The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 2: The Swiss Years: Writings, 1900-1909

by Albert Einstein, John Stachel (Editor), David C. Cassidy (Editor), Jürgen Renn (Editor), Robert Schulmann (Editor)

Overview

This volume of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein contains the scientific work Einstein published during the first decade of his career, and includes some of the most significant achievements of twentieth-century physics. The first paper was written in 1900 by the twenty-one-year-old Einstein, newly graduated from the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School, or ETH, in Zurich and still searching in vain for a job. The last paper in this volume is the text of an invited lecture given in 1909 to a major scientific meeting by Einstein after he was appointed to his first academic post at the University of Zurich. He had already been recognized as an important theoretical physicist on the basis of the work reprinted here, particularly the three masterpieces that appeared in quick succession during 1905, Einstein's year of miracles. In one of these papers Einstein showed how one could finally confirm the ancient view that matter is composed of discrete atoms, and even measure the numbers and masses of these atoms. In a second paper, which even he referred to as "very revolutionary," he argued that the observed properties of thermal radiation suggest that it consists not of waves, but rather of localized particles of energy which he called energy quanta. The third and most famous paper set forth the special theory of relativity, solving some long-standing difficulties, but requiring a significant change in our understanding of those basic concepts, space and time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691085265
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	02/21/1990
Series:	Collected Papers of Albert Einstein , #2
Pages:	692
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Language:	German

