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Einstein's misgivings about his 1905 formulation of special relativity

Abstract:
When Einstein formulated his 1905 treatment of relativistic kinematics, the template in his mind was thermodynamics. This was because a more desirable 'constructive' account of the behaviour of moving rods and clocks, based on the detailed physics governing their microscopic constitution, was unavailable. The price to be paid was appreciated by Einstein and a handful of others since 1905. "The principal of relativity is a principle that narrows the possibilities; it is not a model, just as the second law of thermodynamics is not a model." Albert Einstein.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1088/0143-0807/26/6/S01

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
HUMS
Department:
Philosophy Faculty
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Institute of Physics Publishing
Journal:
European Journal of Physics More from this journal
Volume:
26
Issue:
6
Pages:
S85-S90
Publication date:
2005-01-01
DOI:
EISSN:
1361-6404
ISSN:
0143-0807


Language:
English
Keywords:
Subjects:
UUID:
uuid:e18e0438-a912-42e6-a6ac-9bfef16a117f
Local pid:
ora:4303
Deposit date:
2010-10-21

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