ABC of RelativityPsychology Press, 1997 - 155 pages Ask a dozen people to name a genius and the odds are that 'Einstein' will spring to their lips. Ask them the meaning of 'relativity' and few of them will be able to tell you what it is. The basic principles of relativity have not changed since Russell first published his lucid guide for the general reader. The ABC of Relativityis Bertrand Russell's most brilliant work of scientific popularisation. With marvellous lucidity he steers the reader who has no knowledge of maths or physics through the subtleties of Einstein's thinking. In easy, assimilable steps, he explains the theories of special and general relativity and describes their practical application to, amongst much else, discoveries about gravitation and the invention of the hydrogen bomb. |
Contents
The Earth and the Heavens | 9 |
What Happens and What is Observed | 17 |
The Velocity of Light | 26 |
Clocks and Footrules | 35 |
SpaceTime | 45 |
The Special Theory of Relativity | 66 |
Einsteins Law of Gravitation | 78 |
Proofs of Einsteins Law of Gravitation | 91 |
Mass Momentum Energy and Action | 100 |
The Expanding Universe | 113 |
Conventions and Natural Laws | 124 |
The Abolition of Force | 133 |
What is Matter? | 141 |
Philosophical Consequences | 148 |
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Common terms and phrases
according aether angles appear applied assume atom become body called centre Chapter clocks co-ordinates concerned course definite depends difficulty direction distance earth east effect electrons energy equally estimate exactly example experiment explained express fact fixed force formula four galaxies geometry given gives gravitation happened hill hour important infer interval journey judge kind length less light longer mass mathematical matter mean measured method miles motion moving nature object observer occurred particles person physical physical laws planets point of view position possible present principle quantity question reason regarded region relation remains round seen sense separation simultaneity space space-time Special Relativity special theory speed square stars straight suppose surface theory of relativity thing thought train true universe velocity of light weight whole