Who would imagine that this simple law [constancy of the velocity of light] has plunged the conscientiously thoughtful physicist into the greatest intellectual difficulties? — Albert
Einstein
Relativity
The Special and General Theory
 
Albert Einstein
 
The physicist and humanitarian took his place beside the great teachers with the publication of Relativity: The Special and General Theory, Einstein’s own popular translation of the physics that shaped our “truths” of space and time.
 
TRANSLATED BY ROBERT W. LAWSON
 
NEW YORK: HENRY HOLT, 1920
NEW YORK: BARTLEBY.COM, 2000
 
 
Part I: The Special Theory of Relativity
  1. Physical Meaning of Geometrical Propositions
  2. The System of Co-ordinates
  3. Space and Time in Classical Mechanics
  4. The Galileian System of Co-ordinates
  5. The Principle of Relativity (In the Restricted Sense)
  6. The Theorem of the Addition of Velocities Employed in Classical Mechanics
  7. The Apparent Incompatibility of the Law of Propagation of Light with the Principle of Relativity
  8. On the Idea of Time in Physics
  9. The Relativity of Simultaneity
  10. On the Relativity of the Conception of Distance
  11. The Lorentz Transformation
  12. The Behaviour of Measuring-Rods and Clocks in Motion
  13. Theorem of the Addition of Velocities. The Experiment of Fizeau
  14. The Heuristic Value of the Theory of Relativity
  15. General Results of the Theory
  16. Experience and the Special Theory of Relativity
  17. Minkowski’s Four-Dimensional Space
Part II: The General Theory of Relativity
  1. Special and General Principle of Relativity
  2. The Gravitational Field
  3. The Equality of Inertial and Gravitational Mass as an Argument for the General Postulate of Relativity
  4. In What Respects Are the Foundations of Classical Mechanics and of the Special Theory of Relativity Unsatisfactory?
  5. A Few Inferences from the General Theory of Relativity
  6. Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference
  7. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Continuum
  8. Gaussian Co-ordinates
  9. The Space-Time Continuum of the Special Theory of Relativity Considered as a Euclidean Continuum
  10. The Space-Time Continuum of the General Theory of Relativity Is not a Euclidean Continuum
  11. Exact Formulation of the General Principle of Relativity
  12. The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity
Part III: Considerations on the Universe as a Whole
  1. Cosmological Difficulties of Newton’s Theory
  2. The Possibility of a “Finite” and Yet “Unbounded” Universe
  3. The Structure of Space According to the General Theory of Relativity
Appendices
  1. Simple Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation
  2. Minkowski’s Four-Dimensional Space (“World”)
  3. The Experimental Confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity
Bibliography