Relativity: The Special and the General Theory - 100th Anniversary Edition 100th Anniversary edition

Marc Notes: Translated from the German.; After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote a book about relativity for a popular audience. His intention was 'to give an exact insight into the theory of relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics'. The book remains one of the most lucid explanations of the special and general theories ever written. Table of Contents:"Introduction" xiiiEinstein as a Missionary of Science 1Einstein's Booklet: Relativity: "The Special and the General Theory" 7PART I: The Special Theory of Relativity1. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions 112. The System of Co- ordinates 143. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics 184. The Galileian System of Co- ordinates 215. The Principle of Relativity (in the Restricted Sense) 236. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics 277. The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity 288. On the Idea of Time in Physics 329. The Relativity of Simultaneity 3610. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance 3911. The Lorentz Transformation 4112. The Behaviour of Measuring- Rods and Clocks in Motion 4713. Theorem of the Addition of the Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau 5014. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity 5415. General Results of the Theory 5616. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity 6217. Minkowski's Four- Dimensional Space 68PART II: The General Theory of Relativity18. Special and General Principle of Relativity 7219. The Gravitational Field 7620. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity 8021. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory? 8522. A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity 8823. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring- Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference 9324. Euclidean and Non- Euclidean Continuum 9725. Gaussian Co- ordinates 10126. The Space- Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum 10627. The Space- Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity Is Not a Euclidean Continuum 10928. Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity 11329. The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity 117PART III: Considerations on the Universe as a Whole30. Cosmological Diffi culties of Newton's Theory 12231. The Possibility of a "Finite" and Yet "Unbounded" Universe 12532. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity 131Appendixes1. Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation (Supplementary to Section 11) (1918) 1332. Minkowski's Four- Dimensional Space ("World") (Supplementary to Section 17) (1918) 1403. The Experimental Confi rmation of the General Theory of Relativity (1920) 1424. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity (Supplementary to Section 32) (1946) 1535. Relativity and the Problem of Space (1953) 155A Reading Companion: Thirteen CommentariesPhysics and Geometry ( 1- 2) 180Mechanics and Space ( 3- 6) 182Light Propagation and Time ( 7- 9) 187Light Propagation and Space ( 10- 12 and Appendix 1) 191Physics in Relativistic Space and Time ( 13- 16) 193The World of Four Dimensions ( 17 and Appendix 2) 201From Special to General Relativity 204Gravitation and Inertia ( 18- 21) 205Acceleration, Clocks, and Rods ( 22- 23) 209Gravitation and Geometry ( 24- 27) 213Gravitation and General Relativity ( 28- 29) 218The Challenge of Cosmology ( 30- 32 and Appendix 4) 222The Relation between Theory and Experiment (Appendix 3) 226The Changing Concept of Space (Appendix 5) 230A History and Survey of Foreign-Language EditionsThe English Translation 244The French Translation 247The Italian Translation 252The Spanish Translation 256The Russian Translation 259The Chinese Translation 262The Japanese Translation 266The Polish Translation 270The Czech Translation 273The Hebrew Translation 276Concluding Remarks 279Appended DocumentsA Letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein 281A Sample Page of Einstein's Handwriting 284Manuscript of Appendix 3 of the Booklet 286"Further Reading" 293"Index" 297"Biographical Note: 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. He lives in Jerusalem. Jurgen Renn is a director at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His books include "The Genesis of General Relativity." He lives in Berlin."Jacket Description/Back:"This new edition of Einstein's popular presentation of both special and general relativity is a joy to read. Over the past hundred years, relativity has been brought to the public in many forms--magazines, books, documentaries--but there's nothing quite like being guided through one of the most profound scientific insights of all time by the master himself."--Brian Greene, Columbia University"This book is not only an important historical document, but displays the style and clarity of Einstein's thought in a manner accessible to a wide readership. It's good that it is being reissued in this fine new edition to mark the centenary of his greatest insights."--Martin Rees, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and Astronomer Royal"I grew up reading this book. Many people have written expositions of relativity, but the master himself speaks with a certain authority. We get not only the content of the ideas, but the thought processes that helped create them. There's nothing quite like learning relativity from Einstein."--Sean Carroll, California Institute of Technology"This book will play a vital role in introducing new readers to Einstein and the many fascinating questions surrounding his work."--Richard Staley, author of "Einstein's Generation: The Origins of the Relativity Revolution""This exciting new edition of Einstein's book will be of real interest to scholars as well as general readers--and it is perfectly timed for the centennial of Einstein's general theory of relativity."--David Kaiser, author of "How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival"Review Quotes: "I can still see some fugitive magic in "Relativity" . . . it conjures Einstein as the oracle presenting a theory to the world--one of the most revolutionary and profound theories of all time.--Pedro Ferreira, "Nature"Publisher Marketing: After completing the final version of his general theory of relativity in November 1915, Albert Einstein wrote a book about relativity for a popular audience. His intention was "to give an exact insight into the theory of relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." The book remains one of the most lucid explanations of the special and general theories ever written. In the early 1920s alone, it was translated into ten languages, and fifteen editions in the original German appeared over the course of Einstein's lifetime. This new edition of Einstein's celebrated book features an authoritative English translation of the text along with an introduction and a reading companion by Hanoch Gutfreund and Jurgen Renn that examines the evolution of Einstein's thinking and casts his ideas in a broader present-day context. A special chapter explores the history of and the stories behind the early foreign-language editions in light of the reception of relativity in different countries. This edition also includes a survey of the introductions from those editions, covers from selected early editions, a letter from Walther Rathenau to Einstein discussing the book, and a revealing sample from Einstein's handwritten manuscript. Published on the hundredth anniversary of general relativity, this handsome edition of Einstein's famous book places the work in historical and intellectual context while providing invaluable insight into one of the greatest scientific minds of all time."

Contributor Bio:  Einstein, Albert Albert Einstein, a gentleman who belongs to the elite league of Newton, Tesla, Maxwell and considered to be the greatest scientist of 20th century. Born in Germany, and worked as a clerk in the patent office before revolutionizing the world of physics, Einstein with his incredible achievements in scientific world has become synonymous to the word genius. He provided the world, two of the most brilliant concepts of physics through his theories of relativity, and won the Noble Prize in Physics for his work on Photoelectric Effect, which eventually become the foundation stone for tremendous developments in electronic technologies and quantum theory. Einstein is not only celebrated as the greatest physicists of all the time but he was also a wonderful human being and philosopher. World War II and presence of Adolf Hitler in Germany forced him to stay in the US during the period, where he consistently tried hard to warn and evade the application of nuclear fission as a weapon of mass destruction. He collaborated and interacted with many extraordinary minds of his time contributing to the world of physics and humanity as a whole. His unmatched intellectual imagination collaged with his immense interest in music, philosophy and humanity makes him the greatest personality that scientific world and mankind have ever seen. Contributor Bio:  Renn, Jurgen Professor JA1/4rgen Renn is director at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His research focuses primarily on the emergence of mechanics in antiquity, the interaction between practical and theoretical knowledge since the Renaissance, the transition from classical to modern physics, the development of the theory of relativity, and the application of new media to the history of science. Professor Renn is coordinator of the exhibition 'Albert Einstein - Chief Engineer of the Universe' 2005 in Berlin.