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The Principle of Relativity: a Collection of Original Memoirs on the Special and General Theory of Relativity
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
244 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1952
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 19, 2008
I was floored by this work. If taken slow I feel that any person of reasonable intelligence can understand the concepts that Prof. Einstein puts forth on the laws that govern time and space. This monumental work is, to me, less like science and more like poetry.
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December 8, 2007This is IT!
May 23, 2015
The beautiful thing about science in the original is that, while the results may not always be correct or as clearly expressed as they might be, you do get the original philosophical arguments that led to the theory in the first place. This is especially true of Einstein. To me, he is clearly a philosopher in his original papers, both in his unifying view of things and also the argumentative techniques he uses.
March 6, 2016
Reading the original papers that made Einstein famous is a treat. His remarkable concision is especially inspiring.
December 15, 2022
Understanding the concept of physics and how it unfolds is something truly impressive and that Albert explains it marvelously
February 20, 2014
This book is a collection of papers by Lorentz, Einstein, Minkowski and Weyl that laid the foundation of the Special and General Theory of Relativity.
Collecting these papers in a book give the reader an appreciation from what problems and ideas the theory developed, instead of getting it ready-made in a modern textbook.
For Special Relativity, this works fine. Though Lorentz paper is barely readable, Einstein writes very elegantly and explains in very simple term his ideas. In fact, today's textbook expositions of Special Relativity are still very close to Einsteins exposition.
Unfortunately, it does not work quite as well for General Relativity. Naturally, this theory requires a lot of knowledge in differential geometry/tensor calculus, but also, in the time since Einstein presented the Special Theory, many more physicists joined in the research on General Relativity and Gravitation, and Einsteins later papers on the subject naturally take their ideas and criticism into account. But for the reader it seems like a few steps are missing, especially when it comes to motivating Einsteins field equations for gravity. Then again - a textbook might help!
That said, this is a valuable book, and a great read for anyone interested in physics.
Collecting these papers in a book give the reader an appreciation from what problems and ideas the theory developed, instead of getting it ready-made in a modern textbook.
For Special Relativity, this works fine. Though Lorentz paper is barely readable, Einstein writes very elegantly and explains in very simple term his ideas. In fact, today's textbook expositions of Special Relativity are still very close to Einsteins exposition.
Unfortunately, it does not work quite as well for General Relativity. Naturally, this theory requires a lot of knowledge in differential geometry/tensor calculus, but also, in the time since Einstein presented the Special Theory, many more physicists joined in the research on General Relativity and Gravitation, and Einsteins later papers on the subject naturally take their ideas and criticism into account. But for the reader it seems like a few steps are missing, especially when it comes to motivating Einsteins field equations for gravity. Then again - a textbook might help!
That said, this is a valuable book, and a great read for anyone interested in physics.
July 4, 2013
In 1990 I had to write a paper about time travel. Reading this book was a must.
I got so excited about the subject that in the end I wrote two. One on multiple universes and the other on tachyons* (kind of an mental experiment). The latter one was directly inspired by this book, my conversations about it and deep thinking/lots of fun at home.
If you really love physics, reading, thinking, and are not scared at some of the maths involved (I still can't grasp half of it) this book is pure joy.
*A tachyon or tachyonic particle is a hypothetical particle that always moves faster than light. The word comes from the Greek: ταχύς or tachys, meaning "swift, quick, fast, rapid", and was coined by Gerald Feinberg.
I got so excited about the subject that in the end I wrote two. One on multiple universes and the other on tachyons* (kind of an mental experiment). The latter one was directly inspired by this book, my conversations about it and deep thinking/lots of fun at home.
If you really love physics, reading, thinking, and are not scared at some of the maths involved (I still can't grasp half of it) this book is pure joy.
*A tachyon or tachyonic particle is a hypothetical particle that always moves faster than light. The word comes from the Greek: ταχύς or tachys, meaning "swift, quick, fast, rapid", and was coined by Gerald Feinberg.
August 9, 2013
The Principle of Relativity is a tough read of a concept that is difficult to grasp. I had the benefit of help and insights from my classmates over the few months we wrestled with Einstein. I admit I experienced several false 'Aha!' moments along the way. Eventually I did manage to successfully conceptualize the fundamentals of the theory before my class moved on, but I had to revisit Einstein's work several times on my own to gain a deeper and more useful understanding of relativity.
