Fields of Force: The Development of a World View from Faraday to Einstein. / Edition 1

by William Berkson

Overview

This book describes the picture of reality given by Newton, and the development of the later picture of reality given by field theory. In telling this story, the author explains what problem each scientist faced, and how the process of solving them led to new discoveries. By this method he gives unique insight into the understanding of Einstein’s special theory of relativity, as he explains exactly what problems led to the invention of the theory, and exactly where Einstein’s solution differed from his predecessors’. A similar analysis is given of the discoveries of Faraday, Maxwell, Hertz and Lorentz. The problem-oriented approach of the book, originally published in 1974, enables the reader to share in the original creative process, and in the excitement of the discoveries. It puts physics problems into new perspective and discusses the philosophical implications of the history - an illuminating account of a great episode in the history of thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138013414
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/07/2014
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: 20th Century Science , #2
Pages:	386
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Berkson

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction 1. Faraday’s Problem Situation 2. Faraday’s New Metaphysics and the Discovery of Electromagnetic Induction 3. The Search for a Crucial Experiment 4. Faraday’s Field Theory 5. Maxwell’s Problem Situation 6. Maxwell’s Field Theory 7. Questions Raised by Maxwell’s Theory 8. Hertz’s Discovery 9. Lorentz 10. Einstein. Appendix: Other Books on Field Theory