Physical Relativity explores the nature of the distinction at the heart of Einstein's 1905 formulation of his special theory of relativity: that between kinematics and dynamics. Einstein himself became increasingly uncomfortable with this distinction, and with the limitations of what he called the 'principle theory' approach inspired by the logic of thermodynamics. A handful of physicists and philosophers have over the last century likewise expressed doubts about Einstein's treatment of the relativistic behaviour of rigid bodies and clocks in motion in the kinematical part of his great paper, and suggested that the dynamical understanding of length contraction and time dilation intimated by the immediate precursors of Einstein is more fundamental. Harvey Brown both examines and extends these arguments (which support a more 'constructive' approach to relativistic effects in Einstein's terminology), after giving a careful analysis of key features of the pre-history of relativity theory. He argues furthermore that the geometrization of the theory by Minkowski in 1908 brought illumination, but not a causal explanation of relativistic effects. Finally, Brown tries to show that the dynamical interpretation of special relativity defended in the book is consistent with the role this theory must play as a limiting case of Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity: the general theory of relativity. Appearing in the centennial year of Einstein's celebrated paper on special relativity, Physical Relativity is an unusual, critical examination of the way Einstein formulated his theory. It also examines in detail certain specific historical and conceptual issues that have long given rise to debate in both special and general relativity theory, such as the conventionality of simultaneity, the principle of general covariance, and the consistency or otherwise of the special theory with quantum mechanics. Harvey Brown' s new interpretation of relativity theory will interest anyone working on these central topics in modern physics.

The theory of relativity has been hailed as one of the two most important scientific discoveries in the 20th century. This book presents a comprehensive introduction and analysis of the special theory of relativity and its logical and experimental foundations. It explains in detail the basic principles of the relativity theory, introduces all the important experiments and examines the logic in the reasoning of relativistic results and conclusions. The two fundamental postulates, the principle of relativity and the constancy of the speed of light, are extensively discussed in relation to historical and modern experimental findings. The interpretations of all important experimental results in the history of special relativity and the derivations of key theoretical results in special relativity are scrutinized for their logical consistency, uniqueness to special relativity, and simplicity in explanation compared with competing theories. The ten chapters of this book cover 1) the two postulates, their experimental evidence and logical foundation; 2) the Michelson-Morley experiment and all other important experiments on the speed of light and the medium of light including stellar aberration, the Fizeau experiment, Trouton experiment, Trouton-Noble experiment, Sagnac experiment, Kennedy-Thorndike experiment, Ives-Stilwell experiment, and many modern experiments; 3) the derivation of the Lorentz transformation; 4) the variables in the Lorentz transformation and the principle of relativity; 5) time dilation, its experimental evidence and the twin paradox; 6) length contraction and length paradoxes; 7) motion mass and its derivation, relativistic momentum and experimental evidence; 8) mass-energy relation, its derivation and experimental evidence; 9) time and simultaneity; 10) test theories and experimental verification of special relativity. This book is suitable for both academics and students in science and philosophy and other readers who are interested in physics and its associated philosophical issues; space-time theories; the logical foundation of scientific discoveries; the history of science; the methodology of science, especially researchers and students in physics and the philosophy of science.

Comprehensive coverage of special theory (frames of reference, Lorentz transformation, more), general theory (principle of equivalence, more) and unified theory (Weyl's gauge-invariant geometry, more.) Foreword by Albert Einstein.

“One of the best popular accounts of how Einstein and his followers have been trying to explain the universe for decades” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Physicists have been exploring, debating, and questioning the general theory of relativity ever since Albert Einstein first presented it in 1915. This has driven their work to unveil the universe’s surprising secrets even further, and many believe more wonders remain hidden within the theory’s tangle of equations, waiting to be exposed. In this sweeping narrative of science and culture, an astrophysicist brings general relativity to life through the story of the brilliant physicists, mathematicians, and astronomers who have taken up its challenge. For these scientists, the theory has been both a treasure trove and an enigma. Einstein’s theory, which explains the relationships among gravity, space, and time, is possibly the most perfect intellectual achievement of modern physics—yet studying it has always been a controversial endeavor. Relativists were the target of persecution in Hitler’s Germany, hounded in Stalin’s Russia, and disdained in 1950s America. Even today, PhD students are warned that specializing in general relativity will make them unemployable. Still, general relativity has flourished, delivering key insights into our understanding of the origin of time and the evolution of all the stars and galaxies in the cosmos. Its adherents have revealed what lies at the farthest reaches of the universe, shed light on the smallest scales of existence, and explained how the fabric of reality emerges. Dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and string theory are all progeny of Einstein’s theory. In the midst of a momentous transformation in modern physics, as scientists look farther and more clearly into space than ever before, The Perfect Theory exposes the greater relevance of general relativity, showing us where it started, where it has led—and where it can still take us.

Even the youngest science enthusiasts know the name “Einstein.” To them, it represents intelligence and ingenuity. But they may not know much about Albert Einstein as a man and why his fame reached such great heights. In this comprehensive biography, which draws on new research and personal documents, accessible text tells the fascinating story of Einstein’s life, including his early years in Germany, his achievements that led to the Nobel Prize, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Plentiful photographs, explanatory diagrams, and illuminating sidebars add to the reader’s experience, helping to reveal the person and the genius behind the name.