Inertia and Gravitation

The Fundamental Nature and Structure of Space-Time

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Gravity, General Physics
Cover of the book Inertia and Gravitation by Herbert Pfister, Markus King, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Herbert Pfister, Markus King ISBN: 9783319150369
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: February 24, 2015
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Herbert Pfister, Markus King
ISBN: 9783319150369
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: February 24, 2015
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

This book focuses on the phenomena of inertia and gravitation, one objective being to shed some new light on the basic laws of gravitational interaction and the fundamental nature and structures of spacetime. Chapter 1 is devoted to an extensive, partly new analysis of the law of inertia. The underlying mathematical and geometrical structure of Newtonian spacetime is presented from a four-dimensional point of view, and some historical difficulties and controversies - in particular the concepts of free particles and straight lines - are critically analyzed, while connections to projective geometry are also explored. The relativistic extensions of the law of gravitation and its intriguing consequences are studied in Chapter 2. This is achieved, following the works of Weyl, Ehlers, Pirani and Schild, by adopting a point of view of the combined conformal and projective structure of spacetime. Specifically, Mach’s fundamental critique of Newton’s concepts of ‘absolute space’ and ‘absolute time’ was a decisive motivation for Einstein’s development of general relativity, and his equivalence principle provided a new perspective on inertia. In Chapter 3 the very special mathematical structure of Einstein’s field equations is analyzed, and some of their remarkable physical predictions are presented. By analyzing different types of dragging phenomena, Chapter 4 reviews to what extent the equivalence principle is realized in general relativity - a question intimately connected to the ‘new force’ of gravitomagnetism, which was theoretically predicted by Einstein and Thirring but which was only recently experimentally confirmed and is thus of current interest.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book focuses on the phenomena of inertia and gravitation, one objective being to shed some new light on the basic laws of gravitational interaction and the fundamental nature and structures of spacetime. Chapter 1 is devoted to an extensive, partly new analysis of the law of inertia. The underlying mathematical and geometrical structure of Newtonian spacetime is presented from a four-dimensional point of view, and some historical difficulties and controversies - in particular the concepts of free particles and straight lines - are critically analyzed, while connections to projective geometry are also explored. The relativistic extensions of the law of gravitation and its intriguing consequences are studied in Chapter 2. This is achieved, following the works of Weyl, Ehlers, Pirani and Schild, by adopting a point of view of the combined conformal and projective structure of spacetime. Specifically, Mach’s fundamental critique of Newton’s concepts of ‘absolute space’ and ‘absolute time’ was a decisive motivation for Einstein’s development of general relativity, and his equivalence principle provided a new perspective on inertia. In Chapter 3 the very special mathematical structure of Einstein’s field equations is analyzed, and some of their remarkable physical predictions are presented. By analyzing different types of dragging phenomena, Chapter 4 reviews to what extent the equivalence principle is realized in general relativity - a question intimately connected to the ‘new force’ of gravitomagnetism, which was theoretically predicted by Einstein and Thirring but which was only recently experimentally confirmed and is thus of current interest.

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Free Radicals in ENT Pathology by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Water Resources in Slovakia: Part II by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Complex Clinical Conundrums in Psychiatry by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Bioinformatics and the Cell by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Rotatory Knee Instability by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Clavicle Injuries by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence: A Threat or Savior? by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Britain, Europe and Civil Nuclear Energy, 1945–62 by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Carbohydrate-Based Interactions at the Molecular and the Cellular Level by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Distributed Computer and Communication Networks by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Transplantation Imaging by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book The Adenosinergic System by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book Buddhist Foundations of Mindfulness by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
Cover of the book The Hunter by Herbert Pfister, Markus King
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy