Einstein's Theories of Relativity and GravitationJames Malcolm Bird Einstein's theory of relativity confounded and excited both professional and amateur scientists with its explanation of the intricacies of how the world and the universe truly work, rather than how people wished or believed they worked. His view of relativity dismantled Newton's theory of space and time as absolutes, adding the concept of curved space-time, which deals with the velocity of motion. Einstein explains his theory of physics in a way that was designed not only for scientists with a knowledge of the complicated math involved but for the general reader as well. |
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absolute motion acceleration actually assumption axioms called clock concepts contest continuum coordinate axes curvature curved define definition direction distance earth Einstein Einstein's theory electromagnetic elements energy equal equations essays ether Euclid Euclidean geometry Euclidean space Euclidean system existence experiment expression external fact formula four dimensions four-dimensional four-space fundamental geodesic gravitational field hypothesis ideas law of gravitation laws of nature length mass mathematical mathematician matter means measure measure space mechanics ment merely Michelson-Morley Michelson-Morley experiment miles per second mirror moving Newton's law non-Euclidean non-Euclidean geometry objects observer parallel postulate particle path perihelion phenomena physical position possible postulate principle of relativity prize properties reality reference system regard rela relative motion rotation server simple space space-time Special Theory speed statement straight line supposed surface theory of relativity things three-dimensional time-space tion track true uniform motion universe velocity of light waves
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Page 288 - K' provided that K and K' are in uniform movement of translation." The second principle on which the special relativity theory rests is that of the constancy of the velocity of light in a vacuum. Light in a vacuum has a definite and constant velocity, independent of the velocity of its source. Physicists owe their confidence in this proposition to the Maxwell-Lorentz theory of electro-dynamics.
Page 107 - Setting along without drugs may seem as preposterous as did the theory that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun, to the ancient astronomers.
Page 35 - ... absolute, true, and mathematical, time flows in virtue of its own nature, uniformly, and without reference to any external object; absolute space, by virtue of its own nature, and without reference to any external object, always remains the same and is immovable.
Page 223 - To exhibit this, we must recall a familiar proposition of geometry: the square on the longest side of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.
Page 248 - The general laws of nature are expressed through equations which hold for all systems of coordinates, that is, they are covariant with respect to arbitrary substitutions."1 But this was not enough to include gravitation so Einstein next formulated what he was pleased to call his "equivalence hypothesis.
Page 287 - ... the velocity of the earth in its orbit and the velocity of light. This "aberration of light...
Page 206 - They exhibit the difference by acquiring an acceleration; and we explain the acceleration by alleging the existence of a force, which we call the force of gravitation. But their motions can in fact be perfectly predicted if we know the geometry of the space through which they are traveling. The predictions so based have in fact proved more accurate than those based on the law of gravitation. SPACE, TIME AND GRAVITATION AN OUTLINE OF EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF GENERAL RELATIVITY BY W. DE SITTER PROFESSOR...
Page 80 - That there are such assumptions is clear — the very possibility of making measurements is itself an assumption, and every technique for carrying them out rests on an assumption. Let us inquire which of these it is that relativity asks us to revise.]* THE MEASUREMENT OF TIME AND SPACE [Time is generally conceived as perfectly uniform. How do we judge about it? What tells us that the second just elapsed is equal to the one following? By the very nature of time the superposition of its successive...
Page 47 - ... place" must be true also of "motion," since the latter is nothing but change of place. In fact, it would be impossible to ascribe a state of motion or of rest to a body poised all alone in empty space. Whether a body is to be regarded as resting or as moving, and if the latter at what speed, depends entirely upon the objects to which we refer its positions in...
Page 293 - Although it may be necessary for our descriptions of nature to employ systems of coordinates that we have selected arbitrarily, the choice should not be limited in any way so far as their state of motion is concerned. (General theory of relativity...