Relativity
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Its reading value lies in the fact that it is not merely a physics textbook but also a training in a way of thinking. What Einstein displays in the book is not only physical laws but also a philosophical reflection that breaks through the framework of common sense and reexamines the nature of space and time. For modern readers, understanding relativity not only helps grasp the cornerstone of modern physics but also cultivates scientific thinking and critical thinking skills.
It is worth noting that this edition is particularly suited to Chinese readers' reading habits; the publisher considered local readers' knowledge background in its arrangement and avoided overly technical expression. The book touches on the historical background, development, and practical applications of relativity, connecting abstract theory with the real world.
As an editor, I believe the greatest value of this book lies in its balance between scientific depth and readability. Readers do not need a foundation in higher mathematics to understand its core concepts, yet they can still feel the charm of theoretical physics. It reminds us that the most revolutionary scientific ideas often arise from deep reflection on everyday experience.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Middle school and university students interested in physics and the history of science
- General readers who wish to understand the foundational concepts of modern physics
- Those engaged in popular science education or science communication
- Philosophy enthusiasts who enjoy challenging conventional ways of thinking
Not a good fit for
- Professional physics researchers seeking rigorous mathematical derivations and formula proofs
- Frontier researchers expecting the latest advances in physics
Reading tips
- Read the preface and introduction first to understand the historical background and basic concepts of relativity
- When encountering difficult concepts, think about them in conjunction with the book's diagrams and analogies
- Watch related popular science videos or documentaries alongside the book to enhance intuitive understanding
About the publisher
Shaanxi Normal University Press is a comprehensive publisher that gives equal weight to humanistic scholarship and general reading, with publishing directions covering law, world classics, social psychology, classic works, mystery and detective fiction, and foreign literature. In law, it offers theoretical translations such as Hegel's Philosophy of Right; in literature, it publishes Chinese and foreign classics including Gone with the Wind, Pride and Prejudice, Don Quixote, Six Records of a Floating Life, and The Complete Sherlock Holmes, with translators such as Jia Wenhao, Jia Wenyuan, and Jia Lingyi. It also publishes in social psychology and biography, such as The Neurotic Personality of Our Time and Beethoven. The library currently holds 210 titles; public information is limited, yet the overall profile shows a publishing character that balances academic depth with popular readability.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 关于爱因斯坦
- 1946年的自述（片段）
- 1955年的自述（片段）
- 代序 什么是相对论？
- 前言
- 第一部分 狭义相对论
- 一、几何命题的物理意义
- 二、坐标系
- 三、经典力学中的空间和时间
- 四、伽利略坐标系
- 五、狭义相对性原理
- 六、经典力学中运用的速度相加定理
- 七、光的传播定律与相对性原理的表面抵触
- 八、物理学的时间观
- 九、同时性的相对性
- 十、距离概念的相对性
- 十一、洛伦兹变换
- 十二、量杆和时钟在运动中的行为
- 十三、速度相加定理：斐索实验
- 十四、相对论的启发价值
- 十五、狭义相对论的普遍性结论
- 十六、经验和狭义相对论
- 十七、闵可夫斯基的四维空间
- 第二部分 广义相对论
- 一、狭义和广义相对性原理
- 二、引力场
- 三、惯性质量和引力质量相等是广义相对性公设的一个论据
- 四、经典力学的基础和狭义相对论的基础在哪些方面不能令人满意
- 五、广义相对性原理的几个推论
- 六、时钟和量杆在转动的参照系上的行为
- 七、欧几里得和非欧几里得连续区域
- 八、高斯坐标
- 九、狭义相对论的时空连续区可以当作欧几里得连续区
- 十、广义相对论的时空连续区不是欧几里得连续区
- 十一、广义相对论的严格表述
- 十二、在广义相对性原理基础上理解引力问题
- 第三部分 关于整个宇宙 的一些思考
- 一、牛顿理论在宇宙论方面的困难
- 二、一个“有限”而又“无界”的宇宙的可能性
- 三、以广义相对论为依据的空间结构
- 附录一 洛伦兹变换的简 单推导
- 附录二 闵可夫斯基的四维 空间（“世界”）
- 附录三 广义相对论的实 验证实
FAQ
Can I understand this book without a physics background?
Does this book contain complete mathematical formulas for relativity?
How is this edition different from other popular books on relativity?
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About the author
Albert Einstein (1879–1955) was a German-born American theoretical physicist who founded special and general relativity and received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect; he is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. Our site holds 23 of his works, spanning categories such as popular science, examinations, and biography. Representative titles include Relativity: The Special and General Theory (15th edition, with Einstein's classic papers on unified field theory and other topics), The Evolution of Physics, My Thoughts and Ideas: Albert Einstein's Selected Writings, and Relativity, along with a color illustrated collector's edition. In these works Einstein often explains the principles of relativity and the evolution of physics himself, combining accessible exposition with personal reflections; clear in language and concrete in example, they are classic readings for understanding the foundations of modern physics and scientific thinking.
Zhang Qianqi is an author for whom publicly available information is currently limited; basic details such as her biography, nationality, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded. According to the library's holdings, only one work by her can be found, Relativity, which is categorized under Eastern philosophy. Although the title shares its name with a classic work of physics, within the framework of Eastern philosophy it may be inferred that the author takes Eastern thought as her starting point and offers a philosophical interpretation of the idea of "relativity," possibly touching on themes such as the mutual dependence of things, the transformation of opposites, and holistic contemplation. Because further materials are lacking, it is not possible to ascertain her writing background or intellectual lineage, nor to determine whether the book is an original treatise, a compilation and translation, or a collection of lecture notes. Readers approaching the book through its title should regard it as a cross-contextual attempt at philosophical writing and focus on how the author uses the resources of Eastern philosophy to reexamine the concept of relativity, rather than assuming a direct correspondence with physical theory. Her writing style and sphere of influence likewise await further public information.
