This volume presents Einstein's writings from the final period of his work in Switzerland. Most of the material in Volume 4 documents Einstein's search for a relativistic theory of gravitation, a search that ended in Berlin in the fall of 1915 with the completion of the general theory of relativity. Three scientific manuscripts, printed here for the first time, provide insights into Einstein's efforts to generalize his original relativity theory into a theory of gravitation. The first is a review article on the special theory of relativity. The second consists of notes that document Einstein's research on gravitation. The third manuscript contains calculations on the problem of the motion of the perihelion of Mercury. The explanation of the observed anomaly of this motion was to become one of the classical tests of general relativity. The existence of such a manuscript has not been known before now. All three of these manuscripts, along with other material in this volume, add significantly to our understanding of the creation of general relativity.
List of Texts ix INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL Introduction to Volume 4 xiii
Supplement to the Editorial Method in Previous Volumes xix Acknowledgments xx
Note on the Translation xxi Location Symbols and Descriptive Symbols xxii
TEXTS 1 Editorial Note: Einstein's Manuscript on the Special Theory of
Relativity 3 1.Manuscript on the Special Theory of Relativity, 1912-1914 9
Editorial Note: Einstein on the Law of Photochemical Equivalence 109
2."Thermodynamic Proof of the Law of Photochemical Equivalence," January 1912
114 "Thermodynamische Begrundung des photochemischen Aquivalentgesetzes"
Annalen der Physik 37 (1912) Editorial Note: Einstein on Gravitation and
Relativity: The Static Field 122 3."The Speed of Light and the Statics of the
Gravitational Field," February 1912 129 "Lichtgeschwindigkeit und Statik des
Gravitationsfeldes" Annalen der Physik 38 (1912) 4."On the Theory of the
Static Gravitational Field," 23 March 1912, and "Note Added in Proof" 146
"Zur Theorie des statischen Gravitationsfeldes" and "Nachtrag zur Korrektur"
Annalen der Physik 38 (1912) 5."Supplement to My Paper: 'Thermodynamic Proof
of the Law of Photochemical Equivalence'," May 1912 165 "Nachtrag zu meiner
Arbeit: 'Thermodynamische Begrundung des photochemischen Aquivalentgesetzes'
" Annalen der Physik 38 (1912) 6."Response to a Comment by J. Stark: 'On an
Application of Planck's Fundamental Law ...'," 30 May 1912 171 "Antwort auf
eine Bemerkung von J. Stark: ,'Uber eine Anwendung des Planckschen
Elementargesetzes ... ' " Annalen der Physik 38 (1912) 7."Is There a
Gravitational Effect Which Is Analogous to Electrodynamic Induction?" July
1912 174 "Gibt es eine Gravitationswirkung, die der elektrodynamischen
Induktionswirkung analog ist?" Vierteljahrsschrift fur gerichtliche Medizin
und offentliches Sanitatswesen 44 (1912) 8."Relativity and Gravitation. Reply
to a Comment by M. Abraham," 4 July 1912 180 "Relativitat und Gravitation.
Erwiderung auf eine Bemerkung von M. Abraham" Annalen der Physik 38 (1912)
9."Comment on Abraham's Preceding Discussion 'Once Again, Relativity and
Gravitation'," August 1912 189 "Bemerkung zu Abrahams vorangehender
Auseinandersetzung 'Nochmals Relativitat und Gravitation' " Annalen der
Physik 39 (1912) Editorial Note: Einstein's Research Notes on a Generalized
Theory of Relativity 192 10.Research Notes on a Generalized Theory of
Relativity, ca. August 1912 201 Editorial Note: Einstein and Stern on
Zero-Point Energy 270 11."Some Arguments for the Assumption of Molecular
Agitation at Absolute Zero" (with Otto Stern), December 1912, and "Remark
Added in Proof" "Einige Argumente fur die Annahme einer molekularen Agitation
beim absoluten Nullpunkt" and "Anmerkung bei der Korrektur" 274 Annalen der
Physik 40 (1913) 12."Thermodynamic Deduction of the Law of Photochemical
Equivalence," 27 March 1913 286 "Deduction thermodynamique de la loi de
l'equivalence photochimique" Journal de physique 3 (1913) Editorial Note:
Einstein on Gravitation and Relativity: The Collaboration with Marcel
Grossmann 294 13.Outline of a Generalized Theory of Relativity and of a
Theory of Gravitation (with Marcel Grossmann), before 28 May 1913 302 Entwurf
einer verallgemeinerten Relatwitatstheorie und einer Theorie der Gravitation
Leipzig: Teubner, 1913 Editorial Note: The Einstun-Besso Manuscript on the
Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury 344 14.Einstein and Besso: Manuscript on
the Motion of the Perihelion of Mercury, June 1913 360 15."Theory of
Gravitation," 9 September 1913 "Gravitationstheorie" 474 Schweizerische
Naturforschende Gesellschaft. Verhandlungen 96, part 2 (1913) 16."Physical
Foundations of a Theory of Gravitation," 9 September 1913 477 "Physikalische
Grundlagen einer Gravitationstheorie" Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zurich.