Table of Contents

List of Texts ix
INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
Introduction to Volume 2 xvi
Supplement to the Editorial Method in Volume One xxxi
A Note on Secondary Literature xxxiii
Acknowledgments xxxiv
Translation xxxv
List of Location Symbols xxxvi
TEXTS 3
Editoral Note: Einstein on the Nature of Molecular Forces 3
1."Conclusions Drawn from the Phenomena of Capillarity," 13 December 1900 "Folgerungen aus den Capillaritätserscheinungen"
Annalen der Physik 4 (1901) 9
2."On the Thermodynamic Theory of the Difference in Potentials between Metals and Fully Dissociated Solutions of Their Salts and on an Electrical Method for Investigating Molecular Forces," April 1902
"Ueber die thermodynamische Theorie der Potentialdifferenz zwischen Metallen und vollständig dissociirten Lösungen ihrer Salze und über eine elektrische Methode zur Erforschung der Molecularkräfte"
Annalen der Physik 8 (1902) 22
Editorial Note: Einstein on the Foundations of Statistical Physics 41
3."Kinetic Theory of Thermal Equilibrium and of the Second Law of Thermodynamics," June 1902
"Kinetische Theorie des Wärmegleichgewichtes und des zweiten Hauptsatzes der Thermodynamik"
Annalen der Physik 9 (1902) 56
4."A Theory of the Foundations of Thermodynamics," January 1903
"Eine Theorie der Grundlagen der Thermodynamik"
Annalen der Physik 11 (1903) 76
5."On the General Molecular Theory of Heat," 27 March 1904
"Zur allgemeinen molekularen Theorie der Wärme"
Annalen der Physik 14 (1904) 98
Editorial Note: Einstein's Reviews for the Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 109
6.Review of Giuseppe Belluzzo, "Principles of Graphic Thermodynamics," first half of March 1905
"Principi di termodinamica grafica"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 112
7.Review of Albert Fliegner, "On Clausius's Law of Entropy," first half of March 1905
"Über den Clausius'schen Entropiesatz"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 115
8.Review of William McFadden Orr, "On Clausius' Theorem for Irreversible Cycles, and on the Increase of Entropy," first half of March 1905
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 118
9.Review of George Hartley Bryan, "The Law of Degradation of Energy as the Fundamental Principle of Thermodynamics," first half of March 1905
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 120
10.Review of Nikolay Nikolayevich Schiller, "Some Concerns Regarding the Theory of Entropy Increase Due to the Diffusion of Gases Where the Initial Pressures of the Latter Are Equal," first half of March 1905 "Einige Bedenken betreffend die Theorie der Entropievermehrung durch Diffusion der Gase bei einander gleichen Anfangsspannungen der letzteren"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 122
11.Review of Jakob Johann Weyrauch, "On the Specific Heats of Superheated Water Vapor," first half of March 1905
"Ueber die spezifischen Wärmen des überhitzten Wasserdampfes"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 125
12.Review of Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, "The Influence of the Change in Specific Heat on the Work of Conversion," first half of March 1905
"Einfluß der Änderung der spezifischen Wärme auf die Umwandlungsarbeit"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 127
13.Review of Arturo Giammarco, "A Case of Corresponding States in Thermodynamics," first half of March 1905
"Un caso di corrispondenza in termodinamica"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 131
Editorial Note: Einstein's Early Work on the Quantum Hypothesis 134
14."On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light," 17 March 1905
"Über einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes betreffenden heuristischen Gesichtspunkt"
Annalen der Physik 17 (1905) 149
Editorial Note: Einstein's Dissertation on the Determination of Molecular Dimensions 170
15.A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions (University of Zurich dissertation), 30 April 1905
Eine neue Bestimmung der MoleküldimensionenBern: Buchdruckerei K. J. Wyss, 1906 183
Editorial Note: Einstein on Brownian Motion 206
16."On the Movement of Small Particles Suspended in Stationary Liquids Required by the Molecular-Kinetic Theory of Heat," May 1905
"Über die von der molekularkinetischen Theorie der Wärme geforderte Bewegung von in ruhenden Flüssigkeiten suspendierten Teilchen"
Annalen der Physik 17 (1905) 223
17.Review of Karl Fredrik Slotte, "On the Heat of Fusion," second half of June 1905
"Über die Schmelzwärme"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 237
18.Review of Karl Fredrik Slotte, "Conclusions Drawn from a Thermodynamic Equation," second half of June 1905
"Folgerungen aus einer thermodynamischen Gleichung"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 240
19.Review of Emile Mathias, "The Constant a of Rectilinear Diameters and the Laws of Corresponding States," second half of June 1905
"La constante a des damètres rectilignes et les lois des états correspondants"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 242
20.Review of Max Planck, "On Clausius' Theorem for Irreversible Cycles, and on the Increase of Entropy," second half of June 1905
