H a Lorentz

A guide to a concise and accessible account of Einstein's world-shaking theory by a close colleague and expert . First published in 1920 this remarkable account gives the foundation for understanding more recent advances in cosmology

Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 - 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). While best known for his mass-energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"), he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory. Hendrik Antoon Lorentz (18 July 1853 - 4 February 1928) was a Dutch physicist who shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Pieter Zeeman for the discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman effect. He also derived the transformation equations subsequently used by Albert Einstein to describe space and time.

With the present ninth volume we bring to a conclusion the edition of the Collected Papers of Professor H. A. Lorentz. It contains the evidence of his constant activity to promote the interest in science of a larger public, in particular of his country men, by addresses on se- veraloccasions, by articles in magazines and newspapers, and other- wise. In a certain way in this part of his work he belongs more partic- ularly to his country, therefore we reproduce it in the original lang- uage, with the exception of his inaugural address as Leiden professor early in I878, which readers abroad might be interested in. The sketch of Ludwig Boltzmann, in the German language, contains a most powerful and deep-going survey of the scientific work of this genius. In several places the character of the man's personality rather than that 0/ the scientist reveals itself, his attitude towards various problems and his personal views. In his first address he refers to the value of mathematics, we hear his dislike lor too vivid visual speculations and crude hypotheses, his taste lor the soberness of mathematical formulae, where he argues that the fundamental principles must needs escape further explanation. On page 54 we read what he said about determin- ism, and on page I8I he expresses himself on the relation of matter and mind. His intimate feelings on space and time, and the aether, are touched upon on pages 240, 26I, 274.

Dieser Buchtitel ist Teil des Digitalisierungsprojekts Springer Book Archives mit Publikationen, die seit den Anfängen des Verlags von 1842 erschienen sind. Der Verlag stellt mit diesem Archiv Quellen für die historische wie auch die disziplingeschichtliche Forschung zur Verfügung, die jeweils im historischen Kontext betrachtet werden müssen. Dieser Titel erschien in der Zeit vor 1945 und wird daher in seiner zeittypischen politisch-ideologischen Ausrichtung vom Verlag nicht beworben.