Relativity: The Special and General Theory

by Albert Einstein

Year
1916
Field
Physics
Translator
Robert W. Lawson
Licence
Public domain (Project Gutenberg, US)
Source
gutenberg
Length
about 30,841 words in 39 sections

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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

Contents

  1. Part 1 · 82 words
  2. Preface · 408 words
  3. PREFACE · 252 words
  4. A. EINSTEIN · PART I: THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · I. PHYSICAL MEANING OF GEOMETRICAL PROPOSITIONS · 774 words
  5. II. THE SYSTEM OF CO-ORDINATES · 911 words
  6. III. · SPACE AND TIME IN CLASSICAL MECHANICS · 518 words
  7. IV. THE GALILEIAN SYSTEM OF CO-ORDINATES · 224 words
  8. V. · THE PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY (IN THE RESTRICTED SENSE) · 944 words
  9. VI. · 221 words
  10. VII. · 851 words
  11. VIII. · ON THE IDEA OF TIME IN PHYSICS · 1,035 words
  12. IX. · THE RELATIVITY OF SIMULTANEITY · 729 words
  13. X. · ON THE RELATIVITY OF THE CONCEPTION OF DISTANCE · 368 words
  14. XI. · THE LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION · 1,029 words
  15. XII. · THE BEHAVIOUR OF MEASURING-RODS AND CLOCKS IN MOTION · 519 words
  16. XIII. · THEOREM OF THE ADDITION OF VELOCITIES. THE EXPERIMENT OF FIZEAU · 852 words
  17. XIV. · THE HEURISTIC VALUE OF THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY · 316 words
  18. XV. · GENERAL RESULTS OF THE THEORY · 1,041 words
  19. XVI. · EXPERIENCE AND THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · 1,369 words
  20. XVII. · 752 words
  21. PART II: THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · XVIII. · SPECIAL AND GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY · 966 words
  22. XIX. · THE GRAVITATIONAL FIELD · 707 words
  23. XX. · 1,255 words
  24. XXI. · 551 words
  25. XXII. · A FEW INFERENCES FROM THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY · 1,177 words
  26. XXIII. · BEHAVIOUR OF CLOCKS AND MEASURING-RODS ON A ROTATING BODY OF REFERENCE · 1,091 words
  27. XXIV. · EUCLIDEAN AND NON-EUCLIDEAN CONTINUUM · 1,070 words
  28. XXV. · GAUSSIAN CO-ORDINATES · 948 words
  29. XXVI. · 440 words
  30. XXVII. · 818 words
  31. XXVIII. · EXACT FORMULATION OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY · 745 words
  32. XXIX. · 1,127 words
  33. PART III: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE UNIVERSE AS A WHOLE · XXX. · 573 words
  34. XXXI. · 1,348 words
  35. XXXII. · THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · 455 words
  36. APPENDICES · APPENDIX I · SIMPLE DERIVATION OF THE LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION · 1,165 words
  37. APPENDIX II · 297 words
  38. APPENDIX III · THE EXPERIMENTAL CONFIRMATION OF THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · 2,409 words
  39. APPENDIX IV · THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY · 504 words
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