Chronology:
Einstein’s Path to Relativity
Based mainly on the evidence cited in Kinematics, the following timeline describes the sequence of events and efforts that eventually led Albert Einstein to formulate what later became known as the special theory of relativity.
1890s learns about Hertz’s experiments on electromagnetic waves
1895 writes essay about the state of the ether in a magnetic field
1895 thinks about catching up to a light ray, what would he observe?
1897 reads Mach’s Mechanics, recommended by Besso
1897-98 impressed by mechanical theories of light and gases
early 1898 the ether’s relative motion becomes his major concern
1899 tries to find or conceive experiments to detect the ether motion
mid 1899 studying Hertz, thinks that electrodynamics is defective
Sept. 1899 reads about experiments to detect the ether
Sept. 1899 drafts theory and experiment to detect ether motion
fall 1899? becomes interested in Fizeau and Airy experiments
1900 takes long break from struggling with ether motion problems
March 1901 hopes to solve puzzle of relative motion with Mileva Maric
spring 1901 discusses absolute rest and ether with Michele Besso
1901? Besso explains relative motion in electrodynamic induction
Sept.1901 imagines experiment to detect the ether motion
Dec. 1901 tries to formulate a theory of electrodynamics
Dec. 1901 Besso gifts a book on ether, it now seems “outdated”
late 1901 electrodynamic induction suggests: all motion is relative
early 1902 conviction: inertial motion is relative (no ether motion)
1902 begins to intensively study Lorentz’s electrodynamics
1902? dislikes Lorentz’s hypothesis of electromotive force
1902-03 rejects Sauter’s mechanical account of Maxwell’s equations
1902-04 tries to make a theory in which sources affect light speeds
1902-05 with Solovine and Habicht, reads works by Poincaré
1903 struggles to explain Fizeau’s experiment
May 1903 discusses law of inertia with Solovine and Habicht
Dec. 1903 discusses electromagnetic waves at Bern science society
1904 returns to hypothesis that light speed is independent of source
1904 believes that mechanics and electrodynamics not fully valid
mid-1904 begins to try to modify Lorentz’s electrodynamics
1904 Ries discusses train moving at light speed
1904 discusses electrodynamics and light with Besso
late 1904 becomes obsessed with electrodynamics and light
early 1905 stressed, frustrated; takes a break from electrodynamics
March 1905 concludes that radiation behaves like particles
March 1905 reads Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature
May 1905 thoroughly discusses electrodynamics with Besso
May 1905 breakthrough: conceives the relativity of simultaneity
June 1905 formulates kinematic theory based on two postulates
30 June 1905 manuscript received at the Annalen der Physik
July 1905 exhausted, suffers physical collapse, ill for two weeks
Zürich waterfront in 1901.
Trolley railway to Bern
