Relativity: The Special And The General Theory: The Masterpiece Science Edition


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RELATIVITY The Special and General Theory Albert Einstein Translated by Robert W. Lawson Introduction by Roger Penrose Commentary by Robert Geroch with a Historical Essay by David C. Cassidy The Masterpiece Science Edition Pi Press New York PI PRESS An imprint of Pearson Education, Inc. 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 Commentary and Historical Essay © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Introduction © by Roger Penrose 2004, 2005 Original version of Roger Penrose’s Introduction first published by The Folio Society Ltd in 2004. Reprinted by arrangement with The Folio Society Ltd. Pi Press offers discounts for bulk purchases. For more information, please contact U.S. Corporate and Government Sales, 1-800-382-3419, [email protected] For sales outside the U.S., please contact International Sales at [email protected] Company and product names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Printed in the United States of America First Printing: April 2005 Library of Congress Number: 2004117390 Pi Press books are listed at www.pipress.net. ISBN: 0-13-186261-8 Pearson Education LTD. Pearson Education Australia PTY, Limited. Pearson Education Singapore, Pte. Ltd. Pearson Education North Asia, Ltd. Pearson Education Canada, Ltd. Pearson Educatión de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. Pearson Education—Japan Pearson Education Malaysia, Pte. Ltd. CONTENTS Introduction by Roger Penrose Note on the Text ix xxvii Relativity: The Special and General Theory 1 Preface 3 PART I THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 1. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions 5 2. The System of Co-ordinates 9 3. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics 13 4. The Galileian System of Co-ordinates 16 5. The Principle of Relativity (In the Restricted Sense) 18 6. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics 23 7. The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity 25 8. On the Idea of Time in Physics 29 9. The Relativity of Simultaneity 34 10. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance 38 vi RELATIVITY 11. The Lorentz Transformation 40 12. The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion 47 13. Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau 51 14. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity 56 15. General Results of the Theory 58 16. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity 65 17. Minkowski’s Four-Dimensional Space 72 PART II THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 18. Special and General Principle of Relativity 77 19. The Gravitational Field 82 20. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity 86 21. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory? 92 22. A Few Inferences from the General Principle of Relativity 95 23. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring-Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference 101 24. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum 106 25. Gaussian Co-ordinates 111 Contents vii<
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