translation by Robert W. Lawson

ALBERT EINSTEIN REFERENCE ARCHIVE

RELATIVITY: THE SPECIAL AND GENERAL THEORY

BY ALBERT EINSTEIN

Written: 1916 (this revised edition: 1924)

Source: Relativity: The Special and General Theory (1920)

Publisher: Methuen & Co Ltd

First Published: December, 1916

Translated: Robert W. Lawson (Authorised translation)

Transcription/Markup: Brian Basgen

Transcription to text: Gregory B. Newby

Thanks to: Einstein Reference Archive (marxists.org)

The Einstein Reference Archive is online at:

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/einstein/index.htm

Contents

Preface
Part I: The Special Theory of Relativity
I. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions
II. The System of Co-ordinates
III. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics
IV. The Galileian System of Co-ordinates
V. The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense)
VI. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities employed in Classical Mechanics
VII. The Apparent Incompatability of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity
VIII. On the Idea of Time in Physics
IX. The Relativity of Simultaneity
X. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance
XI. The Lorentz Transformation
XII. The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion
XIII. Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau
XIV. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity
XV. General Results of the Theory
XVI. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity
XVII. Minkowski’s Four-dimensional Space
Part II: The General Theory of Relativity
XVIII. Special and General Principle of Relativity
XIX. The Gravitational Field
XX. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity
XXI. In What Respects are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory?
XXII. A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity
XXIII. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference
XXIV. Euclidean and non-Euclidean Continuum
XXV. Gaussian Co-ordinates
XXVI. The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum
XXVII. The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity is Not a Euclidean Continuum
XXVIII. Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity
XXIX. 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
XXX. Cosmological Difficulties of Newton’s Theory
XXXI. The Possibility of a “Finite” and yet “Unbounded” Universe
XXXII. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity
Appendices:
I. Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation (supplementary to section XI)
II. Minkowski’s Four-Dimensional Space (“World”) (supplementary to section XVII)
III. The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity
IV. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity (supplementary to section XXXII)
V. Relativity and the Problem of Space

Note: The fifth Appendix was added by Einstein at the time of the fifteenth re-printing of this book; and as a result is still under copyright restrictions so cannot be added without the permission of the publisher.