January 4, 2013
Include an intro to minkowski space time coordinates
April 20, 2022
รวมบทความต้นฉบับ ทั้งหม� 11 บทความขอ� Einstein, Lorentz, Weyl แล� Minkowski ที่เป็นหลักและเป็นรากฐานของทฤษฎีสัมพัทธภา�
บทความโด� Lorentz
1. Michelson's Interference Experiment (1895)
2. Electromagnetics Phenomena in a system moving with any velocity less than that of light (1904)
บทความโด� Einstein
1. On the electrodynamics of moving bodies (1905)
2. Does the inertia of a body depend upon its energy content? (1905) ที่มาของ E = mc^2
3. On the influence of gravitation on the propagation of light (1911)
4. The Foundation of the general theory of relativity (1916)
5. Hamilton's principle and the general theory of relativity (1916)
6. Cosmological considerations on the General theory of relativity (1917)
7. Do gravitational fields play an essential part in the structure of the elementary particles of matter? (1919)
บทความโด� Minkowski
1. Space and Time (1908)
บทความโด� Weyl
1. Gravitation and Electricity (1918)
บทความโด� Lorentz
1. Michelson's Interference Experiment (1895)
2. Electromagnetics Phenomena in a system moving with any velocity less than that of light (1904)
บทความโด� Einstein
1. On the electrodynamics of moving bodies (1905)
2. Does the inertia of a body depend upon its energy content? (1905) ที่มาของ E = mc^2
3. On the influence of gravitation on the propagation of light (1911)
4. The Foundation of the general theory of relativity (1916)
5. Hamilton's principle and the general theory of relativity (1916)
6. Cosmological considerations on the General theory of relativity (1917)
7. Do gravitational fields play an essential part in the structure of the elementary particles of matter? (1919)
บทความโด� Minkowski
1. Space and Time (1908)
บทความโด� Weyl
1. Gravitation and Electricity (1918)
Shelved as 'to-finish-reading'
August 7, 2022First English edition, Perrett & Jeffery trans. (Dover) 1923.
I. Michelson’s Interference Experiment, H.A. Lorentz, 1895. ⭐⭐⭐—Synopsis: Lorentz derives his transformation from a re-examination of the seminal Michelson/Morley experiment.
II. Electromagnetic Phenomena in a System Moving with any Velocity Less than that of Light, ibid, 1904
III. On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, A. Einstein, 1905, See other edition.
IV. Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon its Energy-Content? ibid, 1905. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐—Einstein slam dunks this one!
V. Space and Time, H. Minkowski, 1908, TBD—A poor trans. e.g., " Since merely one chalky axis, as it is, consists of molecules all a-thrill, and moreover is taking part in the earth's travels in the universe, it already affords us ample scope for abstraction: . . ." My trans.: "Since every chalk axis consists of vibrating molecules, which are taking part in the Earth's travels though the universe, they already afford us ample scope for abstraction; . . ." Note the Carus and Petkov trans. are even worse. I recommend the Google trans. of the original German. But regardless of trans., it's vague and obfuscating. In particular, what did Minkowski mean by: "But I still respect the dogma that space and time have independent meaning."? No one seems to know.
VI. On the Influence of Gravitation on the Propagation of Light, A. Einstein, 1911, ⭐⭐⭐⭐�, The setup for the famous experiment performed in 1919.
VII. The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity, ibid, 1916
VIII. Hamilton’s Principle and the General Theory of Relativity, ibid
IX. Cosmological Consideration on the General Theory of Relativity, ibid, 1917
X, Do Gravitational Fields Play an Essential Role in the Elementary Particles of Matter? ibid, 1919
XI, Gravitation and Electricity, H. Weyl, 1918
I. Michelson’s Interference Experiment, H.A. Lorentz, 1895. ⭐⭐⭐—Synopsis: Lorentz derives his transformation from a re-examination of the seminal Michelson/Morley experiment.
II. Electromagnetic Phenomena in a System Moving with any Velocity Less than that of Light, ibid, 1904
III. On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies, A. Einstein, 1905, See other edition.
IV. Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon its Energy-Content? ibid, 1905. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐—Einstein slam dunks this one!
V. Space and Time, H. Minkowski, 1908, TBD—A poor trans. e.g., " Since merely one chalky axis, as it is, consists of molecules all a-thrill, and moreover is taking part in the earth's travels in the universe, it already affords us ample scope for abstraction: . . ." My trans.: "Since every chalk axis consists of vibrating molecules, which are taking part in the Earth's travels though the universe, they already afford us ample scope for abstraction; . . ." Note the Carus and Petkov trans. are even worse. I recommend the Google trans. of the original German. But regardless of trans., it's vague and obfuscating. In particular, what did Minkowski mean by: "But I still respect the dogma that space and time have independent meaning."? No one seems to know.
VI. On the Influence of Gravitation on the Propagation of Light, A. Einstein, 1911, ⭐⭐⭐⭐�, The setup for the famous experiment performed in 1919.
VII. The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity, ibid, 1916
VIII. Hamilton’s Principle and the General Theory of Relativity, ibid
IX. Cosmological Consideration on the General Theory of Relativity, ibid, 1917
X, Do Gravitational Fields Play an Essential Role in the Elementary Particles of Matter? ibid, 1919
XI, Gravitation and Electricity, H. Weyl, 1918
May 11, 2018
You call it telepathy.
The strategy of Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
made him a good student.
The strategy of Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)
made him a good student.
February 23, 2020
As an Einstein groupie I loved this book, well written for the masses to understand the most important theory that was ever developed which changed the world.
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July 25, 2021great book
September 28, 2022
Brilliant, obviously, but a shame that there was not more comments and explanations for stupid people like me :P
June 6, 2022
Un libro que dejó una huella en mi entendimiento y muchas, muchas preguntas. Esas preguntas que le hacen bien al espíritu porque lo mantienen en movimiento.
February 8, 2022
Tedious
November 22, 2011
From horse's mouth!
October 18, 2017
An amazing book mathematically and philosophically.
May 25, 2018
hey friends i was not exited with the book because i dont know how to read books in goodreads so can you help me??!
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