A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion

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A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion Page 45

by Stephen Hawking


  atoms

  charge of, 306

  chemistry, 347

  crystals, 315–316

  discrete energy values, structure and, 443–444

  disintegrating, 395

  electron revolving around nucleus, 444

  as elementary quantum, 305

  energy level, 313–314

  Lorentz’s theory of matter, 354–356

  mass, 304–305

  mechanics of a system, 412–413

  nucleus, 306, 444

  particles, defining, 283

  photons emitted by, 313–314

  size, calculating, 357–358

  attraction, particle, 285–286

  authority, suspicion of, 340

  autobiographical notes (Einstein), 337–382

  books versus experiential learning, 343–344

  early quests for meaning, 339–341

  electro-magnetic foundation of physics, 360–362

  Euclidean plane geometry, 342–343

  field equations, finding for total field, 380–381

  general theory of relativity, 369–371, 374–375

  heat radiation investigations of Planck, 356–359

  Lorentz’s theory of matter, 354–356

  mathematics education, 344–346

  Maxwell’s theory, 353–354

  mechanics as basis of physics, 351–353

  motivation for writing, 339

  physics education, 346–351

  special theory of relativity, 364–365, 364–369

  statistical quantum theory, 371–372, 375–379

  thinking, meaning of, 341–342

  time of an event, 363-364

  universal law of physical space, 371–372

  universal principle, impossibility of, 362–363

  axioms, truth of, 129–130

  B

  bar magnet

  currents, 290

  field, 291

  induced currents, 295

  behavior, probability and, 326

  bending of light rays in gravitational field, 43–45, 308

  Bible, 339

  billiard balls, 235–236

  Black Holes, 126

  Bohr, Niels, 314, 424, 443

  Boltzmann, L., 106–107, 128, 358

  books versus experiential learning, 343–344

  Born, Max, 425

  boundary conditions, 108–111

  β-rays, 168

  Brownian motion, law of the, 360–362

  C

  calculation, result and, 115–116

  calculus, 344

  Cartesian co-ordinate system, 193, 194

  Gaussian curves, 196

  ideal rigid bodies, 267

  intervals, 268–269

  measurable distance between two points, 271

  space-lattice, members of, 276

  vectors, 274

  cathode rays, 168

  cause and effect, connecting, 237

  centrifugal force, 189–190

  chemical processes

  atomic hypothesis, 347

  elementary quantum, 302

  chest, movement against gravitational field example, 179–182

  Christoffel, Elwin Bruno, 67–68

  circle, 51

  classical mechanics. See mechanics

  classical physics, quantum physics versus, 331–332

  clocks

  events, measurability of, 386

  gravitational fields and, 42–43

  ideal, 364

  intervals, rate of, 254

  kinematics, 47

  light, using as, 263–264

  in motion, behavior of, 157–158

  in motion, velocity of, 158

  moving, 14–16

  objective time, 409–410

  on a rotating body of reference, 1–2, 189–191

  simultaneity of, 147

  static gravitational field, 94–96

  synchronizing, 7, 9

  time, defining, 204

  velocity, 15–16

  clouds, measuring height of, 133

  coal mine, change and, 300

  color, wave length listed by, 314–315

  common language of science, 448–450

  comprehensibility, 403

  conductors, charged, 292–293

  conservation

  of energy, 164, 392–393

  field equations of gravitation, deducing, 104

  in the general case, laws of

  gravitational field, theory of, 84–85

  mass and energy, principles of, 392–393

  thermal energy, 393

  of mass, 164, 392

  of momentum and energy, laws of, 366, 453

  of thermal energy, 393

  constancy

  scalar of curvature, 121

  of velocities, law of, 142

  constant limit, spatial infinity, 105–106

  contact, permanent, 407

  continua, mathematical treatment of, 197

  continuity, co-variance of the equation of, 280

  continuity-discontinuity quanta, 300–301

  continuous medium

  mechanics of, 413

  motion, equations of, 278–280

  continuum, Euclidean and non-Euclidean, 192–194

  continuum, space-time

  character, note on, 64–65

  ether, role of, 244–245

  Euclidean geometry, 51, 198–199, 409

  four-dimensional, 111–112, 116, 254

  nature versus, 430

  not as Euclidean continuum, 200–202

  contracovariant fundamental tensor, 63

  contraction

  mixed tensor, 60–61

  tensors, 275

  contravariant four-vectors, 56–57

  contravariant tensors, 58

  convection-currents, transformation of Maxwell-Hertz equation with, 26–31

  conventions, 340–341

  co-ordinates, system of, 132–134

  acceleration, 389

  arbitrarily moving, 387–388

  converting from stationary system, 9–14, 363

  equivalency, 370

  four to measure space and time, 53–55

  Galilean system, 137, 198, 397

  inertial, 335

  Lorentz transformation, 154–155

  Newton, 397

  rotating, 251–252

  tensors, defining by, 56, 274

