From Newton to Einstein Volume 1920, pt. 1; changing conceptions of the universe

by Benjamin Harrow

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 ...as compared to the space and time of another? Can we not find something which holds good for all bodies in the universe? We can. We can express it mathematically. It is the concept of time and space interlinked; of time as the fourth dimension, length, breadth and thickness being the other three; of time as one of four co-ordinates and at right angles to the other three (a situation which requires a terrific stretch of the imagination to visualize). The four dimensions are sufficient to co-ordinate the time-space relationships of all bodies in the cosmos, and hence have a universality which is totally lacking when time and space are used independently of one another. The four components of our time-space are upand-down, right-and-left, backwards-and-forwards, and sooner-and-later. "Strain" and "Distortion" in Space. The four-dimensional unit has been given the name "world-line," for the "world-line" of any particle in space is in reality a complete history of that particle as it moves about in space. Particles, we know, attract one another. If each particle is represented by a world-line these world-lines will be deflected from their course owing to such attraction. Imagine a bladder representing the universe, with lines on it representing world-lines. Now squeeze the bladder. The world-lines are bent in various directions; they are "distorted." This illustrates the influence of gravity on these world-lines; it is the "strain" brought about due to the force of attraction. The distorted bladder illustrates even more, for it is a true representation of the real world. How Einstein's Conception of Time and Space Led to a New View of Gravitation. In our conventional language we speak of the sun as exer...

28 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2012

About the author

1888-1970