Vierteljahrsschrift 58 (1914) 17."On the Present State of the Problem of
Gravitation," 23 September 1913 486 "Zum gegenwartigen Stande des
Gravitationsproblems" Physikalische Zeitschrift 14 (1913) 18."Discussion"
following lecture version of "On the Present State of the Problem of
Gravitation" (Doc. 17), 23 September 1913 504 19.Lecture Notes for Course on
Electricity and Magnetism at the ETH, Winter Semester 1913/1914 512 2October
1913-21 March 1914 20."Theoretical Atomism," before 21 October 1913 520
"Theoretische Atomistik" Paul Hinneberg, ed. Die Kultur der Gegenwart. Ihre
Entwicklung und ihre Ziele. Part 3, sec. 3, vol. 1, Physik. Emil Warburg, ed.
Leipzig. Teubner, 1915 21."Theory of Relativity," before 21 October 1913 535
"Die Relativitatstheorie" Paul Hinneberg, ed. Die Kultur der Gegenwart. Ihre
Entwicklung und ihre Ziele. Part 3, sec. 3, vol. l, Physik. Emil Warburg, ed.
Leipzig: Teubner, 1915 22.Discussion remarks following lectures delivered at
second Solvay Congress, 27-31 October 1913 552 23."Max Planck as Scientist,"
7 November 1913 560 "Max Planck als Forscher" Die Naturwissenschaften 1 (1913
) 24."Supplementary Response to a Question by Mr. Reissner," 11 December 1913
566 "Nachtragliche Antwort auf eine Frage von Herrn Reianer" Physikalische
Zeitschrift 15 (1914) 25."On the Foundations of the Generalized Theory of
Relativity and the Theory of Gravitation," January 1914 571 "Prinzipielles
zur verallgemeinerten Relativitatstheorie und Gravitationstheorie"
Physikalische Zeitschrift 15 (1914) 26."Comments" on "Outline of a
Generalized Theory of Relativity and of a Theory of Gravitation" (the version
of Doc. 13 published as an article in Zeitschrift fur Mathematik und Physik),
30 January 1914 579 "Bemerkungen" Zeaschrift fur Mathematik und Physik 62
(1914) 27."On the Theory of Gravitation," 9 February 1914 583 "Zur Theorie
der Gravitation" Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Zurich. Vierteljahrsschrift
59. Part 2, Sitzungsberichte (1914) 28."Nordstrom's Theory of Gravitation
from the Point of View of the Absolute Differential Calculus" (with Adriaan
D. Fokker), 19 February 1914 588 "Die Nordstromsche Gravitationstheorie vom
Standpunkt des absoluten Differentialkalkuls" Annalen der Physik 44 (1914)
29."Method for the Determination of Statistical Values of Observations
Regarding Quantities Subject to Irregular Fluctuations," 28 February 1914 598
"Methode pour la determination de valeurs statistiques d'observations
concernant des grandeurs soumises a des fluctuations irregulieres" Archives
des sciences physiques et naturelles 37 (1914) 30."A Method for the
Statistical Use of Observations of Apparently Irregular, Quasiperiodic
Processes," after 28 February 1914 603 "Eine Methode zur statistischen
Verwertung von Beobachtungen scheinbar unregelmassig quasiperiodisch
verlaufender Vorgange" 31."On the Relativity Problem," March 1914 608 "Zum
Relativitats-Problem" Scientia 15 (1914) APPENDIXES A. Summaries of
Einstein's Courses at the ETH 623 B. Facsimile Reproduction of the Manuscript
of Document 14 630 Literature Cited 683 Indexes 699
Martin J. Klein is Professor of the History of Science at Yale University and Senior Editor of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein. A. J. Kox teaches history of science at the University of Amsterdam. Jürgen Renn is a Director of the Max Planck Institute of the History of Science, Berlin, and Robert Schulmann is Assistant Professor of History at Boston University.
