Other editions of book Relativity: The Special and General Theory

The image is popular and general: A young man sits under an apple tree. An apple falls, strikes him and sets him on a course to receive those epiphanies, eureka moments, in which he deduces how the physical world works. The young man was Isaac Newton and the consequent laws are known as Newtonian physics. Move ahead two hundred years and the second image, though less well known, is of another young man with unruly hair, sitting on a hillside in Germany not far from the patent office where he worked. There Albert Einstein received his own epiphany, followed by several eureka moments, from which he deduced those laws of physics, now termed the Theory of Relativity, a theory that superseded Newton’s 200 year old theories of mechanics, and, in no small part, ushered in the Modern Era. The Theory of Relativity, is actually comprised of two theories: special relativity and general relativity. The concepts introduced in these two theories are three-fold: (1) The measurement of certain quantities is dependent upon the speed of the observer; (2) Space and time (“spacetime”) should be considered in relation to one another; and (3) The speed of light is, nonetheless, an absolute constant, invariant and the same for all observers. In any construct that allows for the relative nature of relationships, the observer must seek out the sole constant on which all relationships depend for their accurate expression. Einstein found it in the speed of light, and from that constant looked anew at the behavior of the smallest elements of matter (Special Relativity, 1905), as well as the projected behavior of an infinite cosmos (General Relativity, 1916). (Summary by Michael Hogan)

Relativity: The Special and the General Theory began as a short paper and was eventually published as a book written by Albert Einstein with the aim of giving: "an exact insight into the theory of relativity to those readers who, from a general scientific and philosophical point of view, are interested in the theory, but who are not conversant with the mathematical apparatus of theoretical physics." It was first published in German in 1916 and later translated into English in 1920. It is divided into 3 parts, the first dealing with special relativity, the second dealing with general relativity and the third dealing with considerations on the universe as a whole.

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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Relativity is the most important scientific idea of the twentieth century. Albert Einstein is the unquestioned founder of modern physics. His Special and General theories of Relativity introduced the idea to the world. In this classic short book he explains clearly, using the minimum amount of mathematical terms, the basic ideas and principles of his theory of Relativity. Unsurpassed by any subsequent books on Relativity, this remains the most popular and useful exposition of Einstein's immense contribution to human knowledge.

Albert Einstein was a German born theoretical physicist. Einstein developed the general theory of relativity, one of two pillars of modern physics, along with quantum mechanics. Albert Einstein's work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. Most notably, Albert Einstein is best known in popular culture and in the world of science & math, physics, and philosophy for his mass-energy equivalence formula E = MCsquared, which has been touted as the world's most famous equation. Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his "services to theoretical physics", in particular his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect, a pivotal step in the evolution of quantum theory. In this Albert Einstein edition titled Relativity: The Special and The General Theory, Einstein's theory of relativity is revealed and it shows how the theory of relativity usually encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. Special relativity is a theory of the structure of spacetime. It was introduced in Einstein's 1905 paper On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies. Special Relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in classical mechanics. General relativity is a theory of gravitation developed by Einstein in the years 1907-1915. The development of general relativity began with the equivalence principle, under which the states of accelerated motion and being at rest in a gravitational field are physically identical. Albert Einstein's Relativity: The Special and The General Theory is often required textbook reading in various courses such as science & math, physics, gravity, relativity, and philosophy.

Relativity: The Special and the General Theory, written by legendary author Albert Einstein, is widely considered to be one of the greatest classic texts of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Relativity: The Special and the General Theory is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Albert Einstein is highly recommended. Published by Classic Books International and beautifully produced, Relativity: The Special and the General Theory would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library.

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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. 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.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Time's 'Man of the Century', Albert Einstein is the unquestioned founder of modern physics. His theory of relativity is the most important scientific idea of the modern era. In this short book Einstein explains, using the minimum of mathematical terms, the basic ideas and principles of the theory which has shaped the world we live in today. Unsurpassed by any subsequent books on relativity, this remains the most popular and useful exposition of Einstein's immense contribution to human knowledge.