  transformations, general theory of relativity, 421

  cord, oscillation of, 318–319

  corpuscles

  minimum of pressure/maximum of scalar of curvature, 121

  movement, 320

  Newton’s theory, 308

  relativity theory and, 431–433

  Cosmological Considerations (cosmology), 105–107

  boundary conditions, 108–111

  calculation and result, 115–116

  spatially finite universe with uniform distribution of matter, 111–115

  cosmological constant, 3, 126–127

  covariant four-vectors, 57

  covariant fundamental tensor, 62–63

  covariant law for scalar field, 374

  covariant partial differential equations, 422

  covariant tensors, 58–59

  crystals

  atoms, 315–316

  X rays diffraction through, 316, 317

  curl of a contravariant vector, 73

  current

  acting upon magnetic pole, 287–288

  associated with magnetic field, 290

  disconnected, spark and, 298–299

  induced, 295–299

  magnetic field, 287, 294

  Maxwell-Hertz equations, 330

  curves

  Gaussian co-ordinates, 195–197

  tensor of curvature, 118

  variants for, 68

  D

  dark energy, 3

  de Broglie, Louis, 320, 425, 444, 445

  deflection, ray of light in gravitational field, 44–45,
228–229

  density

  energy-tensor, defining, 93–94

  mass, 256–257

  Newton’s theory of mass, cosmological difficulties of, 256–257

  radiation, 359

  Descartes, René, 408

  deSitter, Akad. van Wetensch, 109, 111, 142

  determinant of the fundamental tensor, 63

  Dirac, Paul, 425

  direction of travel, velocity and, 140

  disintegrating atoms, 395

  disk

  centrifugal force acting on, 189–190

  on globe, unbounded continuum, 258–261

  distance

  between atoms in crystals, 316

  Euclidean geometry, 134

  force between two bodies, 287

  measurements, 132

  relativity of conception of, 151–152

  rigid body, 408

  two points on rigid body, 130–131

  divergence

  of a contravariant vector, 72–73

  of a six-vector, 73–74

  Doppler’s principle for velocities, 23, 40

  E

  earlier and later events, 265

  Eddington, Sir Arthur, 126

  Einstein, Albert

  autobiographical notes, 337–382

  The Evolution of Physicsg, 283–336

  The Meaning of Relativity, 263–282

  Out of My Later Years, 383–456

  The Principle of Relativity, 1–124

  Relativity—The Special and General Theory, 125–234

  electrical current. See current

  electricity. See also field theory

  charged conductors, 292–293

  currents associated with magnetic field, 290

  development of theory, 239

  discharge in a gas-containing tube, 312–313

  elementary quanta, 301–306

  elementary quanta of fluids, 302–303

  equilibrium, 355

  induced currents, 295–299

  and magnetism theory, 1, 338, 367

  mechanical interpretation difficulties, 287

  mechanics and, 414–415

  phenomenological physics, 413

  poles at rest, 293–294

  spark produced when current disconnected, 298–299

  electrodynamics, 187, 338

  electrodynamical part, 18–31

  convection-currents, transformation of Maxwell-Hertz equation with, 26–31

  light rays, transformation of the energy of, 23–26

  magnetic field in motion, 18–23

  Maxwell-Hertz equations, transformation, 18–23

  negative electrical masses, 168

  perfect reflectors, theory of the pressure of radiation exerted on, 23–26

  fundamental equations, 164–165

  kinematical part

  co-ordinates and times, converting from stationary system, 9–14

  length and time, relativity of, 7–9

  moving rigid bodies and moving clocks, equations from, 14–16

  simultaneity, definition of, 5–7

  velocities, composition of, 16–18

  light rays, transformation of the energy of, 23–26

  Lorentz’s theory, 161, 240

  magnetic field in motion, 18–23

  Maxwell-Hertz equations, transformation, 18–23

  perfect reflectors, theory of the pressure of radiation exerted on, 23–26

  electromagnetic field, 235

  electric masses, introduction of, 350

  energy components of, 90–91

  equations for free space, 88–91

  ether as bearer of, 239–240, 245

  gravitational field and, 78–79, 422–423

  invention, 334–335

  special theory of relativity and, 367

  in vacuo, 243

  electromagnetic foundation of physics, 360–362

  electromagnetic phenomena, 144

  electromagnetic waves, 440

  electronic waves, diffraction of, 317, 322

  electron, kinetic energy of, 29–30

  electrons

  charges in different electric and magnetic external fields, 304–305

  influences on, 328

  Maxwell-Lorentz theory of, 119

  metal, extracting from, 307–308

  particle versus wave, 322–323

  photoelectric effect, 307–308

  probability waves, 330–331

  showering in same direction, 304

  standing wave, 320

  wave-length of moving, 321–322

  wave train, 444

  electrostatics, 187, 294, 431

  elementary quanta of matter and electricity, 301–306, 324

  ellipses of planetary orbits, 400

  empty space

  equations of, 379–380

  Maxwell-Hertz equations, 32

