Abstract
This chapter focuses on the discovery of special relativity. Poincaré's memoir ends with an application of the principle of relativity to celestial mechanics, and gravitation theory. The chapter presents a list of the invariants of the relativity group and explains how several hypotheses are admissible even if certain plausible restrictions are imposed. Some of the cited commentaries on Poincaré's contributions to relativity theory are too obscure to be properly evaluated. This applies to the statement that a universal theory of relativity, such as Einstein's special theory, could be obtained only with the help of deductive method whereas Poincaré, allegedly, was determined to base his on induction. In some of the other commentaries, terminological misunderstandings appear to be responsible for rather strange conclusions. Because the principle of relativity was an experimental result for Poincaré, it could not possibly function as a postulate in a theory.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call