Newton . Faraday . Einstein: From Classical Physics To Modern Physics [1 ed.] 2021012080, 2021012081, 9789811235672, 9789811236242, 9789811235689, 9789811235696

Table of contents :
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 Isaac Newton
1.1 Upbringing
Newton’s birth
Admission into King’s School
A fight
Two years’ leave of absence
1.2 Admission into the University of Cambridge
Sizars
Curriculum
1.3 Academic Development in the Continent Focusing on Astronomy
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Explanation 1.1 Kepler’s laws
Appendix 1.1 Galileo Galilei
Explanation 1.2 Law of the pendulum
Explanation 1.3 Law of falling bodies
1.4 Barrow, the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics
Descartes
Isaac Barrow
1.5 Creativity during the Plague
Plague
Physics and astronomy
Optics
Mathematics
Reopening of university
Explanation 1.4 The principle of a telescope
1.6 Successor of Barrow
The Lucasian Professor of Mathematics
The first published paper
Appendix 1.2 The particle-wave duality of light
Explanation 1.5 The photoelectric effect
1.7 Principia
The three laws of motion
Explanation 1.6 The three laws of motion
Halley’s contributing to the publication of Principia
Remote action of force
1.8 Emergency at the University
Intervention of James II
The university’s firm attitude on Newton’s advise
1.9 Life in London
Exhaustion
Master of the Royal Mint
Controversy with Leibniz
Illness
Appendix 1.3 After Newtonian mechanics
Explanation 1.7 Rigid-body mechanics
Explanation 1.8 Minimum-action principle
References
Chapter 2 Michael Faraday
2.1 Upbringing
Birth of Michael Faraday
Apprenticeship
2.2 Davy, Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution
Lecture by Davy
Explanation 2.1 The Royal Institution of Great Britain
Yearning to be a scientist
Interview with Davy
Three-day work at the Royal Institution
2.3 Opening the Doorway to Research
Journey to the Continent
Napoleon’s escape from Elba
Davy lamp
Explanation 2.2 Davy lamp
2.4 Oersted’s Discovery
Phenomenon of electromagnetism
Oersted and the inverse problem
Marriage
2.5 Liquefaction of Chlorine Gas
Explanation 2.3 Liquefaction of gas
Appendix 2.1 Historical significance of liquefying chlorine gas
2.6 Election for Fellow of the Royal Society
Nomination by Phillips
Appendix 2.2 Benzene
Friday evening discourses and Christmas lecture
2.7 Discovery of Electromagnetic Induction
Transforming electricity into magnetism
Electromagnetic induction
Explanation 2.4 Experiment with an induction ring
Appendix 2.3 Magnetic and electric lines of force
Explanation 2.5 Theorization of electromagnetic phenomena by Maxwell
Invention of a magnetic generator
Appendix 2.4 Modern interpretation of electromagnetic induction
2.8 Discovery of Laws of Electrochemical Decomposition
Appendix 2.5 Invention of the voltaic pile
Laws of electrochemical decomposition discovered by Faraday
Explanation 2.6 Laws of electrochemical decomposition
Explanation 2.7 Chemical equivalent
2.9 Research on Dielectrics, Light and Magnetism, and Magnetic Substances
Research on dielectrics
Explanation 2.8 Dielectric constant
Research on light and magnetism
Research on magnetic substances
2.10 Social Contribution by Faraday
Lighting
Other social contribution
2.11 A Grace-and-Favor House at Hampton Court Offered by Queen Victoria to Faraday and His Wife
References
Chapter 3 Albert Einstein
3.1 Upbringing
Birth of Einstein
A late speaker
Entering public school
3.2 Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich: ETH Zurich
Entrance examination for ETH
Studying by himself
3.3 The Patent Office in Bern
Unsuccessful application for a post at the university
Grossmann’s kindliness
Private life
3.4 Publication of Three Papers
Three papers in Annalen der Physik
Energy quantum
Appendix 3.1 Energy quantum
Brownian motion
Appendix 3.2 Planck’s formula
3.5 Historical Background of the Special Relativistic Theory
Aether
Optical experiment by Michelson and Morley
Appendix 3.3 Michelson–Morley experiment
3.6 The Special Relativistic Theory
Relativity principle
Constant light velocity
Appendix 3.4 Background of the formulation of the special relativistic theory
3.7 Consequences of the Special Relativistic Theory
Contraction of a moving body
Delay of moving clock
Relativistic mass of a moving body
Mass-energy equivalence
Mass defect
Explanation 3.1 Mass defect
3.8 Research at the University
Getting a post at the university
Founding the general relativistic theory with Grossmann
David Hilbert
3.9 The General Relativistic Theory
General relativity principle
Minkowski’s 4D world
Explanation 3.2 Minkowski’s 4D world
World line
3.10 Consequence of the General Relativistic Theory
Relation between metric tensor and gravity
Relativistic mass
Total energy
Advancement of a moving clock
3.11 Verification of Correctness of the General Relativistic Theory
Bending of light
Perihelion motion of Mercury
Explanation 3.3 Path of light in a gravitational field
Spectrum shifts
The total solar eclipse observed by Eddington
Explanation 3.4 Analysis of the perihelion motion of Mercury
3.12 The Nobel Prize
Elsa
Visiting the United States
Travel abroad for safety
Einstein and Germany
3.13 The Fifth Solvay Conference
Survey on works of scientists developing quantum mechanics
Probabilistic interpretation in quantum mechanics
Appendix 3.5 Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrodinger
3.14 Princeton
The Institute for Advanced Study
Life Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study
Maja
References
Chronology of Events
Newton
Faraday
Einstein
Name Index
Subject Index
About the Author