  as seat of field, 416–417

  energy

  conservation of, 164, 392–393

  electromagnetic field components, 90–91

  increasing, 164–165

  inert mass, increasing, 368–369

  kinetic and potential, division into, 353

  law of conservation of, 366, 453

  level, atoms, 313–314

  mass and, equivalence of, 392, 394, 453–455

  potential, 352–353, 430

  equality of inertial and gravitational mass, 179–182

  equations, general laws of nature, 52

  equilibrium, 355

  equivalence

  co-ordinate, system of, 370

  principle of, 389

  ether, 5, 235

  as bearer of electromagnetic field, 239–240, 245

  mechanics of theory, 415

  relativity, theory of, 237–248

  space-time continuum, role in, 244–245

  ethics, laws of science and, 451–452

  Euclidean geometry, 337, 342

  autobiographical notes, 342–343

  continuum

  Minkowski, 198–199

  non-Euclidean and, 192–194

  curvature of space and, 400

  distances, 134

  flat model of universe, 125, 247-248

  four-dimensional space, 113-114, 172-173

  ideal rigid bodies, 267

  logical process, 129-130

  measurements by rules of, 50

  plane, infinite continuum of, 258

  postulates in Elements, 247

  simplicity of, 252

  solid bodies, 251

  space-time continuum, 51, 408-409

  straight lines, properties of, 268

  Euler, Leonhard, 87–88, 347

  events

  earlier and later, 265

  measurability of, 386

  simultaneity, 5–7, 366, 386

  time of, 363–364

  The Evolution of Physics (Einstein and Infield), 283–336

  field, relativity

  field as representation, 285–294

  two pillars of the field theory, 295–299

  quanta

  continuity-discontinuity, 300–301

  elementary quanta of matter and electricity, 301–306, 324

  of light, 306–312

  light spectra, 312–316

  physics and reality, 333–335

  probability waves, 323–333

  waves of matter, 316–323

  exact formulation, 203–205

  expansion of universe, measurement of, 126

  experience, 167–170, 385

  books versus, 343–344

  experimental confirmation, 225–232

  light, deflection by gravitational field, 228–229

  Mercury, motion of the perihelion of, 226–227

  red, displacement of spectral lines towards, 230–232

  extension of covariant tensor, 70–71

  F

  Faraday, Michael, 166, 295, 350, 415–416, 439

  field of force. See gravitational field
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  field, relativity

  forces, transition to, 353–354

  as representation, 285–294

  two pillars of the field theory, 295–299

  field representation, 287

  fields, 187, 415–416

  field theory of gravitation, 235–236, 439

  equations

  finding for total field, 380–381

  general form of, 82–84

  gravitational field components, 77–78

  limitations, 435

  Lorentz, 373–374

  Maxwell, 415–416

  Newton, 372

  physics and reality, 414–418

  finite universe, 106, 212–215

  FitzGerald, George Francis, 170

  Fizeau, Armand

  addition of the velocities, theorem of, 159–161

  theory of the stationary luminiferous ether, 238

  flat model of the universe, 125, 247–248

  flatness of universe, 126

  flat space, physics in. See relativity, special theory of

  fluids

  bodies, difference of two, 47–48

  elementary quanta, 302–303

  force

  acceleration and, 2

  expression for, 352–353

  laws of, 411

  lines of

  of the gravitational field, 286

  induction phenomena, 297

  magnetic field, 288–289

  metal plates, 303–304

  on material point, 412

  potential energy of system, 412–413

  four–dimensional space

  continuum, defining, 111–112, 116, 254

  Euclidean geometry, 172–173

  Minkowski, 223–224

  time, 171–172

  four-dimensional straight line movement in gravitational field, 78

  Franck, J., 428

  free space, Maxwell’s electromagnetic field equations for, 88–91

  frequency values, 425

  frictionless adiabatic fluid, Euler’s equations for, 87–88

  friction, mass and energy, 393

  function of the co-ordinates of the cord, 329

  fundamental tensor (uv) (insert correct symbols, please), 275

  generally covariant equations, mathematical aids to formulation of, 62–66, 71–72

  new tensors, formation of, 65–66

  G

  Galilean relativity. See The Meaning of Relativity

  Galileo Gaililei

  classical mechanics, 387

  co-ordinates system, 137, 198, 397

  uniform motion of translation, 138–139

  mass, accelerated system of reference, 49

  observable fact of experience, 48

  references

  general theory of relativity, 204

  space free of gravitational fields, 50–51

  uniform rectilinear motion, 185

  transformation, 155

  Lorentz transformation versus, 263

  moving uniformly, 169

  time, 172

  velocities, addition of, 159

  Gamow, George, 445

  gas

  molecules, Boltzmann’s law of distribution, 106–107

  particles

  kinetic theory of, 357, 358, 414

  method of statistics, 325–326

 

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