| Foreword |
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ix | |
| Introduction, in which the author confides in the gentle reader and endeavours to explain, most didactically, why and wherefore he ever sat down to write this book |
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1 | (6) |
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Chapter I Which is devoted entirely to the one who laid the foundations |
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7 | (25) |
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GALILEO. THE PRINCIPLE OF RELATIVITY |
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Chapter II Which touches very briefly on the life and character of Newton. Towards the end the reader finds out about the method of principles |
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32 | (8) |
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Newton. Mechanics (the method) |
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Chapter III The longest and probably most difficult chapter in the book. It discusses the theory of measurement in physics |
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40 | (42) |
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Newton. Mechanics (analysis of basic concepts: length and time) |
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Chapter IV The shortcomings of which are atoned for by the epigraph. It contains a rather dry and long-winded explanation of what is meant by a frame of reference; the important idea is brought home that without a frame of reference any talk of mechanical motion is absolutely pointless |
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82 | (15) |
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Newton. Mechanics (analysis of basic concepts: motion) |
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Chapter V In which the author first discourses and then professes amazement and calls upon the gentle reader to follow suit |
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97 | (31) |
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Newton. Mechanics (analysis of basic concepts: frame of reference) |
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Chapter VI which, the author hopes, is rather interesting |
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128 | (20) |
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Chapter VII which, though rather vague, after many digressions finally explains why physicists were so attracted by the ether hypothesis |
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148 | (14) |
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Light, The Ether (Newton, Huygens) |
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Chapter VIII Which is devoted to the wave theory of light. The patient reader may derive some satisfaction out of an acquaintance with some very subtle and far-reaching conclusions developed from an investigation of the strange effect of double refraction |
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162 | (14) |
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Chapter IX A perusal of which may help the reader to form a slightly better idea of how "simple" it is to study physics |
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176 | (23) |
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The Birth Of The Stationary Ether |
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Chapter X The chief merit of which lies in a rather detailed account of the Doppler effect and Michelson's experiment, and the chief fault of which is an abundance of soliloquising. In this chapter the reader finally parts with the ether and is ready for the theory of relativity |
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199 | (34) |
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RISE AND FALL OF THE STATIONARY ETHER |
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Chapter XI In which the author seeks to confuse the patient reader by convincing him of the contradictions of Einstein's postulates. As a result, it turns out that they are incompatible with classical mechanics, and the author asks the reader to share his profound admiration for Einstein. The first half of the chapter may seem somewhat difficult, but the reader may find consolation in the fact that it is the second half that matters more |
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233 | (22) |
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Einstein (basic postulates) |
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Chapter XII Which expounds in considerable detail on the postulate of the uniformity of the velocity of light and then goes over to discuss the concepts of time and simultaneity in relativity theory |
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255 | (19) |
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Einstein (simultaneity, time) |
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Chapter XIII Which informs the reader in a very matter-of-fact way what is meant by "spacetime interval" and the Lorentz transformation. Towards the end of the chapter, if he ever gets to it, the reader will find out the curious formula for adding velocities in Einstein's theory |
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274 | (10) |
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Einstein ("astonishing" conclusions) |
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Chapter XIV Which discusses two corollaries of relativity theory which are usually the cause of much bewilderment |
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284 | (16) |
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Chapter XV The content of which should atone for its faults |
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300 | (15) |
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Einstein. The Laws Of Mechanics (mass and energy) |
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Conclusion, in which the author bids the reader farewell |
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315 | (22) |
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Chapter XVI The last, and in some respects a heretical one. It anathematises photon rockets and sets forth the author's ideas on day-dreaming. After this the over-patient reader will probably fling the book away with a sigh of relief |
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317 | (20) |
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| Index |
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337 | |