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 245
21.Review of Edgar Buckingham, "On Certain Difficulties Which Are Encountered in the Study of Thermodynamics," second half of June 1905
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 247
22.Review of Paul Langevin, "On a Fundamental Formula of the Kinetic Theory," second half of June 1905
"Sur une formule fondamentale de la théorie cinétique"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 250
Editorial Note: Einstein on the Theory of Relativity 253
23."On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies," June 1905
"Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper"
Annalen der Physik 17 (1905) 275
24."Does the Inertia of a Body Depend upon its Energy Content?" September 1905
"Ist die Trägheit eines Körpers von seinem Energieinhalt abhängig?"
Annalen der Physik 18 (1905) 311
25.Review of Heinrich Birven, Fundamentals of the Mechanical Theory of Heat, second half of September 1905
Grundzüge der mechanischen Wärmetheorie
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 316
26.Review of Auguste Ponsot, "Heat in the Displacement of the Equilibrium of a Capillary System," second half of September 1905
"Chaleur dans le déplacement de l'équilibre d'un système capillaire"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 318
27.Review of Karl Bohlin, "On Impact Considered as the Basis of Kinetic Theories of Gas Pressure and of Universal Gravitation," second half of September 1905
"Sur le choc, considéré comme fondement des théories cinétiques de la pression des gaz et de la gravitation universelle"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 320
28.Review of Georges Meslin, "On the Constant in Mariotte and Gay-Lussac's Law," first half of November 1905
"Sur la constante de la loi de Mariotte et Gay-Lussac"
Betblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 323
29.Review of Albert Fliegner, "The Efflux of Hot Water from Container Orifices," first half of November 1905
"Das Ausströmen heissen Wassers aus Gefässmündungen"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 325
30.Review of Jakob Johann Weyrauch, An Outline of the Theory of Heat. With Numerous Examples and Applications. Part 1, second half of November 1905
Grundriss der Wärmetheorie. Mit zahlreichen Beispielen und Anwendungen
Betblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 327
31.Review of Albert Fliegner, "On the Thermal Value of Chemical Processes," second half of November 1905
"Über den Wärmewert chemischer Vorgänge"
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 29 (1905) 331
32."On the Theory of Brownian Motion," December 1905
"Zur Theorie der Brownschen Bewegung"
Annalen der Physik 19 (1906) 333
33."Supplement" to "A New Determination of Molecular Dimensions" [the version of Document 15 published as an article in the Annalen der Physik], January 1906
Annalen der Physik 19 (1906) 346
34."On the Theory of Light Production and Light Absorption," March 1906 "Zur Theorie der Lichterzeugung und Lichtabsorption"
Annalen der Physik 20 (1906) 349
35."The Principle of Conservation of Motion of the Center of Gravity and the Inertia of Energy," May 1906
"Das Prinzip von der Erhaltung der Schwerpunktsbewegung und die Trägheit der Energie"
Annalen der Physik 20 (1906) 359
36."On a Method for the Determination of the Ratio of the Transverse and the Longitudinal Mass of the Electron," August 1906
"Über eine Methode zur Bestimmung des Verhältnisses der transversalen und longitudinalen Masse des Elektrons"
Annalen der Physik 21 (1906) 367
37.Review of Max Planck, Lectures on the Theory of Thermal Radiation, first half of August 1906
Vorlesungen über die Theorie der Wärmestrahlung
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 30 (1906) 373
38."Planck's Theory of Radiation and the Theory of Specific Heat," November 1906
"Die Plancksche Theorie der Strahlung und die Theorie der spezifischen Wärme"
Annalen der Physik 22 (1907) 378
39."On the Limit of Validity of the Law of Thermodynamic Equilibrium and on the Possibility of a New Determination of the Elementary Quanta," December 1906
"Über die Gültigkeitsgrenze des Satzes vom thermodynamischen Gleichgewicht und über die Möglichkeit einer neuen Bestimmung der
Elementarquanta"
Annalen der Physik 22 (1907) 392
40."Theoretical Remarks on Brownian Motion," January 1907
Theoretische Bemerkungen über die Brownsche Bewegung"
Zeitschrift für Elektrochemie und angewandte physikalische Chemie 13 (1907) 398
41."On the Possibility of a New Test of the Relativity Principle," March 1907
"Über die Möglichkeit einer neuen Prüfung des Relativitätsprinzips"
Annalen der Physik 23 (1907) 401
42."Correction to My Paper: 'Planck's Theory of Radiation, etc.' " [Document 38], 3 March 1907
"Berichtigung zu meiner Arbeit: 'Die Plancksche Theorie der Strahlung etc.' "
Annalen der Physik 22 (1907) 404
43.Author's abstract of lecture "On the Nature of the Movements of Microscopically Small Particles Suspended in Liquids," held 23 March 1907
"Ueber die Natur der Bewegungen mikroskopisch kleiner, in Flüssigkeiten suspendierter Teilchen"
Naturforschende Gesellschaft Bern. Mitteilungen (1907) 407
