Einstein's First Steps Toward General Relativity: Gedanken Experiments and Axiomatics |
| |
Authors: | A I Miller |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK, e-mail: a.miller@ucl.ac.uk, GB |
| |
Abstract: | Jahrbuch paper is an extraordinary document because it contains his first steps toward generalizing the 1905 relativity theory to
include gravitation. Ignoring the apparent experimental disconfirmation of the 1905 relativity theory and his unsuccessful
attempts to generalize the mass-energy equivalence, Einstein boldly raises the mass-energy equivalence to an axiom, invokes
equality between gravitational and inertial masses, and then postulates the equivalence between a uniform gravitational field
and an oppositely directed constant acceleration, the equivalence principle. How did this come about? What is at issue is
scientific creativity. This necessitates broadening historical analysis to include aspects of cognitive science such as the
role of visual imagery in Einstein's thinking, and the relation between conscious and unconscious modes of thought in problem
solving. This method reveals the catalysts that sparked a Gedanken experiment that occurred to Einstein while working on the Jahrbuch paper. A mental model is presented to further explore Einstein's profound scientific discovery. |
| |
Keywords: | , Equivalence principle, mass-energy equivalence, generalized theory of relativity, special theory of relativity,,,,,,Gedanken experiment, scientific creativity, |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|