44."Comments on the Note of Mr. Paul Ehrenfest: 'The Translatory Motion of Deformable Electrons and the Area Law,' " 14 April 1907
"Bemerkungen zu der Notiz von Hrn. Paul Ehrenfest: 'Die Translation deformierbarer Elektronen und der Flächensatz' "
Annalen der Physik 23 (1907) 409
45."On the Inertia of Energy Required by the Relativity Pnnciple," May 1907
"Über die vom Relativitätspnnzip geforderte Trägheit der Energie"
Annalen der Physik 23 (1907) 413
46.Review of Jakob Johann Weyrauch, An Outline of the Theory of Heat. With Numerous Examples and Applications. Part 2, second half of August 1907
Grundriss der Wärmetheorie. Mit zahlreichen Beispielen und Anwendungen
Beiblätter zu den Annalen der Physik 31 (1907) 429
47."On the Relativity Pnnciple and the Conclusions Drawn from It," 4 December 1907
"Über das Relativitätspnnzip und die aus demselben gezogenen Folgerungen"
Jahrbuch der Radioaktivität und Elektronik 4 (1907) 432
48."A New Electrostatic Method for the Measurement of Small Quantities of Electricity," 13 February 1908
"Eine neue elektrostatische Methode zur Messung kleiner Elektrizitätsmengen"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 9 (1908) 489
49."Corrections to the Paper: 'On the Relativity Principle and the Conclusions Drawn from It'" [Document 47], 29 February 1908
"Berichtigungen zu der Arbeit: 'Über das Relativitätsprinzip und die aus demselben gezogenen Folgerungen'"
Jahrbuch der Radioaktivität und Elektronik 5 (1908) 493
50."Elementary Theory of Brownian Motion," 1 April 1908
"Elementare Theorie der Brownschen Bewegung"
Zeitschrift für Elektrochemie und angewandte physikalische Chemie 14 (1908) 496
Editorial Note: Einstein and Laub on the Electrodynamics of Moving Media 503
51."On the Fundamental Electromagnetic Equations for Moving Bodies" (with Jakob Laub), 29 April 1908
"Über die elektromagnetischen Grundgleichungen für bewegte Körper"
Annalen der Physik 26 (1908) 508
52."On the Ponderomotive Forces Exerted on Bodies at Rest in the Electromagnetic Field" (with Jakob Laub), 7 May 1908
"Über die im elektromagnetischen Felde auf ruhende Körper ausgeübten ponderomotorischen Kräfte"
Annalen der Physik 26 (1908) 518
53."Correction to the Paper: 'On the Fundamental Electromagnetic Equations for Moving Bodies' " (with Jakob Laub) [Document 51], 24 August 1908
"Berichtigung zur Abhandlung: 'Über die elektromagnetischen Grundgleichungen für bewegte Körper' "
Annalen der Physik 27 (1908) 529
54."Remarks on Our Paper: 'On the Fundamental Electromagnetic Equations for Moving Bodies' " (with Jakob Laub) [Document 51], November 1908, and 531 "Supplement," 19 January 1909
"Bemerkungen zu unserer Arbeit: 'Über die elektromagnetischen Grundgleichungen für bewegte Körper,' " and "Nachtrag"
Annalen der Physik 28 (1909) 531
55."Comment on the Paper of D. Mirimanoff: 'On the Fundamental Equations ... ,' " January 1909
"Bemerkung zu der Arbeit von D. Mirimanoff: 'Über die Grundgleichungen ...' "
Annalen der Physik 28 (1909) 536
56."On the Present Status of the Radiation Problem," January 1909
"Zum gegenwärtigen Stand des Strahlungsproblems"
Physikalische Zeitschaft 10 (1909) 541
57."On the Present Status of the Radiation Problem" (with Walter Ritz), April 1909
"Zum gegenwärtigen Stand des Strahlungsproblems"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 10 (1909) 554
58.Extract from "Discussion" following lecture version of Henry Siedentopf, "On Ultramicroscopic Images," 20 September 1909
Physikalische Zeitschrift 10 (1909) 556
59.Extract from "Discussion" following lecture version of Arthur Szarvassi, "The Theory of Electromagnetic Phenomena in Moving Bodies and the Energy Principle," 21 September 1909
Physikalische Zeitschrift 10 (1909) 560
60."On the Development of Our Views Concerning the Nature and Constitution of Radiation," 21 September 1909
"Über die Entwickelung unserer Anschauungen über das Wesen und die Konstitution der Strahlung"
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Verhandlungen 7 (1909) 563
61."Discussion" following lecture version of "On the Development of Our Views Concerning the Nature and Constitution of Radiation" [Document 60], 21 September 1909
Physikalische Zeitschrift 10 (1909) 584
62."Discussion" following lecture version of Fritz Hasenöhrl, "On the Transformation of Kinetic Energy into Radiation," 21 September 1909
Physikalische Zeitschrift 10 (1909) 588
Literture Cited 591
Indexes 625

Editorial Reviews

Though the collected papers of Albert Einstein will run to a projected thirty volumes, this is likely to be the volume most frequently consulted. It contains reprints of 62 papers published by Einstein between 1901 and 1909, together with a great deal of very helpful editorial material. For many readers the objectives and profundity of Einstein's research prior to 1905 will come as something of a surprise. The editorial and production work are (as one would expect in such a monumental project) absolutely first class. English translations of the papers (here reproduced in their original German) will be published separately, but minus editorial commentary. (NW) Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews